Beginner Gardening: Need Help Transplanting, 4 by Gymgirl

Gymgirl wrote:
Count,
Keep in mind that peppers LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE hot weather. The hotter the better... If you put them out too soon, and the ground is still too chilly for them, they will sit, sulk, and maybe even, stall.

If the weather isn't getting close to being very summery hot now, I'd hold them inside awhile longer. It won't hurt them.

Also, your plants look a little pale-ish on a few leaves. Couple potential reasons: overwatering, or undernourishment. I know those pots dry out fairly quickly and overwatering can occur quite easily if you're trying to keep them hydrated. I would suggest setting the whole biodegradeable pot into a larger pot of mix, give 'em more room to grow on, and keep them close to the lights (you are using lights, yes?). Just peel off the bottoms so the roots can drop down into the new potting mix. They'll spread out. Won't hurt to transplant the seedlings out at 10-12" tall...

Are you feeding the plants? They have enough true leaves, now, to be asking for a meal or two, LOL! I'd start with a weak application of some water soluble fertilizer mixed in a gallon of water. Add it to the bottom of the drip tray and let the plants soak it up. Remove any excess after about 1-2 hours. Don't let the plants stand in water constantly. I use plain old Miracle Grow plant food. The blue stuff. I add enough to a gallon of water to barely color it, and feed the plants once a week. Feed weakly, weekly....

And, don't forget the lights! I use regular old fluorescent shop lights. You can prop them up on some books on each end. Keep them at least 1-2" from the tops of the leaves...16 hours a day....7am-11pm for my seedlings....

Hope this helps!

Hugs!

Linda