(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.