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Jaes Offline OP
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First, I am new to gardening. ---Last year, I transplanted a bell pepper plant into a large patio pot--- the yeild was great. This year, I used the pot for tomatoes--- and I transplanted two bell peppers into two "topsy turvey" containers. The patio location of the bell peppers is the same sunny location as last year-- the type of bell peppers is the same as last year, BUT, the yeild is dramatically different. Last year, at this time, I had 3 to 5 bell peppers forming on the one plant. This year, I have only one lone pepper hanging from each of the two plants that I used the topsy turvy---there are not blossoms--no other peppers forming---Just one lone pepper on each plant. Is there something I can do to stimulate the pepper plant? Or, despite what the topsy turvy company indicates, maybe one can not grow a pepper plant via the topsey turvy method and expect a high yeild (that's the obvious answer). ---Any answers or advice would be most appriciated. ---Jaes


Jaes
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Northern Star
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I really have no great advice for you but I planted two tomatoes in upside down planters and was very disappointed as well. They done so poorly that I just threw out the plants..

Have you fertilized it? Next year I plan to try it again but I will be buying a good fertilized growing mix instead of potting soil.


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Could the weather be a factor? Heat, sun, rain. Where I live it got so hot so fast my garden has been a little off. Water requirements may have been different from last year.

I to, planted tomatoes in a topsy turvy thing last year and didn't have very good results. I didn't do it again this year.



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If there are blossoms, spray the blossoms and the leaves with Epsom salts spray. Dissolve one teaspoon of Epsom salt in 32-oz lukewarm water and fill a spray bottle. Cool the solution before using. Repeat application in 10-14 days.
Avoid giving a lot of fertilizer, but if you have to, feed at half strength.

My tomatoes and peppers are not doing good either because of the heat [90+ F] the last few weeks.



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This might help in sort of way.

I have hanging baskets on the end of my deck. During the HOT days they wilt from the heat. Water them so much to keep them healthy and moist and they get too much water. Put them down on the deck and there fine.

Point is maybe the elevation of the plant itself is to dramatic for it to be happy.
Being up in the air there's more heat and more surface to expose. Now with it being upside down the roots are taking the brunt of the heat and sun .
Trying to keep the root ball moist is going to be difficult for growth, dry heat flowers drop...no fruit.

I had this happen in my pepper potters they dryed out to easy and dropped flowers, 1 pepper on the plant. One potter away and it had 3 peppers on it ...little bit more shaded.

Maybe it's just location why Make sure your using good soil that has good water retention to help keep the roots moist when upside down.

You will be amazed how a few ft will make a difference in the growth of a plant, I watched it 1st hand this yr with my onions and peppers.

snow


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Jaes Offline OP
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Thanks for all the helpful replys. --"snowfarmer," ---you might have something about the "roots" ---certainly, the roots in the topsy turvy are getting warmer---maybe hot? Last year, when I had the pepper plant in a large patio pot (I mean a LARGE), I do not believe the roots had a chance to get hot. ---Also, with the large pot, I had rocks on the bottom of the pot (under the soil for drainage) this may have allowed proper drainage---and, perhaps, stopped overwatering? ---with the topsy turvy, it's difficult for me to guage how much to water the plant---and certainly, with the topsy turvy system, there are no rocks to facilitate drainage. ---I was very surprised by the replies of others that found that the topsy turvy system didn't work for them. I guess that's what this forum is for ---learning. After this growing season, I believe I will dismantle the big rack that I built to hold 3 topsy turvey container (2 pepper plants and a cherry tomatoe plant)---next year I believe I'll just get additional large patio pots. ---Thanks again to everyone for the comments. ---Jaes.

Last edited by Jaes; Jul 22nd, 2010 at 06:46 PM.

Jaes

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