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 should not expect them to be as large as those grown outside.The key to successfully growing a chili plant is 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 potting 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.
There are chili seeds in the seed starter cell.Even if some of the seeds don't grow, this will ensure success.The seeds should be covered with extra soil or compost.Smaller chili varieties such as habaneros, cayenne peppers, and pequins can be grown indoors.
Step 3: The seeds should be watered and the soil moist.
Water the soil after the seeds have been planted.Good seed to soil contact will be ensured by this.As the seeds grow over the next two to four weeks, keep the soil moist, but not soggy.
Step 4: The seed starter needs to be covered.
The seeds will grow if the seeds are covered.You can cover the seed pots with a plastic lid, an upside-down pop bottle with the top cut off, or a clear plastic bag.It's not necessary to cover the seeds, but it will reduce the amount of water you have to use.
Step 5: Provide light to the seeds.
While the seeds are germinating, it is important to keep them in a dark place.Make sure the temperature stays above 65 F.An ideal place is a shed or garage with a window.The seeds should be kept in this location until they start to grow.
Step 6: Transfer the sprouts to a window.
The lid or plastic bag on the pot 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 skylight.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 two sets of leaves.
As Chilis grow, they will need to be replanted.The first transplant will happen when the new sprout have two to four leaves.As your sprout grow, keep an eye on them for leaf growth.
Step 8: The weaker plants should be trimmed off.
Determine which one is the healthiest.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.The pot should be filled with 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, being careful not to damage any of the roots.If necessary, you can squeeze the seed cell to loosen the soil.
Step 11: The new pot has a plant in it.
The seedling should be transferred to the larger pot that you prepared.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 needs to be kept warm.
Most of the chili peppers are grown in warm climates.If you want your chilis to survive indoors, you'll 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 window.
Once the chilis are established and have been replanted, you can move them to a bright window that gets a lot of sunlight.The plant needs a lot of sunlight and the heat from the light will help keep it warm.
Step 14: The soil should be moist as it dries out.
The chili plant needs water.The soil should dry out between waterings.Chilis like damp soil, but overwatering 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 fertilization and water every two weeks.A balancedFertilizer is one that contains equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.A concentrated liquidfertilizer is a good option.The plant may 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 gets bigger, transplant it.
When the chili plant starts to fall over, it is time to transplant.A few inches of potting mix is enough to fill a pot that is one or two sizes larger.Transfer the plant from the smaller pot to the larger one.As you cover the root ball and 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 are shiny and bright, you can harvest chilis.
Within three months of the first transplant, your chili plant will bear fruit.Depending on the variety, your chilis could be anywhere from 2.5 cm to 20 cm in length.Cut the stem of the chilis with a knife or scissors.Gloves will protect your hands from the hot oils in the chilis.