All of the hotter South American peppers I have seem to be doing fine, even with not having any additional light except a South-facing window.

So, is it that the New Mexican peppers are generally faster growing and need more light, or do they just have a shorter life span?

I did buy some fluorescents but just haven't installed them yet.

Anyone have good results over-wintering New Mexican peppers?

(Full disclosure up front: I’m a miserable failure at overwintering so far)

From my understanding, all peppers are perennial. Just a WAG, but maybe the New Mexican varieties are less hardy plants?

I’ve read that the success rate in overwintering full plants (ie. not ones that have branches and roots trimmed) can be more successfully achieved by reverse hardening off. That is, over a week or two period bring them into their winter location for increasingly longer times each day. I’ve never tried it but might give it a shot next year.

FWIW,

Bill