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Apache chilli plant help

FlowerPowerPamFlowerPowerPam Posts: 14
edited July 2023 in Problem solving
Good Morning All,
I bought this chilli plant a couple months ago and whilst it initally showed signs of growth, it seems to have stalled these past few weeks. I keep it outdoors in full sun but it just looks a bit sparse to me and I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong. Any advice appreciated.

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    A couple of possibilities.
    It's quite a large pot for a small plant.
    Chillies are best potted on into a slightly bigger pot each time. They don't like damp/wet roots for along period of time. Using a slightly bigger pot each time allows the roots to fully penetrate all the compost before potting on again.

    Most important for them though is as much sun and heat as possible to encourage good growth.

    I wouldn't repot it now, but try and give it lots of sun and warmth.
    Nighttime temps below 13c will cause it to pause growth, so may need brining indoors sometimes overnight

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    What Pete said! I grew Apache a few years ago and the plants never got very big, I don't think they ever got to that size pots, but they did produce lots of chillies - small, thin red ones, very hot (to my taste), mostly seeds and skin, not fleshy like Jalapeno or similar types. I made chilli jelly with them, with a couple of red peppers for additional colour and bulk.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • LunarSeaLunarSea Posts: 1,923
    Agree with what others have said. I grow Apache from seed every year but being further north I raise them in the house and grow them on in the greenhouse in 8" clay pots from mid-May. They need to be well drained but watered regularly and fed each week. I use a mix of 1 part multi-purpose with 2 parts John Innes no.2 with some grit mixed in. 
    Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. 

    I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    LunarSea said:
     and fed each week. 
    Very true, but only start feeding once the first flowers open and use a feed suitable for tomatoes.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FlowerPowerPamFlowerPowerPam Posts: 14
    Thanks all, much appreciated  :)
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