Growing Peppers Indoors – Guidelines & Tips
Growing peppers indoors is a great way to enjoy the warm flavors of fresh peppers year-round. Peppers can add a nutritional and flavorful punch to any dish, and with the right setup, growing peppers indoors can be easy and satisfying. Here are a few guidelines and tips for growing pepper plants indoors successfully!
Light Requirements for Growing Peppers Indoors
Peppers are sun-loving plants, and need plenty of light to thrive. The amount of light needed will depend on the variety of pepper you are growing, and will range from six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day. If you don’t have a sunny spot in your home for growing peppers, you can invest in grow lights to run for 12-14 hours a day. You can also supplement natural sunlight with fluorescent, LED, and incandescent lights.
Repotting and Soil for Growing Peppers Indoors
To ensure healthy pepper plants, it’s best to repot pepper starts when they first arrive in a larger pot. Peppers do best in soil that allows for some drainage, like a loamy potting soil mixed with a 20-30 percent vermiculite. This will help the soil retain the right amount of water without becoming waterlogged. It’s also important to keep the pot light enough so that you can move it around for adequate light in all parts of the room.
Watering and Maintenance for Growing Peppers Indoors
It’s important to water your pepper plants regularly and consistently. Peppers need to be watered whenever the soil begins to dry out, and should never be allowed to dry out completely. To maintain consistent soil moisture, it’s a good idea to have a timer on your watering system, or to establish a regular watering schedule. In addition to water, a balanced fertilizer should be added to your pepper’s soil once a month.
Harvesting Peppers Indoors
The best way to tell when your peppers are ready to be harvested is to pay close attention to color. Different varieties of peppers will ripen to different colors, but the leaves should be a deep, glossy green as the pepper develops. Once your peppers reach the right color, you can pick them by cutting them off the stem with a pair of sharp scissors or pruning shears.
