Growing Peppers Indoors – Guidelines & Tips
If you’re a fan of spicy foods, you know how delightful it can be to grow your own peppers and enjoy them fresh. While peppers are largely seen as an outdoor plant, it’s actually possible to grow them indoors successfully if you follow a few simple guidelines. Here are some tips for growing peppers indoors:
1. Settle on the Right Variety for Your Space
First off, you want to pick the right type of pepper to grow indoors. Choose varieties that are specifically bred for indoor growing and compact, such as ‘Basket of Fire,’ ‘Tabasco’ or ‘Thai Hot.’ If you have the space, you can also experiment with larger varieties like ‘Cayenne’ and ‘Jalapeno.’
2. Pick the Right Location
Peppers need ample sunlight in order to thrive. Your best bet is to select a bright, south-facing window for your plants. If you don’t have a south-facing window available, you can also use a grow light to simulate sunlight.
Make sure to rotate your plants regularly for even light exposure, and move any small plants off the shelf if they’re casting too much shadow on the taller plants.
3. Give Your Peppers Room to Grow
When it comes to indoor peppers, bigger is usually better. Choose a large pot with ample drainage holes, and fill your pot up with a quality potting mix. Make sure to select a pot that’s large enough for your pepper variety, such as 8-10 inches wide for smaller varieties and 12-13 inches wide for larger varieties.
4. Provide Nutrients & Water
Peppers need nutrients to keep their plants strong and healthy. Once you’ve planted your peppers, give them a low-concentration fertilizer at the beginning of the season. You can continue fertilizing throughout the season with a liquid fertilizer or compost, but make sure to keep the amount of nutrients balanced.
Also, be sure to water your peppers enough so that the soil is moist but not overly saturated. To test, stick your finger into the soil—if it comes out dry the soil needs water, but if it remains moist, then the soil has enough water.
5. Give Them Heat During Cold Weather
Peppers need warm temperatures in order to thrive. They won’t germinate in temperatures lower than 50 degrees Fahrenheit and cannot tolerate frost. If you live in an area that experiences cold weather, you may want to invest in a heat mat to keep your plants warm, especially during the colder months.
6. Support & Kneel Out
If you’ve chosen a larger pepper variety that needs extra room and support, consider adding a cage or trellis to the pot. This will help your plants stay upright and avoid overcrowding. When the plants start to cluster together, thin them out by kneeling out the weaker plants in order to give the stronger ones room to grow.
With these tips in mind, you can successfully grow your own peppers indoors. With a bit of patience, knowledge, and care, you can be enjoying your own fresh, home grown peppers in no time!
