My Setup

[Aengineer]

Everything but one swiss chard was removed to make room for a couple Bhut Jolokia pepper seedlings.
Calcium nitrate and Magnesium sulfate were cut back to a single teaspoon per five gallons. I deliberately held back on the Calcium to see what would happen without it. The leaves started to roll up within a couple days including the chard.
Calcium was added and leaves have resumed their normal shape.

[Aengineer]

I'm still in the process of tweaking the nutrient solution. I found published measurements and mixing directions yesterday on GardenWeb. So last night I mixed up a new batch of nutrient. I'll give it a couple weeks to see if it needs adjusting again.

I'll let you know what works for me when I find it.

[GpsFrontier]

Just wanted to say thanks for the updates, and I look forward to seeing more.

[Aengineer]

You're welcome....

With the previous measurements I was using. There was definite signs of calcium and magnesium deficiencies. Lime green newer growth and mottled older growth with green veins. With some leaf curl thrown in as well. Just couldn't figure out how to mix the Calcium nitrate and Magnesium sulfate together, and in what proportions, to keep them from reacting together.
This new formula I found calls for equal parts Nutri-Leaf and Calcium nitrate with only 1/10 that of Magnesium sulfate. Had to convert liters to gallons, divide and then round up to get the proper measurements for five to six gallons of nutrient.
The dark green is coming back already, much to my relief.

24 Hours After Changing Nutrient:


48 Hours Later:


24 Hours Later:


24 Hours Later:


24 Hours Later:


24 Hours Later:


Ok that's all I'm going to document on the new nutrient formula. Much better color and new growth has taken off. Some of the leaves are a little curled but I think it may be a heat or over-watering issue. I've dialed the timer on the water pump back another notch. As long as there is no wilting I'll see how this watering schedule works out.

For Five Gallons:
Nutri-Leaf (20-20-20) 25g
Magnesium Sulfate 2.5g
Calcium Nitrate 25g

[Aengineer]

At about 5" tall, the Bhut Jolokia on the left is beginning to set its first flower buds. <inset>

It's been about two months to get to this point. On 7-2-10 they were in the system and had their second set of true leaves. It's now 8-22-10 and a recent change in my nutrient mix has resulted in lush, explosive new growth.

[NorEastFla]

Nice recovery, Aengineer!

Once your plants are bushed out to the size you wish, they would benefit from one more alteration of your nutrient.

Potash/Potassium (K) promotes fruit and vegetable formation and decreased nitrogen will lessen the amount of the plants energy that is applied to stem and leaf growth.

During the period that you wish to have fast stem and leaf growth, a nutrient mix of NPK like LARGE-MEDIUM-SMALL is best. Then, after the plant has enough foliage and is large enough, an NPK mix like SMALL-MEDIUM-LARGE will promote more fruit and less foliage.

As an example, hydro-gardens.com has a pepper nutrient of 11-11-40 at http://hydro-gardens.com/111140.htm

The Bhut Jolokia is a fine pepper! One pepper goes a long, long way.

If you decide to stay with your current nutrient mix, you'll get peppers, just not as many as you will with a good quality flowering mix with less nitrogen and more potassium.

Good luck!

[Aengineer]

Thanks!!

When that time comes. I'm considering a tweak to my current formula using Potassium phosphate.