Should mention many of the the first seedling started showing at about the 20th of Dec. would have thought I'd have seen new growth by now.

That is an interesting website Johnny, I was particularly interested in the tip about bonemeal - something that I will try. The germination times given are not correct. I have had a commercial Ancho San Luis germinate in 2 days (with the last of the batch after 22 days) and a Red Rocoto straight from a ripe pod after 4 days. I have had Habaneros germinate after 7 days, and my slowest batch took between 33 and 46 days.
Brien

yeah I had most my peppers (8 types) all pop up within a week. my orange Habanero did take the longest though. Some of my Red Savina Hab and Jamaican Hab germinated in under a week though. so I think it really depends on how fresh and the conditions they are planted in. I also noticed some of my starts are getting brown tips and starting to curl, to much nutrition? im not adding anything to the potting mix. I just bought a Lights of America grow light from Walmart and some Miracle Grow orchid potting mix that I think I am going to transplant them into after seeing that site and see how they do.

For kicks I have starts of the following: Jalapeno, Tabasco, orange Habanero, Red Savina Habanero, Jamaican Habanero, Cayenne, Bhut Jolokia, and Naga Morich (but I read that Bhut and Naga are the same pepper so not sure)

Last Spring, I started my pepper plants in a self made mixture of peat moss and perlite without lime. I fertilized with a hydroponic fertilizer containing calcium. The seedlings grew well.

been less than 24 hours since adding more lighting and heat and I am already noticing new growth. I did transplants some of my seedlings into a non-peat mixture (m.g. Orchid potting mix) so we will see what comes of that. Once the last of my seeds germinate I will probably take the heating pad and stick it under the pots to heat the lower soil more.

Orchid mix is mostly wood products-bark,charcoal etc.

You will find it's great for roots as far as being airated.
But it will need to get lots more nitrogen as the bark breaks down.
I use Orchid bark ( not mix),Perlite and peat for my soil mix for pots.
My Manzano and Rocotos love it the best at 5 parts bark , 1 part peat , 1-2 parts perlite.
Most of the peppers I grow like it but I have to adjust the peat for some peppers while others like the generic mix I use,it has more peat in it and some composted forestry products(planter mix).
Different peppers like different soil,moisture etc.
I do grow a lot of stuff that most gardeners don't though.
Some of the stuff I grow is a lot different than what you get at a nursery or home depote etc.

jonny,

How cold is your windowsill? Heat loving plants like peppers and tomatoes will stop growing if the temperature is too low.

Jim

Jim,
the window sill I'm sure was cold as there were a few nights it dropped well below freezing (some of the coldest south Texas has seen in a while) I think I was the cold and also maybe not enough light. It would get light there but not lots for a descent amount of time the way my apartment is facing.
I moved the table away from the window and now have 3 lights: 1 that is 5500k and energy saver but doesn't give off much heat, the next is a full spectrum flood light that gives off some heat, the last is one of the cheap grow lights you can find at walmart. it's been about 2 days now and notice a world of difference, finally have my 3rd leaf sprouting out the center of ALL the seedlings.