How to Successfully Grow Peppers Indoors

Have you ever wondered if you can successfully grow peppers indoors?

If you are limited on growing space or don’t live in a climate conducive to an outdoor garden, growing your produce indoors can always be an option. Peppers are an easy vegetable to grow indoors, and with a little work, you can enjoy amazing results. If growing produce indoors sounds like something you wish to try, consider these tips on how to successfully grow peppers indoors so you can enjoy fresh produce all year round!

To grow your own peppers indoors, here is what you will need:

Supplies:

Small variety pepper plants such as chili peppers, caribbean peppers, or other miniature pepper varieties as these seem to do better than large bell peppers. However, bell and banana peppers can be done too, just a little harder.
Nutrient-rich potting soil
Liquid plant food
Planting container such as a window box (larger pot if planting bigger peppers)
Artificial light source (optional, as needed)
Plant Stakes

Directions:

As recommended, use a smaller type of pepper plant since you will be limited on space when growing indoors. Your local gardening center can recommend smaller varieties to choose from. If you do want to go for growing the larger banana or bell peppers you will need a larger pot and a little more space.

Plant from seedlings is you are wanting to get a jump start. You will experience quicker, stronger results if you plant from seedlings as opposed to seeds. You can find seedlings for as little as one dollar or less per plant at your local gardening center. If you don’t mind waiting a little longer then you can start from seeds.

Fill your container for planting. Begin by placing some pebbles at the bottom to help with drainage. Not a ton just enough to lightly cover the bottom of the planter. Then add nutrient-rich potting soil to help aid the growth of your plants.

Plant the pepper seedlings at least 4 inches apart. If using smaller pots plant one seedling per pot. Take care to handle the roots gently. You will need to lightly massage the roots when you take them out of the container if using seedlings. You want to loosen the roots so they start into the new soil but you want to make sure not to damage them either.

Next, give the pepper plants an initial feeding of liquid plant food with water. A liquid is advised because it will release slow and be well absorbed by the plant.

Lighting & Care:

Your pepper plants should go in a sunny window that gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. If you don’t have a single window that gives this sort of light, you can move the plants as the day progresses so they get the 6 hours.

Should you not have a sunny spot that gets at least 6 hours of direct sun, you can use an artificial light source. You can find sun lamps at most home improvement stores or Amazon and use them to provide your plants the 6 hours of sunlight they need per day.

As the pepper plants mature, use stakes to help support them. You don’t want them to bend, break, or snap as the peppers start to grow and become heavy.

Since you are growing indoors, there should be no concern about pests. Yay! Simply water your seedlings so the soil stays moist, give regular fertilizer feedings every 3-4 weeks, and watch for foliage yellowing. Yellowing may be a sign of overwatering.

Pick your peppers as they mature to help encourage new growth. Should you have warm and sunny weather, feel free to take your plants out for some air but don’t sit them in the direct sun for very long at first. If you will be moving the containers outside for long amounts of time, do the first day or two in semi-shaded areas so as not to shock and burn them from the direct sun until they are used to it.

As you can see, growing peppers indoors is possible. Give these tips for growing peppers indoors a try and see what you can achieve!

How to Successfully Grow Peppers Indoors