Did you use a heat mat?
They like 85-90 degrees to sprout.
Sensitive to watering too much.
Usually not any harder to sprout than other C.Chinense.

I let my pods for seed almost dry out on the plant to make sure they are ripe.

I set my mat for 87 so it's probably about 85 depending on the thermostats accuracey.
I started out from seeds from every supplier I could get seeds from the first time I tried growing Bhuts , but now use growout seeds only with not much problem as far as germination goes.
Hungry bugs and critters are another story...

are you dehydrating the pods? or freezing or chilling the seeds to much? are you drying the seeds before replanting?

seems weird, now I know some crosses produce sterile seeds, are you sure you are harvesting from real bhuts and not a cross or something?

hmmm....interesting
kendra

Yea, I dehydrate them in a food dehydrator, I thought maybe that was the problem, at the end of the season do you just leave some pods on the plant until it frosts or they get soft and mushy? Do you have to dry them out at all?

I used a heat mat last year and this year, like I said first year 67 out of 70 and all at the same time for the most part, this year it would be like one or two a day, just no consistency at all, the Chile Inst. actually sent me some more seeds when I told them the results i was getting.

Thanks for the responses, I really appreciate it and any advice is welcome.

Dehydrators are too hot to dry seeds in. You are frying them for sure. Best ways to dry seeds are to let the pod and seeds dry together on or off the plant, or remove seeds and set on a paper plate to dry for about 2 weeks. I use the paper plate method myself. Too humid here to air dry the pods well before mold starts to grow.

Good luck!
jacob

I haven't grown Bhut's from home-harvested seed, but I will next year if I have a chance.

To dry pods, I, too, leave them on the plant until wrinkled (or beginning to wrinkle).
I pluck them, set them on a paper towel on the kitchen table, and slice the pods down one
side if the fruit is especially large/fleshy/moist.

Josh

Nope, not a one. and I was germinating seeds from two different sources.
suck.

I like to dry seeds where an a/c vent will blow on them. The cool dry air works for me.

I had the same trouble with my seeds from the Chile Institute this year. I planted 24 seeds and only had 4 germinate. I also had the same setup as the last 2 years, heating mat, etc. I was wondering about the poor germination rate this year.

About the bhut seeds, go to www.thehottestpepper.com .i paid $7.99 for 12 seeds and they sent me 15. I planted one as only one bhut plant is plenty hot. Plant is grown in all organic potting soil from foxfarm. Plant is about 2 feet tall and about as wide with 25 peppers. 3 or 4 are really starting to get that nice deep red color. Very hot!! Also i live in Florida.

I have had near 100% germination from my own BJ seeds, come to think of it, it might be fully 100%. I suggest that the starting technique is likely the problem.

I start mine in folded paper towel inside of a zipper freezer bag for the "greenhouse effect". They sprout quickly this way.

Hope this helps.

Ravi

Yeah, they(the chili institute)told me they were getting 90% germination this year, and that it was really strange mine were doing so poorly....
Ravi how do you dry your seeds out? I tried the ziploc bag for some of mine too and it didnt work, I must have really baked them.

I have had huge success with my own Bhut and Naga seeds,from fresh seeds from my own pepper pods. Not dried out first. I plant them fresh. maybe dry them for 1 day. I plant mine under the lights in one of my AeroGardens,and use clear plastic wrap on the top of the small pot I plant in, tie the plastic on with a rubberband, it makes it a small greenhouse I think, and I get nearly 100% germination. Seems to love the intense lights.

The soil is very warm from being wrapped with the plastic on the top. I think that helps.

I have bought seeds from peppermainia.com,but she doesnt have these this year,but hers nearly all came up. I have gotten them from all over the world ,through trades, and I get some really good ones, others I get, none come up at all!

Maybe you shouldnt dry them out first. I have had trouble with all my super hot peppers this year. They all have stunted growth for some reason. No taller than 2 feet? But I get a few peppers. I only need a few anyway. But I hear from many growers that they all seem to be having this problem as well. Must be something with the seasons or the seeds. All my hot peppers are fruiting, but they are so small in height. Except my newest one, my 'Hawaiian Chili', that I got seeds from a guy in Hawaii. It is growing like a weed and is still growing, it has peppers shaped like bullets,and very hot. And grows into a big 'shrub' that lasts for years, so he says. Well I have great hopes for these. It just doesnt seem to be the year for Bhuts or Nagas....at least not for big plants.