This will be the post I update with my progress growing a chocolate bhut jolokia pepper plant (sometimes referred to as the “chocolate ghost pepper”) in a DWC bucket. I pulled the seeds from some pods I acquired earlier this year:
The pods were HOT. The normal red bhut jolokia typically has a scoville rating between 855,000–1,359,000 and I can say without a doubt the chocolate bhut jolokia is every bit as hot as it’s red counterpart. Has a nice smokey flavor too.
I started the seeds on November 14, 2010. I simply inserted them in soaked (ph adjusted water) rock wool and put them straight in the dwc bucket to germinate. Temps were in the mid 60’s and I top watered every couple days. I started 3 seeds and 2 lived.
December 4, 2010 chocolate bhut jolokia sprouts:
December 18, 2010 chocolate bhut jolokia sprouts:
Somewhere between the 4th and the 18th I added heavily diluted nutrients. Still may have been a little much as I had some issues with leaf curl. Could have also been the lights – I had them on 24/7 and about an inch off the top of the seedlings. I moved the light up a few inches and switched a 16/8 light cycle.
December 28, 2010 chocolate bhut jolokias:
Leaf curl a little better and practically non existent on new growth. Think i was giving them too much light.
Growth seems to be picking up now that they have a heavier concentration of nutes.
January 2, 2011 chocolate bhut jolokias:
Here’s how things are shaping up for the chocolate jolokias as of January 8, 2011. Growth seems to be picking up now that they have some nutes.
Here’s how the chocolates are looking on January 18, 2011. Growth is picking up. Took quite awhile for the seeds to sprout but now that roots have set and nutrients have been added these things are really growing fast. Planning on isolating these to get true chocolate bhut jolokia seed stock for use in the garden or possible sale.
This is the January 28, 2011 update. The Chocolate Jolokias are growing fast, especially considering the cool temps in the basement.
February 12, 2011 update. Both chocolate bhut jolokias have been growing quickly. starting to look a little droopy, might be time to add some more water to the bucket and/or do a water/nute change.
March 5, 2011 update.
A few weeks ago I transplanted one of the dwc chocolate bhut jolokias I was growing and moved the remaining plant to it’s own bucket. I’m letting this plant form flowers and hopefully some pods. It’s my experiment plant and I may just use it for chocolate bhut jolokia seeds.
March 27, 2011 update.
This thing’s growing like crazy. The little T5 i have it under won’t cut it…hoping to put it under my 4×4 T5 in about 6 weeks when I move all my pepper sprouts outside.