Interesting reading. I'm doing bell peppers in pots and buckets this year and I don't expect a full yield but so far so good with a simple mix of topsoil and cheapo potting soil. So far, so good.
My gut reaction to potted plants suffering is do dig a hole and plant them in the ground. Not always an option nor a foolproof solution. It's been an effective habit for me. I've overwintered hot peppers in pots but I've never specifically grown one in a pot.
