Thank you, I hadnt read anything on how long to keep them in it so I will definitely do that!

CFL lights 4 inches away sure isn't your problem. I too was taken aback when you said they hadn't been fertilized. Once they're well germinated, fertilization is necessary. Hard to see much wrong with them in the pictures.

Thank you. Not sure why I thought it had to be fertilizer later when transplanted, which I thought wasn't until they got their true leaves They are definitely wilting up so I hope I can save them.

I would tend to agree with trying a different potting mix and/or trying to feed them. A diluted (1/4 strength) liquid fertilizer with the next watering would be good.

Something else to consider - how deep are those pots? Maybe they are too deep and the water is drying up in the root zone earlier than your next watering?

Get them out of that stuff. Same thing happened to me last year... they responded very well to a transplanting, brushing off as much of the mix from the roots as possible. Coconut Coir is a very challenging medium IMO.

Agree with Peter. Coir can be ok for just seed germination if you are experienced with it and very careful with it. But it isn't a good growing medium at all IME. And with tiny seedlings in pots that big, that deep, you are bound to be having water table issues. One could easily germinate 25 pepper seedlings in one of those pots only 1/2 full of mix. There are good reasons for keeping the size of the container and the amount of mix used relevant to the size of the plant itself.

Dave

All - I appreciate the feedback! Looks like I made a newbie mistake keeping them in the coir. The pots are about 4in tall, I didn't realize that might be too big. When I looked for root rot I did see the roots extended to the bottom of the soil so they have to be getting some water... but perhaps not enough. I will transplant them tonight but they looked pretty sad this morning so I hope I didn't wait too long :(

Update: I transplanted them into a good organic potting soil and gave them very diluted liquid fertilizer and they appear to be doing great - true leaves have start growing pretty quick on some of them, and nice and green. I used about the same size container for the transplant since it was already a little big for the seeds anyway, but now probably a right size for them. Thanks!

Laura, if I'm not mistaken, a few of those seem to have 2 seedlings. Right now is the best time to separate them into their own cups. Just carefully take them out of the containers, hold them gently at the base of the stems, and carefully coax them apart by gently pulling one away from the other. I can't over-emphasize GENTLY lol, but it's easy to do, and if you wait any later, one will be wasted.

If you do have very limited space, you could just cut one off at the soil line, but why waste it if you don't have to?

Your right - I actually separated them when I transplanted them but left a couple with two. Not sure if you've heard this, but I've read in a couple places that peppers do well coupled together (contrary to normal thought process) so this was my experimentation... but maybe they meant plant them closer together when it's time to plant them in the ground? Ever heard of anything like this? Thanks

Hmmm... well, from what I've heard, and some experience, there's something to say about the amount of biomass for space, but I've never tried growing them that close together. It will force competition, and that has good and bad results. Each plant, and every resulting fruit will most likely be smaller, but you may get more weight per space.

It's difficult to do a true controlled experiment in that situation, but I suppose it can be done. The control will need to use the same amount of fertilizer, not per plant, but per space. However, you'll probably want to try a second experiment where you put like 1 1/2 times the amount of ferts on the double-plant. You may get a larger weight of harvest with less input of water and ferts. However, and it's often not as much as an issue with peppers as with some other crops, crowding increases the potential for disease.

The traditional type of crowding isn't to let 2 plants grow that close together, but to plant them closer than traditionally recommended. Sq. ft. gardeners often find increased yield with intensive planting (intensive is a word for growing more than the recommended number of plants in a given space.) However, they also must use increased amounts of fertilizer, compost, and water.

In any case, let us know how it turns out with photos throughout the season. :)

There is an old farmers tale that 2 peppers in the same planting hole is good because it helps shade the roots and the fruits. Perhaps that is what you read. But it refers to planting 2 separate ready-to-transplant plants in the same much larger planting hole close together, not seedlings. Seedlings have enough stress as is. Your choice if you want to see what happens.

Dave

PS: hope it was a good planting mix, not soil.

I see, that makes more sense since they are so close together in the little cup as seedlings. I'll separate them and may still plant them together in my raised bed, at least a couple of them. And yes I used a potting mix! Thank u. I didn't realize how much gardening can feel like rocket science At least for this newbie

Dave - The Old Farmers Almanac recommends growing 2 seedlings as one. Terrible advice if you ask me (I agree with Dave Laura) They also say peppers are extremely heat sensitive and may need to be watered every day, among other bad advice. http://www.almanac.com/plant/bell-peppers