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Hardening off with buds

11 years ago

Hello guys,

I came home from work today and checked on my babies. Today is the second day they have been outside in the shade. Yesterday I put them out for 15 minutes, today about 30. After giving them all a good drink (first time in 3 days they have been watered), I looked close and I have flower budsÃ¢ÂÂ¦ Wow, already. Grant it the ones with flowers are Cayanne, Jalapeno and Paprika so far.

Question here is should I still harden off the ones with buds or go straight to final medium, Or should I just clip the buds off? I have 4 of each type with buds. I am planning on putting two of each in the ground and the other two of each in containers.

As always, THANKS for the input.
Bill

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Comments (6)

esox07 (4b) Wisconsin
11 years ago
You need to finish out hardening them off regardless of the buds/blooms. You can move them to final medium if that is a container where you can move it around. You can't just stick it out in the full sun and wind right away. Definitely not the ones that will go in the ground as they will be exposed to whatever mother nature sends your way and they likely are not ready for that yet. Buds and blooms really don't matter in this decision.
Bruce
Bill_Missy
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks Bruce,

That is kind of what I was thinking just wanted conformation :) I will continue to harden off adding 15-20 minutes more each day. They have not been given sun yet, just shade or lights.

Thank you,
Bill
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For future reference here are a couple of tips on rooting cuttings that work for me. I use clear plastic cups so I can SEE when there are roots forming with out disturbing the cutting. Make sure you put in a good drainage hole. Any type of potting soil will work. I know some people who have great luck with just coir and others who use sand or perlite. I like to use seed starting soil myself. Scrape the green outer skin off the bottom of the cane before you dip it in the rooting hormone. The white layer under the skin is where the roots will come from so that gives the hormone contact with that layer. Use a pencil to poke a hole in the soil before inserting the cane so you don't rub off all the hormone inserting it. I also don't use any kind of "greenhouse" cover. They go outside in the sun with all of my seedlings right from the start. It eliminates any need for hardening off. They get watered only when the soil surface looks dry. I think over watering kills more cuttings than anything else. I found all the covers did was keep them too wet and they rotted or too hot and they fried. Don't be fooled into thinking it's got roots by that leaf growth on the stem. Roses store energy in the cane itself and will sometimes start to grow leaves by using up that stored energy. It does not necessarily mean there are roots yet. As long as the cane itself stays green and plump it is still viable and may root but if it starts to turn brown or black or look shriveled or dry it's a goner.
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woohooman San Diego CA zone 10a
11 years ago
If these plants are already showing buds, they're definitely ready for a little DIRECT sun. I'd start getting them out in the sun an hour or 2 gradually to FULL sun in the next week or so. Like Bruce said, You still gotta harden off though.

I'd also nip those buds to encourage more growth. Those varieties are all heavy producers anyhow.

Kevin
Bill_Missy
Original Author
11 years ago
When "Nipping" the buds, am I understanding correctly to nip it as close as you can to the stem/V ? Using either fingers/finger nails or clean sissors?

Bill
woohooman San Diego CA zone 10a
11 years ago
Yep. They should just break loose with your fingertips at the weakest point... no fingernails or scissors needed. If it does seem it's tough to break, them clip(with clean scissors) right where it attaches to stem.

Kevin
tsheets
11 years ago
You could probably step up the pace a little. They should be able to handle shade pretty quickly. I would think of increasing the shade exposure in terms of hours, not minutes. :-) Then when you go into direct light...take it easy at first and then ramp it up.

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