If you're a container gardener, want to take on a new gardening challenge, or just love hot peppers, growing your own chili peppers is a great project.It is possible to grow chili peppers inside, but you shouldn't expect them to be as large as outdoor- or greenhouse-grown ones.To grow a chili plant, you have to make sure it gets plenty of light, heat, and humidity.
Step 1: The seed starter cell needs to be filled with soil.
The chili seeds don't need to be planted very deep, so fill the cell almost to the top.A rich soil-based compost is a good choice for chilis.Because chilis need good drainage, look for a mix that also contains vermiculite or perlite.It doesn't matter what time of year you plant because you're growing the chilis inside.
Step 2: There are seeds in the pot.
The chili seeds should be placed in the seed starter cell.Even if some of the seeds don't grow, this will still ensure success.The seeds should be covered with extra soil or compost.Small chili varieties such as habaneros, cayenne peppers, and pequins can be grown indoors.
Step 3: Keep the soil moist by watering the seeds.
Water the soil after the seeds have been planted.Good seed to soil contact will be ensured.As the seeds grow over the next two to four weeks, keep the soil moist and not soggy.
Step 4: The seed starter should be covered.
The seeds will be helped to grow by covering them.You can cover the pots with a plastic lid, an upside-down pop bottle with the top cut off, or a clear plastic bag.It is not necessary to cover the seeds in order to reduce the amount of water you have to use.
Step 5: The seeds should be given minimal light.
While the seeds are germinating, it is important to keep them somewhere that is relatively dark.Make sure the temperature stays above 65 F.An ideal place is a shed or garage.The seeds should be kept in this location until they start growing.
Step 6: Transfer the sprout to a window.
The pot's lid or plastic bag should be removed when sprout appear.Transfer the pot to a place with lots of indirect light, like a bathroom or a warm room with a skylights.Plants need at least six hours of bright sunlight a day.If you don't have a sunny window, you can use a fluorescent tube light to help plants grow.
Step 7: Allow the sprout to grow at least two sets of leaves.
As they grow, they will need to be replanted.The first transplant will happen when there are two to four sets of leaves.Check your sprout daily for leaf growth.
Step 8: The weaker plants should be trimmed off.
Determine which one is the healthiest by assessing your seedlings.Look for leaf growth and a taller stem.The weaker seedling can be removed by trimming it with scissors or pinching it off with your fingers.You can separate the two and plant two chili plants instead of trimming off the weaker one.
Step 9: Potting soil can be added to a small pot.
The chili seedling should be moved to a pot no larger than 3 inches wide for the first transplant.You can fill the pot with either a rich and high-quality potting soil or a mixture of sphagnum moss and aged manure.
Step 10: The seedling needs to be removed from the seed pot.
Turn the seed starter pot over when you place your hand over the base of the seedling.Carefully pull the seedling and root ball from the starter pot to make sure they don't damage any of the roots.If necessary, you can squeeze the seed cell to loosen the soil and roots.
Step 11: The seedling can be planted in the new pot.
The seedling should be transferred to the larger pot.Add potting mix to cover the root ball and stem if you hold the seedling steady with one hand.The stem should be covered just below the first set of leaves.
Step 12: The plant should be kept warm.
Most of the chili peppers are grown in warm climates.If you want your chilis to survive indoors, you have to keep the daytime and nighttime temperatures between 70 and 21 C.If you want to keep the plant warm, you can keep it in a greenhouse, install an artificial light above it, and place it on a heating mat.
Step 13: Chilis can be placed in a bright window.
Once the chilis are established and have been replanted, you can move them to a bright window that gets lots of sunlight.The plant needs several hours of sunlight each day and the heat from the light will help keep it warm.
Step 14: As the soil dries out, keep it moist.
The chili plant needs water.The soil should dry out between waterings.Chilis like damp soil, but over watering can lead to rot, and it can also affect the heat level of the peppers, making them less hot than they would be.
Step 15: The plants should be fed every couple of weeks.
Regular fertilization will benefit your chili peppers.Feed the plant with balanced fertilizer and water every two weeks.A balanced fertilizer has equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.A fish and seaweed concentrate is a good option.The plant can stop growing, flowering, and fruiting in the winter.If the plant goes back into an active growing phase, resume twice monthly feedings.
Step 16: As the chili plant grows, transplant it.
When the chili plant is too tall, it is time to transplant.You can fill a larger pot with a few inches of mix.Transfer the plant from the smaller pot to the larger one.As you cover the root ball and most of the stem with fresh soil, hold the plant steady.Your plant will end up in a pot of 25 to 30 cm.An 18-inch (46- cm) pot is needed for a larger chili plant.
Step 17: When the peppers become bright, you can harvest chilis.
Within three months of the first transplant, your chili plant will mature and produce fruit.Depending on the variety, your chilis could be anywhere from 2.5 to 20 cm in length.To harvest ripe chilis, cut the stem just above the fruit with a knife or scissors.Gloves will protect your hands from the hot oils in the chilis.