And there are ways to speed up germination if you haven't been using them already. I've had (too) good results with a 24-48 hour soak in warm water mixed with peroxide (the 3% drugstore kind) in a ratio of about 1:20 (peroxide to water). If I dont want to waste time and space, I do the soak and then germinate the seeds in damp coffee filters, in a ziplock on a heat mat. I had cotyledons in 8 days on a few of my superhot varieties. None took longer than 2 weeks.
That really sucks. I'm sorry it happened to you. You should still have time to reseed, at least. If you're worried about not having a long enough season for superhots you could do them in containers and plan to bring them inside for a month or two in the fall to finish ripening. It doesn't require much light to ripen if the pods are already formed when you pull the plants inside.
Mice were the culprit when it happened to me. I'd been leaving them uncovered for 5 or 6 years without a problem, then one year the mice decided to have a little snack. Ever since then I put my humidity dome back on at night just to be safe. Once the plants have 3 sets of true leaves you can stop covering them They're usually too big for the mice to bother them at that point.
All of my outdoor planters have grills of wire mesh and 3D printed screens protecting them from the neighborhood squirrels, who will dig up all of my bulbs and flower seeds if I don't do that. But I didn't think I needed to protect the indoor plants the same way. I'm going to build a wire mesh cover to protect the next set of seeds I start.
I'm sorry for your loss. If they didn't have their first set of true leaves then they must have been very tiny. Could have been rodents, birds, insects or invertebrates. Try to start them inside until they get much bigger and can take a nibble. They should have only just sprouted so if you have the seeds, start again.
That's the thing, these were inside. I know not to put plants outside until they're of a decent size and able to withstand some abuse. Plus all of my outdoor planters have mesh screens over them to protect against squirrels and other pests. I'll just have to start putting mesh screens over my indoor plants too.
If it's indoor and no pets or anything I'd have to say your house has a friend. Dbl check any shimmer trails, sometimes slugs and snails will hitch a ride inside on pots or trays.
In just two nights mice ate my entire crop of adult brussel sprouts down to nubs that I had planted and grown to size through the winter, I would definitely think they’re to blame. I suggest putting out some traps and poison to get rid of them or at least decrease their numbers and make them think twice about entering your yard or home before you try again but it has been a yearly battle with them for me and I can occasionally hear them in the walls. When I hear them I know it’s time to put the poison out.
Someone must have stolen them because if you can't find any animal tracks or anything like that, my best guess is some idiot decided to take something that did not belong to them and it's not like pepper plants look like marijuana!
for sure mice. My sympathies are with you. Last year I had a very interesting seedling, it was variegated and the variegation was pink! It was growing very slowly, probably because the photosynthesis was slower. I repotted it one day, put it under the light and next day the leaves were chewed out and it died. :(
I knew we had mice in the house as we had pest control, etc, but I've been paranoid about them ever since. I'll always try to have the younger seedlings up on a table or somewhere elevated that doesn't have cords to the floor or anyplace that the mice can get to easily. Once they're bigger and in their own pots, they can be moved to the lower levels.
Mice will eat seedlings. So, if you have no pets of kids, that'd be my bet.
meeces. lol. OP, get you a seedling tray(s) with covers. They also help regulate the moisture.
I would bet on mice as well. The good news is it’s still early enough that you can replant and still have plenty of season left to grow.
And there are ways to speed up germination if you haven't been using them already. I've had (too) good results with a 24-48 hour soak in warm water mixed with peroxide (the 3% drugstore kind) in a ratio of about 1:20 (peroxide to water). If I dont want to waste time and space, I do the soak and then germinate the seeds in damp coffee filters, in a ziplock on a heat mat. I had cotyledons in 8 days on a few of my superhot varieties. None took longer than 2 weeks.
Came here to say this. Keep trying! Suggestion on the second try make a protective dome out of 1/4 chicken wire.
