Growing Peppers Indoors – Guidelines & Tips
If you’re a fan of the earthy, mildly spicy flavor of peppers but don’t have the luxury of outdoor garden space, don’t despair. Growing peppers indoors is entirely possible, and with some knowledge of ideal conditions and a few tips, you can grow delicious peppers from seeds right from the comfort of your own home.
First, it’s important to understand the conditions that peppers thrive in. Peppers need plenty of light to grow, so aim for 10 to 12 hours of light a day. You can supplement natural light with fluorescent light fixtures, and adjustable grow lights for small spaces are available as well. To keep the air humid, consider using a humidifier or peat moss to help regulate humidity around the plants. Peppers thrive in temperatures of 65 to 75 degrees, so it will be important to keep the room at a comfortable temperature. Finally, soil is a key component for pepper growth – loamy soil with organic matter and perlite is ideal, and pump up the nutrients or use a liquid fertilizer every two weeks.
Once you have the necessary materials and conditions ready, it’s time to start your pepper plants. You can buy pre-germinated starts or you can start your seeds in 2-inch pots with a high-quality potting soil. If using seeds, add about ½ inch of soil and sprinkle one or two seeds per pot – if using pre-germinated starts, just add a ½ inch of soil and transfer the starts. Water the soil until the surface is completely moist, and place the seed pots in an area that receives 6 or more hours of sunlight a day. Don’t forget to keep the soil moist as the pepper seeds germinate, and be sure to apply fertilizer every two weeks.
Your peppers should be ready to be transplanted to their permanent indoor home within five to six weeks. For best results, choose a pot that is at least 10 to 12 inches deep and as wide as needed. Fill to within 1 ½ inches of the top with loamy potting soil, and keep in mind, peppers grown in containers are going to require a bit more water than peppers grown in ground. Water as needed throughout the growing season, being mindful of keeping the soil evenly moist. When your peppers have grown to about four inches tall, you can start to harvest them as desired. With a little TLC, your peppers should thrive all season long!
Growing peppers indoors is an exciting and rewarding adventure, and with these guidelines and tips, you can indulge in the flavor of your favorite peppers all year long!