Growing Peppers Indoors – Guidelines & Tips
Gardening with peppers is a rewarding and deliciously fun activity; and one that is becoming increasingly popular indoors.
As with any indoor gardening project, you need to create the optimal environment for your peppers to thrive. Growing peppers indoors is possible and can provide a significant harvest if done most properly. Here is what you need to know.
Selecting the Right Variety
When choosing a pepper variety for your indoor garden, you will want a variety that is specifically tailored to thriving indoors. For instance, Jalapeno Baja and Chocolate Cherry are two excellent and easy-to-grow varieties that do well when grown indoors.
Creating the Right Environment
When it comes to creating the right environment indoors for peppers to grow, you want to focus on ensuring they have ample light, water, and warmth. You ideally want to mimic outdoor conditions as much as possible.
Your pepper plants should get at least 8-12 hours of direct sunlight per day. If your indoor space is lacking in sunshine, you may consider investing in a grow light. This will help to ensure your plants get the light they need to stay healthy and grow at a steady pace.
Watering & Fertilizing
When it comes to watering your peppers, it’s important that you provide them with a regular amount of moisture; otherwise they will become stressed and their growth could be stunted. Be sure that your soil is moist, but not waterlogged. If you are using a terra cotta pot, you should let the top two inches of soil dry out before watering again.
As for fertilizing, you will want to use a balanced fertilizer with a ratio of 10-10-10 or 20-20-20. You can fertilize your peppers approximately once a month.
Disease & Pests
As with any indoor garden, you will want to keep an eye out for pests and disease. Examples of common problems that affect indoor peppers include discolored or wilted leaves, pests, and root rot. To keep your plants healthy, be sure to inspect them regularly and take quick action if any of these issues arise.
Harvesting & Storing
When your peppers are ripe and ready to pick, you can just pluck them off the vine. Be sure to use a pair of scissors or sharp tool to avoid damaging the stems. Once you have harvested your peppers, you can store them in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Do not wash them until you are ready to use.
With the guidelines and tips provided, you’ll be enjoying a delicious harvest of peppers in no time!