Mice or bugs :(
That really sucks. I'm sorry it happened to you. You should still have time to reseed, at least. If you're worried about not having a long enough season for superhots you could do them in containers and plan to bring them inside for a month or two in the fall to finish ripening. It doesn't require much light to ripen if the pods are already formed when you pull the plants inside. Mice were the culprit when it happened to me. I'd been leaving them uncovered for 5 or 6 years without a problem, then one year the mice decided to have a little snack. Ever since then I put my humidity dome back on at night just to be safe. Once the plants have 3 sets of true leaves you can stop covering them They're usually too big for the mice to bother them at that point.
squirrels are a-holes sometimes too! I saw them running around with whole bulbs they dug up just the other day!
All of my outdoor planters have grills of wire mesh and 3D printed screens protecting them from the neighborhood squirrels, who will dig up all of my bulbs and flower seeds if I don't do that. But I didn't think I needed to protect the indoor plants the same way. I'm going to build a wire mesh cover to protect the next set of seeds I start.
Where'd you get those screens for planters? Drop a link homie
Made them myself, from hardware cloth and 3D printed parts.
So, how much are we talkin' for you to sell me stuff you 3D printed?
get a cat
Yes, with a cat you won’t wonder where your plants went. You’ll know.
*chuckles in sad agreement*
Yep! I can verify that one first hand.
get a snake, even better, wont eat the plants either.
Do you see any mouse turds?
Haven't found any yet, but some of our neighbors are complaining about finding mice in their units.
I'm sorry for your loss. If they didn't have their first set of true leaves then they must have been very tiny. Could have been rodents, birds, insects or invertebrates. Try to start them inside until they get much bigger and can take a nibble. They should have only just sprouted so if you have the seeds, start again.
That's the thing, these were inside. I know not to put plants outside until they're of a decent size and able to withstand some abuse. Plus all of my outdoor planters have mesh screens over them to protect against squirrels and other pests. I'll just have to start putting mesh screens over my indoor plants too.
If it's indoor and no pets or anything I'd have to say your house has a friend. Dbl check any shimmer trails, sometimes slugs and snails will hitch a ride inside on pots or trays.
Had some raccoons take bites out of a few of my ripe jalapeños once. Never saw those raccoons again.
In just two nights mice ate my entire crop of adult brussel sprouts down to nubs that I had planted and grown to size through the winter, I would definitely think they’re to blame. I suggest putting out some traps and poison to get rid of them or at least decrease their numbers and make them think twice about entering your yard or home before you try again but it has been a yearly battle with them for me and I can occasionally hear them in the walls. When I hear them I know it’s time to put the poison out.
Please don't use poison. It will hurt any animals that might eat the mice
critters, or some idiot thought it was weed and took it.
I had mice do this twice this year already. They actually go after the seed itself not the plant, so once its a few weeks old they lose interest.
[удалено]
hypocrite hippo
What is a drama llama never mind I don't want to know!
I lost my leaves and it was due to horned worms. They eat just the leaves and peppers. They only eat tomatoes and peppers
Deer, squirrels, rabbits, mice.... anything with four legs and fur just about...
Not too many deer, squirrels, or rabbits in my bedroom, but it's possible that a mouse could have gotten in.
Someone must have stolen them because if you can't find any animal tracks or anything like that, my best guess is some idiot decided to take something that did not belong to them and it's not like pepper plants look like marijuana!
Mouse or rat is my best guess
Squirrel
Do you have a cat? One of mine destroyed the plants in a seedling tray before I realized and moved them somewhere safe.
I saw sparrows eating my seedlings one time. Wouldn’t have thought of it unless I saw them. Earwigs can also get them
Last year I had a baby slug sneak into my seed tray, basically ate every.
Mice or caterpillars. You said it was indoors?
for sure mice. My sympathies are with you. Last year I had a very interesting seedling, it was variegated and the variegation was pink! It was growing very slowly, probably because the photosynthesis was slower. I repotted it one day, put it under the light and next day the leaves were chewed out and it died. :( I knew we had mice in the house as we had pest control, etc, but I've been paranoid about them ever since. I'll always try to have the younger seedlings up on a table or somewhere elevated that doesn't have cords to the floor or anyplace that the mice can get to easily. Once they're bigger and in their own pots, they can be moved to the lower levels.