where can i find ghost chili peppers

Ghost Chili 101- Easiest Way to Start Growing Magic Plant Ghost Chili is the easiest I have found.
The Ghost Chili, commonly known as the Bhut Jolokia, can be difficult to germinate yet the Magic Plant Company has simplified and made convenient the growing of Ghost Chili peppers all year around.

Here are the basics of growing your Magic Plant Ghost Chili:

1. Follow the basic directions on opening the can of ghost chili and watering directions.
2. Do not over water, especially during germination! This could cause the seedlings to die or develop fungal disease.
3. Allow the surface of the soil to dry out slightly before re-watering. If you find that overwatering has occurred, remove the plastic cap from the bottom of the can to release any excessive water that may have accumulated. Let the can drain out until no water drips from the bottom.
4. Seeds do not need light to germinate just the optimal temperature and conditions.
5. Ghost Chili seeds need the soil to be between 75 and 90 degrees F for them to germinate. The best location would be in the warmest part of your home. I chose the kitchen counter that received ample sunlight. If you choose a windowsill during winter months, do not leave it there if the sun is unable to warm it. I used a heating pad as alternate heat to keep my seeds at optimal temperature. Do not forget to check the soil temperature if you use a heating pad. When I was unable to supervise my Ghost Chili, I kept the plastic cap that came with it over it while I was gone a short time. If you use a heating pad, check the soil occasionally, as it will dry quicker than just at room temperature. Never allow the soil temperature to reach below 60 degrees F. This will delay germination.
6. The time until you see emerging seedlings can be between 8-10 days.
7. Seedlings need sunlight. If you decide to keep your Magic Plant Ghost Chili on the windowsill, choose one that is on the southern side of your home or one that receives the most sunlight throughout the day. Also, rotate the can to reduce leggy growth (that is when a plant is leaning toward the light source if left in one position, then roots will form on the side of the stem). I left mine on the kitchen counter, which is right next to a sliding glass door. It was the perfect spot for warmth and sunlight.
In short, warm and moist environment is the best way to go to keep your Magic Plant Ghost Chili healthy and on its way to producing beautiful Ghost Chilies for you to enjoy.

Ghost Chili 101- Why the Magic Plant Way?

(Sorry no photos at this time due to camera malfunctioning. Next order I should have a working camera.)
I started with a Magic Plant Ghost Chili purchased at www.thepatentmagicplant.com . The Magic Plant Ghost Chili seeds are packaged in an attractively designed aluminum can and pre-planted in special mineral soil. Ghost Chili peppers grow best in well drained, sandy or silt-loam soil and need warmth. The Magic Plant soil and container is perfect for many reasons and here they are:
1. The special soil retains moisture but does not allow too much retention if the bottom of the can is not capped. Ghost Chilies do not perform well in waterlogged soil so make sure not to over water.
2. The small aluminum can is a convenient size. You can place it or transfer it easily to many different areas of your home wherever gets the most sunlight and heat throughout the day. Ghost Chili needs warmth to thrive.
3. If you use an alternate heating source to keep your soil at the best temperature, the can is easily warmed and cools rather quickly once heat is removed. This makes germinating your Magic Plant Ghost Chili much easier.
Therefore, now that you have an idea of what Ghost Chili needs to start, let us move to what happens next...
Note: Seedlings do not need sunlight to germinate. They need moisture and warmth.
After about 8-10 days, your seedlings should begin to emerge from the soil, if the range of soil temperature was between 75-95 degrees F. If not at that range of temperature, it may take longer for your seedlings to emerge.
Once your seedlings emerge, sunlight or an indoor grow light is necessary. Without direct light, the seedlings will wilt and not thrive. Even though your Ghost Chili has made it to the seedling stage, it is still very important for Ghost Chili to continue to be in temperatures of the 75-95 degrees F range. Only water your seedlings when the top soil is dry.
If you feel like your seedlings look somewhat droopy, I have a good idea for you. In a small spray bottle, mix 1 teaspoon of Epsom salt and 8 oz. of warm distilled water. Shake it briskly to dissolve some of the Epsom salt. Spray approximately two pumps of the sprayer directly onto the soil. Ghost Chili and pepper plants in general need magnesium for proper development.
When your seedlings reach approximately 3.5-4 inches in height, there should be a small bud in the center of the growing pepper plant. Just pinch or snip off the bud to stimulate growth. I hope this helps you in your adventure of growing Magic Plant Ghost Chili.

