Use something like Fish emultion as a nitrogen source instead of a chemical/salt source.
I've found that using fish emultion and seaweed extract in 1/8 to 1/10th doses every time I water works great.
During budding I cut the Fish emultion down and use Alaska Morebloom instead of seaweed extract.
I also use Foli Cal in 1/4 strength during blooming and with C.Chinense all the time.
I think Fish Emultion gets eaten up by so many things that it never overdoses the plant like Bat Guano or blood meal can do.
I've found that a constant low dose of organic ferts. works better than a scheduled dose of chemical ferts that are a roller coaster ride for the plant.
I give my plants a regular dose that is small that they can use all the time.
Organic ferts have to break down before they can be used by the plant where salts hit the roots all at once and can burn roots or cause the plant to overdose for a short time.
I think it would be hard to overdose a plant with fish emultion as far as burnt roots etc go.
It has to break down into amoniam nitrate before the plant can use it which doesn't happen at a rate that can hurt your plant.
I grow in containers only and my soil mixes use a lot of wood products in them so as they break down they obsorb a lot of nitrogen.Lock it up so the plant can't use it until it breaks down more latter on.

Thank you for the in-depth response Smokemaster! I have tried Fish emultion in the past but not at levels of your recommendations. So I started last night giving the plants the emultion. It's very cold right now so it will be a while in-between watering. I also took a look at some of my smaller plants and yes their roots are coverred in salts. I will have to flush them. I was feeding them Plant Tone.

Thanks Again!

/Fred

Plant Tone is a pretty good organic fertilizer. I've used it before and had good results with it. Here's a brief discussion on using Plant Tone if you're interested:

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/organic/msg0622395914838.html

If you decide to use chemical fertilizers (aka plant food) you can try mixing it in a very weak solution with water. I've used Miracle-Go (15-30-15) mixed at 1/4 teaspoon per gallon of water every time I watered with good results.

Or, you may try using compost, or composted manures, and see how they do for you.

The very best fertilizer I have ever used is rabbit manure. It is a cold manure and won't burn your plants no matter how much of it you put on your plants. My only problem with it is I cant find a good enough supply of it to have enough to use all season, otherwise I'd never use anything else.

Alan

I've read that Rabbit manure is suposed to be great stuff by others too.
People say it's because they are fed Alfalfa mostly and rabbits don't digest it enough to break down the stuff in alfalfa that that plants like.
Rabbits are mini composters for large amounts of Alfalfa from what I've read.

Here is a link that might be useful: link from above- clickable now

Fred - They aren't that sensitive to fertilizer burn. I just scatter a small amount of ammonium sulfate on the dirt and water it in well. About a 1/2 cup per 100 square feet, once or twice a year.

Also, peppers normally drop their leaves in cold weather, even if they don't freeze.

Keep them alive over the winter and the spring crop will amaze you!

I used Plant Tone for a while with good results. I would like to try Tomato Tone since the balance seem to fit peppers a bit better. I stopped using it when I wanted to try Foxfarms Big Bloom Liquid Plant Food (0.01-0.3-0.7) to use with every watering. It got a lot of my small plants going except my biggest plants. They don't grow leaves but huge amount of peppers. By the way. I would not recommend Big Bloom since I paid $55 for 1 Gallon. Perhaps the name says it all. The rabbit manure sound great. I would love to try it. I'll have to do some research and see what I can find. I do have some ammonium sulfate around but I've been too hesitant to use it. The leaf drop... I guess it got so cold last night we touched a freeze. I managed to stuff the smaller plants in my mini greenhouse and they seem to like it in there. I'll keep them in there for a few more nights until it warms up. The biggest one I cannot move. It has a permanent residence on my patio no matter what the conditions. Now all the leaves are drooping and looking pitiful. Some of the peppers are turning soft and squishy too. It needs to stay alive for a bit longer. I believe you. Spring will be good.

Thanks,

Fred

flamgren, you must have ued an awful lot of plant tone to actually see salt on your roots. what does salt on roots look like anyway.

Plant tone is an organic fertilizer s it would be pretty difficult to burn roots when used normally. The only caveat is that they did add chicken manure in 09 so I guess you have to be careful of that.

GreenGrass! I'm not sure. I always thought it was the fuzzy white stuff on the roots. I'm no expert. Perhaps some sort of fungus? Chicken manure huh? Thanks for the heads up!

/Fred