Gardeners who want to spice things up with spices and chilli fanatics should both consider growing them in containers. In fact, even if you don't have room to plant chillies outdoors, many varieties can be grown in pots indoors. What's more, novices may be better off growing chili indoors than outdoors, because indoors they can better control water, heat and light - the three main ingredients needed for a successful harvest. of chillies.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Preparation
Step 1. Choose the variety of chili
Dwarf ornamental peppers are great for growing indoors, as many of the large varieties may not have adequate space for root development in containers.
Step 2. Choose a plastic pot rather than a clay pot
Clays such as terra cotta can actually draw moisture out of the soil, especially in the heat and light conditions necessary for growing chillies. These peppers need a lot of moisture to grow and can dehydrate in a clay pot.
Step 3. Choose a pot with a drainage hole
Although chilies thrive on large amounts of water, a drainage hole prevents too much excess water from collecting and submerging or rotting the roots.
Step 4. Sterilize the jar before using it
Many containers, especially if used previously, contain hidden bacteria and insect eggs that can damage the new plant's growth. Wash the container with warm, soapy water to eliminate most threats.
Step 5. Purchase a soil mix
Often, garden soil contains bacteria that can damage chili seeds, preventing them from germinating or hindering their growth. A multipurpose compost mix purchased at a local garden store should solve the problem, however the better the quality of potting soil you use, the more likely you are to grow plants successfully.
Improve the quality of the soil by mixing it with vermiculite
Method 2 of 4: Promote Rapid Germination
Step 1. Place a handful of chili seeds between damp paper towels
The seeds should be arranged in a single layer, so that the moisture is distributed evenly.
Step 2. Tightly seal the seeds and paper towels in a container
A plastic container with a tight lid or a large sealable plastic bag is fine.
Step 3. Keep the seeds in a pantry with hot air
Both heat and humidity are required for germination.
Step 4. Check the seeds after two to five days
If they have swollen, they are ready to be planted. Some seeds may even have small shoots.
Method 3 of 4: Planting
Step 1. Fill the jar with the soil mixture
Keep about 2.5 inches of space between the surface of the earth and the edge of the pot.
Step 2. Plant the seeds in the pot
The seeds should be spaced 5 centimeters from each other.
Step 3. Sprinkle some loose compost over the seeds
You should only have about 0.5 inches of compost on top of the seeds, minimal protection is enough.
Step 4. Spray the seeds with water
Spray the seeds with water as much as necessary to keep the soil moist. Water is essential to chilli, especially in the early stages of planting.
Step 5. Monitor the development of the seedlings in your container
Depending on the chili variety you choose, the first sprout can appear in the ground anytime between one and six weeks.
Method 4 of 4: Caring and Harvesting
Step 1. Keep your peppers near a sunny window
A window that faces west or south can provide the best light and the most heat. Chillies thrive in full sun, so place plants as close to the window as possible to maximize sun exposure.
Step 2. Invest in a fluorescent grow light
If you can't give your peppers enough natural light indoors, place them under a grow light. The lights need to be placed about 6 inches above the plants, and your peppers will need the lights on for 14-16 hours each day to get enough heat and light.
Step 3. Provide daily air circulation, but keep chillies away from drafts
Open a window or turn on a low-speed fan for a couple of hours every day. Ideally, the air should remain at room temperature and in any case moderately warm. Continuous drafts of hot or cold air could hinder growth, so keep your peppers away from air conditioning and heating vents.
Step 4. Soak your peppers thoroughly after the sprouts appear above the soil
When the surface of the soil is just barely dry to the touch, give the chillies more water. Water until excess water begins to drain out of the bottom hole of the container.
Step 5. Promote growth by giving plants a monthly fertilizer
Use a 15-15-15 balanced fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
The three numbers on a fertilizer package refer to the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium that the fertilizer contains. A 15-15-15 fertilizer has all three elements in equal parts, which means that the foliage, root system, flowers and fruit of the chili plant receive an equal dose of food. Nitrogen improves the foliage, potassium improves the overall strength and flowering of the plant and phosphorus improves the roots and fruits
Step 6. Collect the peppers one at a time
Make a note of the standard size and color - red, orange, yellow, or green - for the chili variety you have decided to plant. Once the peppers reach these specifications, use shears or scissors to cut the stem directly above the chili. Chilli plants can take 90 days after germination to produce ready-to-harvest chillies.
Advice
- You can also plant chili seeds directly in the ground without letting them germinate first. The seeds will take longer to germinate this way, which means you'll have to wait longer before the peppers are ready for harvest.
- Invest in a heat propagator if you want to ensure proper germination. While the moist paper towel method described above works in most cases, a heat propagator has a higher chance of success.
- Be aware that the proper pot size can vary based on the specific chili variety you plant. In most cases, an 18 to 25 cm pot should be fine, but some larger varieties may require an even larger pot to allow for effective root development.
- If starting from seeds doesn't appeal to you, simply buy chili seedlings from a nursery or garden store and transplant them into containers large enough to hold a mature version of the plant.
- You can use normal water for your plants, but you should let it rest for 10 minutes before watering them.