Ghost Chili 101- Indoor Transplanting

I began with a Magic Plant Ghost Chili. You can purchase one for yourself at www.thepatentmagicplant.com , look in Magic Plant Vegetables area of the site.
Since I snipped the first bud from my Ghost Chili at 3.5 inches in height, it has grown really well. It has reached approximately 6.5 inches. Therefore, I have decided to transplant it into an indoor pot before it becomes root bound in the original container. It is important to remove the Ghost Chili before it becomes root bound because the less the roots are disturbed, the better and lessens the shock to the plant.
I chose an approximately 2-gallon size planter for indoors. That is large enough to allow significant growth but still small enough to maneuver around if needed.
The soil I chose was 70% silt loam and 30% Miracle-Gro potting soil mixed. Silt loam is soil composed of a mixture of sand, silt, and organic matter. Miracle-Gro potting soil contains nutrients, which will make it so I do not have to start feeding it immediately. It is advisable once you have mixed your soil to take about 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt, sprinkle it on top of the soil, and mix it in. This will aid the Ghost Chili significantly in its development due to the magnesium content.
Now that the new container and soil is ready, we can transplant the Ghost Chili.
I took my Magic Plant Ghost Chili container, pushed it into the center of the planters soil about 1 ½ inch passed the base of the plant and moved it in a circle a few times to get a nice sized hole. Gently remove the Ghost Chili from the container, attempting not to damage the roots as much as possible. Place the plant into the hole, turn the soil into the surrounding area around the roots. Once you fill the hole, gently firm the soil around the base of the plant. Pepper plants unlike most plants will root from their buried stems so; it is okay if you bury part of the plant beyond its root base. Water your newly transplanted Ghost Chili preferably around the outer edges of the soil base so not to disturb the soil directly around the roots. Continue to water only when surface soil becomes dry. It is important for your Ghost Chili to receive direct sunlight and rotate planter frequently. Healthy Ghost Chili plants have dark green leaves and stems. You may need to get an alternate light source and feed the plant if it becomes light in color or wilts.
Soon your Ghost Chili will begin to bud and blossom, and then it is time for hand pollinating. I hope this helps in your adventure in indoor Ghost Chili growing.

Ghost Chili 101- Hand Pollinating Hello Chili Pepper Lovers! FYI, I began with a Magic Plant Ghost Chili. You can purchase one for yourself at www.thepatentmagicplant.com ; choose the Magic Plant Vegetables area of the site. I have previous articles that focus on the growing of Ghost Chili from the beginning with a Magic Plant product. This new concept of growing plants in a can is super convenient. I have also given my friends and business associates this as a gift. It is definitely something anyone can enjoy. That said, let us get on to the business of hand pollinating... The people that are far more of an expert than I am, NMSU-The Chili Pepper Institute noted that the Ghost Chili also known as the Bhut Jolokia chili pepper never would produce fruit without artificial pollination and produce less pollen when grown in an indoor setting or greenhouse. This means that you must hand pollinate your Ghost Chili plants to insure fruit set, which I will explain how to in the following. Growth varies from grower and environment so I am going to explain from the indoor budding phase since my Ghost Chili is budding. Once the blossoms are fully developed, open, and pollen sacs are present, it is time for the plant to be pollinated. Normally, in an outdoor setting, insects would pollinate the plant to form peppers or fruit. The pollen is produced at the stamen, which is the male reproductive organ of the flower and usually is the most potent every day at the hours between twelve and three pm. There must be more than one flower present to pollinate. To pollinate your pepper plant, use a thin, small-moistened natural paintbrush. Gently dab the stamen to pick up the pollen, preferably starting at the bottom of the stamen with an upward stroke to insure you get most of the pollen on the brush. Gently insert the paintbrush into the center of other flowers. I suggest repeating the pollination process over a few days to increase the odds of successful pollination. Keeping your Ghost Chili healthy is important. If your chili is looking pale, you may need to consider feeding. If you are already feeding your Ghost Chili, you may need to consider feeding it more frequently. I keep two small spray bottles close to mine. One is labeled (labeling is very important) Epsom and the other Feeder. It is best to have diluted feeder and gently spray directly on the top soil. I hope this helps you in your adventure of growing Ghost Chili. Ghost Chili 101- Transplanting Outdoors I started with a Magic Plant Ghost Chili. You can get one also by going to www.thepatentmagicplant.com . Select the Magic Vegetables tab. They also have other pepper plants you may be interested in getting. Just to recap the basics of caring for your Ghost Chili: 1. Moisture and warmth are very important. 2. Never over water your Ghost Chili. So, now it is time to get to the business of preparing to move your Ghost Chili outdoors. Outdoor temperature, location, and soil preparation is our first focus. Once the weather is consistently staying above 60 degrees F, it is a safe time to begin the process of transplanting your Ghost Chili to the outdoors. It is important to choose the location of your Ghost Chilies new home outdoors. If you have a raised bed or large plant container, creating the perfect soil and environment will be much easier. Location, Location, Location... The best location is where ever gets the most sun. You also need to choose a location that the Ghost Chili can establish a good root system. Since pepper plants prefer well-drained, moist, sandy or silt loam soil, you may want to dig a larger than normal hole so to mix for the perfect soil environment. The Ghost Chili can reach a whopping 5 feet high and wide planted in the ground, so definitely somewhere with some room to grow. If you a planting in containers, depending on the size of the container, the Ghost Chili may reach approximately 3 feet high and wide.
Now to mixing the soil... I live in Florida so the soil around here is quite sandy. I dug a circular hole four feet wide and 2 foot deep. I used approximately three-fourths the original soil for my soil mix. I purchased one bag of Miracle Grow Potting Mix Moisture Control 16-Quart and one 8-ounce container of Epsom Salt. Empty the entire bag of Miracle Grow Potting Mix onto the original soil. With a hand shovel, begin to mix the two soils together. Once you have the two soils mixed well with each other, spread the soil out in your hole. Sprinkle all of Epsom Salt over the top of the soil. Use a trowel to turn the Epsom Salt into the soil. Your location and soil are now ready for your Ghost Chili.
To help prevent shock to your Ghost Chili, you should place it outdoors for short periods until you feel it is acclimated. Put your Ghost Chili in its new home and moisten the soil lightly.
The Magic Plant Company has really simplified and made convenient the growing of pepper plants anytime of the year. I hope you enjoy your growing experience, as I have with the Magic Plant Ghost Chili.