Growing Peppers Indoors – Guidelines & Tips
Homegrown healthy veggies, like peppers, possess an array of health benefits, as well as offering a rewarding sense of accomplishment and some great flavors! Growing peppers indoors is becoming increasingly popular, so let’s discuss what you need to know to make your homegrown peppers succeed.
Getting Started
You’ll need a pot or planter with good drainage holes at the bottom. A 12-inch pot with 12-14 inches of depth is ideal for peppers, but pick a pot size based on your particular pepper variety. Fill it with a quality potting mix and add some perlite or vermiculite and aged compost for added drainage. Consider adding a self-watering system to facilitate regular watering.
Position & Light
Your pepper plants should be in a well-lit room, but they shouldn’t be in direct sunlight. If you can’t provide enough light with a windowsill, grow lights will be a great help. Using a timer to ensure that they get 12-14 hours of light per day will help to guarantee a good yield.
Water & Feeding
Keep the soil evenly moist without being soggy. Avoid letting the soil dry out, but don’t water when the top layer is still wet – and make sure your peppers’ pot has excellent drainage so you can avoid root rot. Using a soaker system and self-watering pots to make sure your peppers get regular moisture. You can add a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer when the peppers are blooming, or when they begin to produce fruit.
Pruning & Harvesting
The more you snip off any flowers or peppers that are scabby or blemished, the better your overall harvest will look. You may also want to pinch off some of the suckers and prune a few outer branches to allow better air circulation. Regularly inspect your pepper plants and harvest peppers when their coloring indicates they have reached optimal ripeness.
Final Thoughts
Growing peppers indoors can be a satisfying and rewarding experience. By taking the proper precautions and learning from the tips and guidelines we’ve discussed in this article, you will be well on your way to harvesting your own peppers at home.
