Seeds from two different sources, both supposedly Bhut Jolokia, both started same time and grown under same conditions...
Example one:
Seeds from Jamie in Hawaii, highly regarded source
http://www.thehottestpepper.com/index.html
Germination speed was very slow and seedlings did not want to grow well, very termpermental when young.
Image taken today:
Example two:
Seeds from a great sounding Ebay source
http://cgi.ebay.com/NAGA-JOLOKIA-BHUT-DORSET-CHILI-15-seeds-ghost-pepper-/220814811984?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336996a350
Germination speed was fast with strong seedling growth.
Image taken today:
(pretty obvious these are not the same species IMHO)
Quote from the Chile Pepper Institiute at New Mexico State University:
"SPECIAL BHUT JOLOKIA TIPS
Please read the how to start your seeds publication which is included in every seed order as well
as on our website, very carefully and closely follow the directions.
Bhut Jolokia require soil temperatures to be between 80 and 90 degrees F for proper
germination. You may need to supply bottom heat with the aid of a propagation mat.
Soil must be kept moderately moist, never being allowed to completely dry out and never
allowed to become soggy. This will destroy the embryo in the seed and they will not germinate.
The Bhut Jolokia can take up to 36 days just to germinate and sometimes germinate 70 days after
planting and have a very long growing period, up to 160 days after transplanting before any
harvest.
The Bhut Jolokia is an interspecific hybrid, meaning it is a cross between two species, due to this
it has a very hard time self-pollinating. For better pod development grow a habanero plant next
to the Bhut Jolokia, if your plants are indoors you will have to manually transfer pollen with a
soft paint brush. It is typical for the first set of flowers to drop from the plant and not produce
any pods, be patient, pods will eventually start to develop.
The Bhut Jolokia is extremely hard to grow and we do not recommend it for the novice
grower/gardener."
Conclusion..... one of the two is likely not Bhut Jolokia
Can you guess which one?
LOL
Example one:
Seeds from Jamie in Hawaii, highly regarded source
http://www.thehottestpepper.com/index.html
Germination speed was very slow and seedlings did not want to grow well, very termpermental when young.
Image taken today:
Example two:
Seeds from a great sounding Ebay source
http://cgi.ebay.com/NAGA-JOLOKIA-BHUT-DORSET-CHILI-15-seeds-ghost-pepper-/220814811984?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336996a350
Germination speed was fast with strong seedling growth.
Image taken today:
(pretty obvious these are not the same species IMHO)
Quote from the Chile Pepper Institiute at New Mexico State University:
"SPECIAL BHUT JOLOKIA TIPS
Please read the how to start your seeds publication which is included in every seed order as well
as on our website, very carefully and closely follow the directions.
Bhut Jolokia require soil temperatures to be between 80 and 90 degrees F for proper
germination. You may need to supply bottom heat with the aid of a propagation mat.
Soil must be kept moderately moist, never being allowed to completely dry out and never
allowed to become soggy. This will destroy the embryo in the seed and they will not germinate.
The Bhut Jolokia can take up to 36 days just to germinate and sometimes germinate 70 days after
planting and have a very long growing period, up to 160 days after transplanting before any
harvest.
The Bhut Jolokia is an interspecific hybrid, meaning it is a cross between two species, due to this
it has a very hard time self-pollinating. For better pod development grow a habanero plant next
to the Bhut Jolokia, if your plants are indoors you will have to manually transfer pollen with a
soft paint brush. It is typical for the first set of flowers to drop from the plant and not produce
any pods, be patient, pods will eventually start to develop.
The Bhut Jolokia is extremely hard to grow and we do not recommend it for the novice
grower/gardener."
Conclusion..... one of the two is likely not Bhut Jolokia
Can you guess which one?
LOL