After two weeks, I would be a bit worried if NONE of my seedlings had sprouted by now. I have a very similar set up to yours with 18-3" compartmented trays with a dome. I got sprouts in 4 days and now after 10 days all but three of the 3" containers have at least one sprout. I planted 4-5 seeds in each 3" container. Most have 4 or more sprouts. The only three containers that don't have any sprouts are from one variety: Numex Big Jim that I got from another grower. But I would say I have 80% germination after 10 days. I have heat mats like you do also. I am keeping them controlled to about 83 degrees.

Here is one of my two grow trays from two days ago (8 days since planting). You have to look close, but can see sprouts in every cell.

Bruce

are you going to thin/cut the sprouts so there is only 1 per container... or will you try to extract the extras and replant them?
I put 3 seeds in each of my starter pellets. so far I have about, 8 out of 12, pellets with sprouts. but the pellets that did sprout have at least 2 or 3 sprouts each.
Hoping there is a way to successfully pull out the extras and transplant them (without the damaging the one staying).

Seeds were planted 1/15/12 and my first set of true leaves just emerged... I think its time to move them into a pot now.

I plant that many in each container so that i get at least one per container. I decided to skip the small peat starter kit method. I went straight to the 3" starter pots.

Then after a while (probably another week or so or when they start getting true leaves) I will decide which is the strongest looking in each container and I will cull the rest. I will end up with one per container and I will keep 20-30% more containers of plants than I plan to end up with in case a couple die along the way. I can always give away the the extras. I built in "unpreventable loss" all along the growing process. But I am not going to have much loss at the sprouting stage this year.

Last year I planted 4 or 5 bhut seeds in a single 4" container and didn't have the heart to just keep one so when three popped up, I carefully dug out two and moved them to seperate containers. I would suggest doing this early like around the time they are getting their first true leaves. If you wait, the roots get too big and inter-twined.

But this year, I wont be transferring any. I planted at least three containers of each variety I want to grow. Of those, I will probably wind up with just one or maybe two. The others I will give away if they make it. I basically planted three times the number of containers that I want to wind up with for each variety. For example, I want about 4 Sweet Banana pepper plants so I planted 12.

Bruce

Have you considered approach grafting with your little plants?

My understanding would be that you basically just have to damage the sides of your little guys, and then tie/tape/wax them together... In a couple of weeks, instead of 4 or 5 plants with 5 unique root systems, it becomes 1 plant with an awesome looking trunk. I've considered this method for my other project... If my current graft method fails, it will be my next attempt.

Here is a link that might be useful: approach grafting.

hmmmm, well, I have enough projects going on right now. That, however, sounds like a project that might be something to try after the plants are pulled in the fall and before the next year's planting begins.

Bruce

Im doing Chimayos, but not starting until March. They're early producers so it won't be an issue

my seeds began to sprout at 10-11 days after I started them. serranos, paper lanterns, lemon drops and ring of fire. Now after two and a half weeks everything is up.

Here is a link that might be useful: click for photos

I just planted my seeds on sunday in wet paper towels. I'm overly excited for them to start germinating.

I got a couple 'ghost pepper in a can' for christmas and started them new years day. all the seedling in one withered and died, when I pulled them up they had bugs on the roots... yeesh.

the other has started to get it's second set of leaves, and thankfully it seems fine.

Here is a link that might be useful: my joke blog post on the process.

I actually plan on doing some of this type of grafting to my bhuts this year.

I like making bonsai out of them, with last year being my first test go at it. Went great right up until I didn't see a fungal infection on the cut end of the plant (that I never sealed with wax).

This year I've got an old plaster skull I got on the cheap after Halloween that I've cut back. I'm going to grow up the bhuts until they're large enough to plant in the eye sockets and nose, then graft them together so it looks like a single large plant growing down into a partially buried skull.

I figure that should be appropriate for a ghost pepper. =)

I checked out your blog kywitt - it seems a happy birthday is in order!

That sounds great edy, and something I'd love to see pictures of when your done. Are there any downsides to approach grafting that you know of?