Hi,

I have a pepper plant (Carolina Reaper) that I've had for years, and this past time, I overwintered it in the garage (highly insulated and temps only got into 50s in there). However, I did a little wood work and didn't realize it would affect my plant. I realized this spring when I brought it outside that it was mostly dead wood, except for bottom. I cut off most and hoped for best, thinking that I may at least get enough of a growth from a shoot that I could just plant it and thus continue the genetics of this fine specimen. The roots have grown and I believe it's still alive, but I don't know if there is something I should be doing to encourage growth, other than casting a magical spell, lol. The bottom of the stem looks alive, and as mentioned, the main branches from the main stem have swelled or grown. Anyone know what it's doing or if it's alive, or what to do to in this case to renew this thing or get a new shoot? Thanks :)

I don't understand this:
"bottom of the stem looks alive, and as mentioned, the main branches from the main stem have swelled or grown."
I don't see any stems or main branches, just a dead looking stump with exposed tops of the roots.

You should start over with a new pepper plant.

Sorry, let me clarify: the bottom of the main stem looks moist and alive (looks greenish and moist). The main branches meaning the main roots entering the soil from the stem. These entering the soil have swelled significantly over the last few weeks. I've heard of people getting new limbs to grow from the bottom sides if the plant is not fully dead. Is the roots growing (one of the surfacing main roots grew an elbow into the soil) and swelling any evidence that the plant is alive? Anyone? Thanks for the questions and replies thus far

I don't see any evidence of life either...
If you are seeing evidence of growth... then... Good luck!
I wouldn't have cut anything, without seeing the plant sending out new growth. Cutting a plant at the wrong time can finish them off.

If you have any seed left from previous years, I'd plant them.

The green looks like moss growing as it is so damp from you are watering it often. The roots may look like they are swelling but it's probably because you are watering it a lot, washing some of the top soil away.
If anything were to sprout from the base, it would have most likely done so by now.

Thanks for the replies!

I started off just cutting a few pieces, and they were pure dried out wood, and then just ended with the stump, being the point of impasse, with me maybe exploring any last-ditch potential opportunities.

It was my first plant, so I'm partial to it, but as a last-ditch alternative, I wish I did have some more seeds that it made. I have chili that has been frozen that has seeds, but I doubt they'd germinate. I wish I would have stored some properly in the refrigerator.

Definitely is moss at the bottom. The picture was taken after I had watered it. I wait until the plant is almost dry, but not completely (usually), but the funny thing is that even when it's at that point where the surface of the soil is dry and the sun has been on it, I can see some difference between the surface of the dead trunk and the near bottom, though it could probably just be moisture. With regard to the top roots, I immediately exposed them like that in the very beginning of the spring, and they've grown huge in diameter, as there's an enormous difference between then and now, with a new growth into the soil (at the same level as the other ones, which were exposed initially). I appreciate you ruling these out though, per Occam's razor, which is good.

All of you have great replies, and it does seem like there would have been a new shoot by now, but I'll give it until fall to see if anything happens. Meanwhile, I'm open to any suggestions or advice on improving my odds. Thanks again

Also, when the dead stump part is wet, along with the top roots, there appears to be a line drawing the difference in the stump and the bottom part of the stump and top roots. I also hear the roots absorbing water when it is watered. Not sure what I'm implying here, as I'm not a biologist; just reporting what I experience. I do love learning though.