Growing Peppers Indoors – Guidelines & Tips
If you think growing peppers indoors is impossible, think again! With a little bit of care and know-how, anyone can raise a lush crop of peppers in their own home. From small, flavorful peppers to large bell peppers, you can choose from a variety of types when growing peppers indoors.
Creating an Appropriate Environment
You will need to provide an environment with lots of light, heat, and humidity for growing peppers indoors. If you don’t have much natural sunlight available, make use of dedicated grow lights. The lights need to be hung at least 8 inches above the pepper plants and be kept on for at least 16 hours per day. The ideal temperature for pepper plants is 70-85 degrees Fahrenheight. To maintain adequate humidity, you can cover your containers with plastic, mist water onto your plants daily, group plants together for their moisture, or use a humidifier.
Choosing Containers and Planting
Your container should be big enough to give the pepper plants room to grow. Pick one that has drainage holes at the bottom to prevent overwatering. Fill the pot with soil and plant one pepper seedling for each pot. Water them thoroughly and keep the soil moist.
Fertilizing and Watering
Feed your pepper plants with a fertilizer that’s high in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N-P-K) every two weeks. Water regularly and deeply so the soil is moist, but not soggy.
Harvesting Pepper Peppers Indoors
Your peppers will usually be ready to harvest after 3 months. When the pepper fruit has reached a full size and the exterior turns the variety’s assigned colour, it’s time to harvest. To harvest, cut the pepper off the stem by using a pair of garden scissors.
Troubleshooting Problems
If your pepper plants are lacking vigor or not producing enough flowers or fruits, try moving them to a location where they can get more sunlight and warmth. Other common issues with pepper plants include aphid infestations and root-knot nematode. Treat any outbreaks using a mild insecticidal soap.
Follow the guidelines and tips provided above to start growing peppers indoors. With a bit of attention and care, you’ll end up with a lush crop of peppers grown in the comfort of your own home.
