just wanted to bump it back up and let you know i added more interesting species to the mix thanks and please keep um coming thanks your friend JOE

I grow mine (Poblano, Hot Red Cherry, Cowhorn, Corno di Toro, and Rio Grande Hot) in 12" and 14" pots on my deck. My backyard only gets a couple of hours of direct sun each day, but from what I understand they can take much more sun than that. I water them every other day unless it has rained. I'm not sure if the thing about too much water making them less hot is an old wives' tale or not. John

Actually I think you could do well going either route. What the guys further North do by root pruning and cutting most of the plant back does a lot to stimulate strong new root growth and over all health to the plant. I have a jalapeno plant from last season in a three gallon pot that is looking pretty bad so I'm going to try doing the severe pruning top and bottom and re-plant it with some fresh soil. I figure there's nothing to be lost by trying. I also have lots of seedling chillies that are struggling with all the cold we are experiencing. They will be coming in each night until this latest cold blast is over.

All peppers are edible, if the plant has not been sprayed with pestisides. However some of the ornamental ones do not taste good, since they are grown for looks. What shape are the peppers? I have Bolivian Rainbows, which stays quite compact and peppers start purple and ripen to red through yellow and orange phases. Peppers on it are small and have a bit the conical shape. An other one which has same color peppers is Pretty Purple, but the peppers on it are totally round. Some people dry and grind ripe Bolivian Rainbow peppers to be used as seasoning. I have so many other hot peppers growing that I have not yet done that. Sometimes I have eaten the whole red Bolivian Rainbow peppers from plant at my desk. I have noticed that they are not so hot as the ones grown in garden. Pretty Purple: http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y9/svalli/Chili/PrettyPurpleripe.jpg Bolivian Rainbow: http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y9/svalli/Chili/BolivianRainbow.jpg (This one has been growing inside, so leaves do not have purple)