If you love all things spicy, you’ll be happy to know that you can grow chili peppers indoors. Growing hot peppers in pots is a great way to enjoy fresh peppers all year round. There are a few growing requirements: mainly a sunny, south-facing window or grow lights, warmth, and well-draining soil.
Can you grow chillies indoors all year?
In the winter months, chillies grow in many breeders’ homes. All seeds are germinated on the windowsill or plants from the last season spend the winter in a bright room. If you don’t have a garden or balcony, you can grow chili plants all year round indoors.
How do you grow chile peppers indoors?
Start seeds in a warm spot out of direct sunlight and keep the soil moist. A plastic covering helps hold moisture. Increase sunlight as seedlings sprout. Proper lighting is essential to keep pepper plants from growing spindly when reaching for light.
How do you take care of an indoor chilli plant?
Water the chili plant so the soil is moist. Allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Chilis like damp soil, but overwatering can lead to rot and fungal growth, and it can also affect the heat level of the peppers, making them less hot than they would be. Feed the plants every couple of weeks.
Can you grow chili peppers indoors in winter?
With a little pepper winter care indoors, you can keep your pepper plants alive through the winter frost. If your peppers are in the garden, vs in containers, you will have to dig them up, plant them in a container and bring them indoors.
How long does it take for a chilli plant to produce fruit?
Some can produce ripe fruit in 60 days from sowing and others take as long as 120 days. Remember that varieties such as Habaneros take 100 or more days (3 1/2 months) from potting on to reach maturity. So these need to be started in good time or the fruit will never ripen.
How often should I water my indoor chilli plant?
One of the most important aspects of growing chilli pepper plants is getting the watering right, they are very thirsty plants. During hot periods, especially if grown inside a greenhouse, you will need to water regularly, usually twice a day. As dry compost will lead to a check in their growth.
How long do pepper plants live indoors?
Some pepper growers growing in regions with cold winter weather bring their super hot pepper plants indoors to overwinter them to have a huge head start on the next season. Tabasco Peppers, Malaguetas, Thai Hot and many of the peppers grown in India. These peppers can live between 3-8 years.
What kind of peppers can you grow indoors?
The best pepper plants to grow inside are smaller peppers such as pequins, chiltepins, habaneros, and Thai peppers, or small ornamental varieties. Indoor pepper plants need the same requirements as those grown outside. They need enough space in a container for their roots to grow.
How do you keep chilli plants alive in the winter?
1) Watering – The temperatures are lower so the plants will use far less water. Water less frequently to avoid damp conditions and deter mould build up. Check them once a week and water only when the compost is getting dry, this could be as little as every 2 – 3 weeks.
Can I grow chillies from supermarket chillies?
If they are already drying out then the seeds will be ok to plant now. If you plan on growing them inside on your windowsill they should do OK. However, ‘shop’ chillies may have been grown somewhere radically different in climate and probably won’t do well outside and may even struggle in an unheated greenhouse.
Do chilli plants need direct sunlight?
Chillies thrive in full sun, and although they will grow in semi-shade, they won’t produce as many fruits, so make sure you position your pot in a sunny area away from strong winds. Select a pot at least 30cm (12 in) wide and fill it with a good quality potting mix such as Searles Herb & Vegetable Potting Mix.
Is Miracle Grow good for Peppers?
If you are looking for an all-around great option for peppers then I recommend the Miracle-Gro All Purpose Plant Food. This is one of the Best Pepper Fertilizers EVER! This fertilizer instantly feeds providing bigger, better peppers. You can apply it every two weeks with a garden feeder.
Will pepper plants come back after winter?
Temperature. It will surprise many North American gardeners to learn that pepper plants are perennials; after a dormant season, they will return in the spring.
What temperature kills pepper plants?
Peppers do well in warm weather with 60-90 degrees Fahrenheit temperature. However, the plants will die if the temperature goes below the 32-degree Fahrenheit mark.
Do chili pepper plants grow back?
Simply prune back to where the stems are green. Any remaining leaves may turn yellow and drop off too, which is, again, completely normal; some plants will sit through the winter leafless, but will burst into growth again in the spring.
Do the flowers on a chilli plant turn into chillies?
Each flower of a Chili, Habanero or Peperoni can pollinate itself 1. In order for the plant to form chilies, pollen does not need to be transferred from other flowers. In contrast to self-pollination, there are also dioecious nightshade plants.
Do I need to pollinate indoor chilli plants?
This is a common problem amongst growing chillies indoors or in a greenhouse. As they are self-pollinating chillies do not require insects or the wind to pollinate, however if the stamen (male part) develops and is not touching the pistil (female part) this will lead to a sterile flower.
Why does my chilli plant flower but no fruit?
The Bottom Line. If your chilli plants are not fruiting, it is usually caused by the temperature that is either too hot or too cold. Remember chilli plants need full sun to produce a good crop. Make sure your plants are receiving at least six hours of sun a day for fruit set.
Do chilli plants like coffee grounds?
Coffee grounds are an excellent source of nitrogen and can give your pepper plants healthy growth which is why peppers love them. You can sprinkle the grounds around the plants in the garden bed.
Should you water chilli plants from top or bottom?
Pepper seedlings are especially susceptible.
That’s why I only recommend bottom watering your seedlings. (They can still be in danger of getting too much water, but this method of watering helps.)
Lorraine Wade is all about natural food. She loves to cook and bake, and she’s always experimenting with new recipes. Her friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of her culinary skills! Lorraine also enjoys hiking and exploring nature. She’s a friendly person who loves to chat with others, and she’s always looking for ways to help out in her community.