Apartment gardening

[Joe]

Thanks for the information Trent, fertilizing is going to be my main problem, I do have an idea about NPK also phosphorus, magnesium and trace elements but I have no experience in applying these. I'm more of the gardener who throws fertilizer into the soil tills and plants an annual crop. I will no doubt learn more growing indoors.

I have known about the urine for a long time and love the idea (Not in a strange kind of way ), potatoes are something I would like to experiment with maybe not for eating but for seeds. Seed potatoes are generally grown in tissue cultures so I believe this may be feasible.

Right now I have created myself a building challenge as I'm growing completely indoors in a confined space, the area I grow in doesn't get very warm. I'm using CFL bulbs. I did believe I would overcome this problem by growing enclosed and insulated and the heat from the light bulb would be enough but I completely forgot about ventilation, maybe recycling the air so most of the warm air re-enters growing area providing enough CO2 for plant growth. I should have an old 12V computer fan around which might be okay connected to any old 12V power supply (phone charger) provided the amperage isn't too high.

As for my chillies, regular topsoil may not suffice as it could break down over the years allowing very little air to contact the roots and create a clay like water-logging. I was considering 3 parts topsoil to 1 part peat and 1 part sandy gravel for a soil which allows good drainage. What do you use for indoor soil Trent?

[Trent Rock]

I use Wal-Mart bought Miracle Grow potting soil
(I used to use "Super Soil"..I think they stopped making it..I can't find it anywhere??)

I add vermiculite (for nutrient absorption)
and perilite (for drainage)
I kind of eyeball it
If I were to make a guess
6-8 parts potting soil
1 part vermiculite
1 part perlite
If I have just shaved my head
And have my shaved hair handy
I add it to the soil
It's a slow release form of nitrogen

Like I said
You can never have TOO much ventilation in a closet set up..in my experience
I would do foiliar feeding once a month

Here's a tip!!
Buy some seltzer water (NO sodium!!)
Use the seltzer water on a few plants (as an experiment)
I tried it with some seedlings in peat moss cups
The ones with the seltzer water grew about 4 times faster
The roots were sticking outta the peat moss cup like an urchin!!
The seltzer water has co2
I call it my poor mans Co2 system...heheheh

********************************
Here is my set up:
Daytime

The Revolutionary Chile Tub 2000® by Trent Rock's Visual Vices, on Flickr

Nightime

chileplants by Trent Rock's Visual Vices, on Flickr
I'm in the growth stage (24 hours light)
I'll switch to the flowering stage (ONLY keep outside, full sun, bring in if it's gonna be under 32F) around Julyish??
Lat year I had 3 cycles of chile peppers
I haven't fully figured out the seasons here at 8,075 ft...

My tomatillos were outta control last year
I grew them in ONE gallon bottles
I must have gotten around 200+ tomatillos off of 2 plants throughout the season
This year I am gonna grow them in much larger containers
They are my staple item for the salsa I make
They do drink A LOT of water
I have to water them everyday
The chiles I "strain" them to make them hotter
I underwater them and then a week later, I overwater them....

[Joe]

http://www.homegrown-peppers.com/gro...r-plants-live/

Reading this it sounds like you should chose carefully the variety of chillies you decide to grow as perennials. There are many different species of chillies and some will live longer than others.

I have seen bonchi annuums on fatalli which shows it is possible. I will be trying ancho and jalapeno even though the above website states.

Although I have had some pretty long-lived jalapenos, they eventually get woody and die off. I’ve never tried pruning a jalapeno, though, to see if I can revitalize it — that’s something I’ll have to try this year.

I may also try and find Capsicum pubescens.

Like all other species of the genus Capsicum, plants of the species Capsicum pubescens grow as a shrub, but sometimes as climbing plants. They grow into four-meter woody plants relatively quickly, and live up to 15 years, which gives them, especially with age, an almost tree-like appearance.

[Trent Rock]

I had a serrano BUSH for 5 years at my Santa Barbara house
It gave me about 200 serranos a year

I had a 2 year habanero plant

It depends on the region
Santa Barbara has some funky growing patterns..hehehhe

USDA Hardiness Zone Finder


I've gotten all the chiles
Just waiting on the tomatillos to arrive at the nursery
Here is the final list:
Mucho Nacho Jalapeno Hot Pepper (I have never grown before)

This jalapeno is fatter and longer than the standard jalapeno and hotter, too!

Serrano (this is my FAVORITE, in terms of flavor....LOVE serrano!!)
Hungarian hot wax (I have never grown before)
Chile Red Hot Pepper
Barker's Hot Pepper (I have never grown before)

Barker’s Hot is the hottest New Mexico-type pepper. This heirloom chile blends good flavor with moderate heat. With thin skins, this pepper prepares quickly in the kitchen, making it a good candidate for roasting, frying whole, or stuffing. Many people refer to Barker’s Hot as a hot Anaheim; use it as you would Anaheim chiles.

Cayenne
Garden Salsa Hot Pepper (this one has CRAZY high yield)
Habanero
Hot Red Cherry Pepper (I have never grown before)
New Mexico Big Jim Pepper
******************
I am also growing cilantro
I've grown it before and it's kind of labor intensive
You have to water it constantly
And, I can go to the store and buy a BUNCH for like 39 cents
I'm mostly growing it for the freshness factor, I guess
and I like watching ANYTHING grow
Right now I am fertilizing with my **** water about once week...hahahaha
I'll will do foliar feeding a few days a month (using a spray bottle...spray UNDER the leaves as well as the top of the leaves)
(don't worry..the **** water will be outta the system by harvest time)

My goal is too have FRESH salsa in fridge at all times for a few months
My doctor asked how I lost 50 lbs===>
"I eat TONS of fresh salsa"...lol
"PACKED with vitamin C!!" as Bear Grylls likes to say
He pronounces it vitta men cee...hehehhe

I have a gallon jug filled with rusty nails and water
I give a iron boost about once month
I dilute the iron water pretty well
I'm not sure what the signs of too much iron is

One more thing
Learn to spot "nitrogen burn"
The TIPS of the leaves turn brown
That means you are giving TOO much nitrogen
And the stems get brittle........

[Trent Rock]

BTW.....
The censored words start with a P and ends with S
Not an A and ends with S
Wanted to clear that up!!!

I really dislike the censors on forums
Oh well....

[Maine]

BTW.....
I really dislike the censors on forums
Oh well....

Sometimes it sucks of course but we do like to push the 'Friendly' in the forum blurb. Not everyone likes to read posts with f-this and f-that for every other word. Not that you were using those words Trent but people can get their point across without swearing...or just go ahead and swear and people will get your meaning from those ****** ******* asterisks.