Q.Growing ghost peppers and Carolina Reaper peppers for the first time.
I am attempting to grow some really hot peppers. Carolina Reapers started off poorly. I did not prune them when I transplanted, which I learned later was necessary. Started losing leaves. Tried Miracle grow, only to learn it has too much nitrogen. More fell off and I thought I had lost them. Added epsom salt(magnesium) and it looks much healthier and starting to produce peppers. Ghost plants are three times as bushy and already harvested one.(But not eaten it yet). I think pruning at transplant could have been my big mistake. Any thought from experienced pepper growers? Wind is blowing pretty hard in pictures.
I grow serrano peppers and I don't prune them at all. On the other hand, they are in containers with a plant support around them. Stem breakage has never been a problem for me and production is heavy. The idea behind pruning peppers is to have sturdier central stems as some larger varieties are prone to breaking. On the other hand, producing fruit is very taxing for a plant - it takes a lot of energy. More leaves = more plant energy. The following link discusses pros and cons and has a video on how/when to prune. Gardening is an on-going learning experience and experiment. https://www.therustedgarden.com/blogs/vegetable-gardening-tips-blog/how-to-the-benefits-of-topping-off-or-pruning-pepper-plants-several-video-examples-with-control-plant
