Oh yeah, don't make the same mistake I did of starting sweet peppers and hot peppers all at once. This is why... But yeah, ghost peppers are slow growers, and here in tennessee I started mine at the end of february, and could have gotten by with starting them back in january.. Where you live I'm not sure, and I'm not sure if it's too late to start them now.. I'd assume so. You could look into ordering some plants this late in the year though, and avoid having to get them started and such. If you are really wanting to start growing from seed, I'd suggest getting started next year. When I started germinating hot pepper seeds I bought 2 4ft t8 fluorescent shop lights with 6500k t8 bulbs, a 4 foot long seedling heat mat with thermostat set @ 83 degrees, as well as a fan. Some people are particular with how they give plants light, and fan and such. Myself, the lights at first ran 24 hours, and the fan runs 24 hours a day. I've been giving them a little less light lately to get them ready for the move outside, as well as I've started hardening my plants off this week. But like Kevin said.. you can germinate seeds in a lot of areas lol, just somewhere that stays a constant 80ish degrees. I avoid the oven technique, I'm afraid of that one hah. Starting mix, I personally used some miracle gro potting soil (not the moisture control stuff, avoid it,) and mixed in some composted cow manure I picked up as well. If you plan on growing in containers, there are a lot of people that swear by the 5-1-1 mix, but it's just too much work for me, and my stuff is going in the ground. The only advice that I know anyone else here will agree with me on, is just don't over water. Don't be too careful and underwater either. Check up on your plants often. When mine start to wilt just a little, I water from the bottom. I find that the easiest method to determine when to water. Like I mentioned before, some people will go to extents of measuring out how much and have it on a specific schedule etc, but when I have to keep 300+ plants watered, no way. lol Hope it helps, and if you have any more questions ask away. The only stupid questions are the ones you don't ask!

Philip's pic looks exactly like the pods I grew last season from a White "Bhut" plant from Cross Country Nurseries/ chileplants.com No, it doesn't look like a true "Bhut," but they did ripen to a creamy, ivory color (never finishing red). Nowhere near true Bhut heat level, very close to Hab level heat. Very, very productive plant though, with phenomenal flavor! Somewhat sweet (maybe a touch of smokiness), and a hint of apple flavor in there. I'd definitely grow this one again, for its flavor alone. I'd estimate that I pulled somewhere between 80-100 pods off a single plant. It was fairly compact too. Maybe 30" tall x 24" wide

I don't see a problem, either. The fertilizer spikes are something that most folks frown upon, however. I wouldn't use them. Josh

I also live in Michigan and my ghost peppers do really well outside from May until october. My first year I only got about 15-20 peppers. I overwintered the plant and planted it back in the ground last may. I just dug it up and brought it in the house for its second winter. This season I got well over 100 peppers. Your plant definitely looks like it needs more light. I put mine in the window for the winter but I am not trying to get it to produce...just to survive. It thrives in direct sun all spring/summer/fall. I think if you keep it going through the winter and get it outside next spring you will be rewarded with a nice harvest.