When I first started my pepper growing journey, I bought some seeds, trays and a heat mat. I had no idea if I could possibly be successful, but I wanted to try. So during my germination phase I discovered a website, a site that would ship you “healthy, established” plants. I didn’t know any better so I made my pre-order. Some pink tiger x bhut, and a reaper. Pretty much forgot about the order, I noticed my seeds were growing. One of the most amazing experiences I’ve had. Watching these little guys poke up and shed their protective seed hulls. I couldn’t get enough, every sprout was special and developed daily. I learned so much trying to nurture each and every one of them. Fancy soil, temperature control, lighting, fertilizers, environmental management. Goes without saying I’m hooked. And they grew, oh so much faster than I expected. To be honest, faster than I was ready for. I had to learn at their pace. All well and good, and things were going amazing. And then my mail order plants showed up, I thought it was a good thing. They seemed to be packaged nicely. They were weeks behind my plants and seemed fairly weak, and they needed some love and care. But I was excited and ready to introduce them to my plant family. I moved them into some pots with the best soil I could get. Then all the plants got water and I zipped up the tent.
Sounds good till now, right?
Well,
The new plants “we can call them the outsiders”, came with more than I bargained for. Little green critters. At about day 3 I saw them, pretty heavily on all 5 of my mail order pals, but none on my heavily nurtured private school pepper plants. So as fast as I saw something was up I pulled them out and stuffed em in plant jail, a second grow tent with a cheapy light and a heavy saturation of neem oil. I thought I caught it early enough. They got ravaged, and all new growth got munched before it could get established. But at least it didn’t get to my babies.
Nope,
Wrong again. They got everywhere. Silent almost invisible little intruders, with no purpose but to steal the youth and life from my plants. I’ve spent the last 5 hours spraying picking, and flicking these invaders. Checked every leaf and stem of 60 or so plants. I’m hoping I made a big enough dent and I haven’t wasted 3 months of time and a dollar amount I refuse to share with anyone.
Moral of the story
DO NOT BUY FROM PEPPERJOE,COM
by scarz3n2
1 Comment
I don’t see how you got those pests from the seeds, maybe the potting soil you used for them?