Growing Pepper Plants Indoors
14.5 years ago Bhut Jolokia, indoor growbox, jalapeno, peppers
Pepper plants need specific environmental (temperature and humidity) conditions to establish growth and create high yields. If the temperatures get too low it will stunt its growth or not produce blossoms, when the temperatures get too high the plant will drop it blossoms resulting in no or reduce yields.
The perfect temperature range for peppers is between 70 and 80 degrees F for Bell peppers and hot peppers can handle a little warmer temperatures up to 85 degrees. If their environment gets below 70 degrees the plants will struggle, which given even in August we don’t hit an average of 70 degrees F for any success a greenhouse, hot box, or a growbox is requirement. If you are a frequent reader of this site you probably already know I go with the last option.
With a few CFLs (or incandescent if extra heat is needed) the peppers plants are happy in the growbox. With exception of once a week watering with a diluted fertilizer at 50% recommended on the box they pretty much take care of themselves. If we do get a nice warm day I will bring them out for some natural light. This also invites some natural organic pest control of any aphids which may have found their way into the growbox. When the plants begin flowering this also gives some bees an opportunity to do a little pollination, this can be done by hand with a paint brush or Q-Tip though my success rate is much less than the bees, though they have been doing this for millions of years…I am still a little new at this
As mentioned above controlling the proper temperature is critical, I do this with a combination of computer controlled fans and lighting to maintain the proper temperature, though this could also be achieved by using a $10 outdoor digital thermometer and a occasional adjustments to venting or fan control to maintain a good temperature range.
Last year I only grew jalapeno pepper plants, but this year I am also trying Cayenne, Sweet Yellow, and Bhut Jolokia pepper plants. Though it is quite a bit more work growing peppers in my area, I like challenges and to do things that others say can not be done, call me stubborn.
Tags: growbox
14.5 years ago
A few years ago I grew a wonderful Habanero plant outside. In the fall I really didn’t want to give it up, so I brought it in for the winter. I was just floored that around late January (We keep the house below 70 in the winter–blankets are cheaper) it started to flower and produced ONE pea-sized pepper. It was still spicy.
Sad to say, the plant didn’t make it through the next summer 🙁
14.5 years ago
I had a similar failed experiment. After collecting some jalapeno seeds, I planted a few to make sure they would germinate. I ended up letting the plant grow in my northern facing office using some CFLs to provide some additional light. The thing was leggy and produced some flowers and will some careful hand pollination I got one fruit slightly larger than a pea.
14.5 years ago
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14.4 years ago
I stunted my green pepper plants by planting too early. I have to relocate them so I can use the raised beds for better square footage this fall.
The hot pepper plants are all doing well, however, and we have gotten serranos, jalapenos, and banana peppers galore. Maybe a spicy pickled cabbage is an idea!
12.3 years ago
How well did your human pollination work out, I was curious about this part of the process… I plan on growing jalapeños year round in my basement with a homemade grow box/room.
Thanks great article!
Phil
11.9 years ago
Similar to Phil: I am growing my first garden this year, but just for fun, back in November I sowed a seed and have a nice yellow bell pepper plant growing. It’s currently about 14-18″, nice full green leaves, and I have a dozen + flower buds. When I hear about “hand pollination” do I just twist a q-tip from bud to bud? Just once? What are your tips, and how early do I do this?