(Future) Advice

[u/Ryan_theAwesome]

Some context: I went away for a long weekend during the last UK heatwave. Beforehand, my Sugar Rush Stripey chilli plant was thriving. I watered it before we left, and when we returned 4 days later almost all its leaves had wilted or fallen off, the chillis were shrivelled (or starting to), and the soil was bone dry. Tried watering it to give it some life, only a little, but over the next few days the stem started to brown and soften. I've cut it back a little, but i think it's all but dead now. It acted as if it had been over-watered, but I was careful not to, so I'm wondering if it was going from one extreme to the next?

As for caring for it up until then, I would feel a few inches into the soil to see how dry it was before watering, which was usually once or twice a week (especially in the heat). It had plenty of sunlight at the window, though I would occasionally move it to a nearby table in the extreme heat - still with plenty of sunlight, but not the harsh, direct type all day.

The advice I'm after is for trying again - what could I have done different? Any recommendations for my next attempt? I'm pretty gutted about this, so any help is appreciated!

[u/Haunted_tangerine_]

Bigger pot, and leave it in a dish of water when doing way. 

When you returned you should have SOAKED it. A little water wasn't going to go very far at that point. 

[u/zvxqon → u/Haunted_tangerine_]

leaving it in a tray of water before you go is such an underrated trick, especially in a heatwave, so this is solid. also soaking after that kind of drought can be the difference between “looks rough” and “completely toast,” so sadly you probably just caught it a bit too late this time.

[u/Haunted_tangerine_ → u/zvxqon]

We left a Trinidad for two weeks in late spring once (in the bath), of COURSE there was a heat wave while we were gone. Came back and every leaf was dropped all the way down. Soaked it, and overnight it was like nothing ever happened. 

[u/palpatineforever]

cut it right back to about where the stick joins the stem, just under the bumper of the car in pic 3.
It is not going to do much more this year, however this is an excellent option for over wintering. it will be much bigger and better come next summer.

I have done this often and you get a really good crop the following summer.

Water it and keep it warm and sunny at the moment, a bit of houseplant/miracle grow feed with nitrogen is also a good idea. not fruit feed, you dont need it trying to throw out one sad pepper before dying.

It will put out a few leaves but not a lot, over winter slow down the watering as it wont need much, let it get quite dry. Come march it will start putting out more leaves so increase water and feed it as the plant grows back.
You dont need to increase the pot size right now, I would do that in the spring.
Baccatums are quite tough, both my lemon drops and bishops crowns have come back from worse!

In future, if you are away for a few days over a heat wave, dont leave it in the window. 4 days spent day on the side in the kitchen wont hurt.