Hi I transplanted them from seed starter trays to large pots and keep them indoors all the time. I don't sterilize anything before planting. I only used fertilizer on the Kaka Beak. Jobe spikes for houseplants. I have some tomato fertilizer I use on the peppers. I never tried fertilizing them right away. I thought that might burn the seedlings. I water from the top. The pots are so tightly packed together I can't get at the bottoms. I bury the seedlings so that all the sets of leaves and one inch of stem stick out. Thanks for the help Karen kstober@us.ibm.com