There are many varieties of peppers or peppers to grow, from slightly spicy species to those that if we try them we will suffer a lot, as is the case of the Naga jolokia or the Carolina Reaper.
Most of them are planted in the spring and, given the way they grow, they can be grow chili plant in a pot and pick the fruit as we need it.
In this article, we give you some simple tips for plant peppers in pots.
Contents
Steps to follow to grow chilli in pot
1. Sow the seed
We will choose the variety of chilli or pepper that we want the most, since the planting is very similar and very good results are obtained.
All chili seeds have a fairly high germination power, so we won’t have big problems sowing them.
We look for one or more containers, the most common being pots or planters with holes in the base, to allow water to escape.
substrate mix
We will mix coconut fiber and universal substrate in equal parts, an ideal combination to guarantee good hydration of the seed and enough oxygen for good root development.
If we want to provide additional nutrients, the use of earthworm humus is also recommended, although it is optional.
We hydrate with water and we will have prepared the substrate and the container to introduce the seed. Remember that to grow the pepper in a pot, it will be enough to Introduce the seed between 0.5 and 1 cm deep.
ideal location
We will always keep the tray or seedbed hydrated (irrigation with a sprayer or watering can every 3 days), located in a lightly shaded area with good temperature, without drafts.
Gradually as the seedling emerges, the availability of light can be increased, but never in direct sunlight.
2. Ideal location
Once we have a perfectly formed chili plant with several true leaves, we can put it in the final environmentalthough being planted in a pot, we can play with its location according to what interests us.
The best environment is temperature between 20-25 ºCwith good lighting and, in addition, a few hours with filtered sun, near a window in the case of indoor cultivation, or on the balcony or terrace that we have.
3. How to water the chili plant
Watering hot pepper or hot pepper is moderate, as it grows dizzily until spring and during the summer. However, we always water when the substrate is slightly damp and never flooded.
We will start from a controlled frequency and amount of water and from there we will check the humidity with our fingertips just before the next irrigation. This way we will know if we have to wait a little longer to add water.
- Watering frequency: every 4 days until the appearance of the first fruits and, in high summer, every 3 days.
- Amount of water: 1/6 part of the volume of the pot.
4. Dose of fertilizer
We will apply liquid or granular fertilizer to our potted chili plant to form 6 true leavesliquid fertilizer is recommended because its absorption is immediate by the roots.
Generally and domestically, we can apply a ratio of NPK 2-1-3 nutrients with microelements, which is approximately equivalent to an NPK 4-2-8 fertilizer.
The the dose of fertilizer will be 0.5-1 ml/litre of water. The lowest dose before the appearance of the first fruits, and the highest dose, from their development. We will provide fertilizer in 1 out of 3 irrigations
Calcium and magnesium will be supplied with irrigation water, which may be tap water.
5. Possible pests and diseases
When we grow the chili plant in a pot, the risk of it suffering from pest and disease problems in the leaves is lower, although we must be very careful with irrigation to avoid fungal growth problems, like Phytophthora.
The main pests that can affect the pepper plant are:
- Aphid: located in new shoots and leaves, feeding on the sap and weakening the plant.
- Thrips: with an elongated and very small body, located in the open flowers, also affecting the fruits.
- Woodlouse: whitish, located on the main stems, being motionless.
- Mites: tiny spiders that thrive in warm, low humidity conditions.
All of these pests can be eliminated with patience and several foliar sprays directly on them. We can use the following products.
Against neck diseases, you can apply hydrogen peroxide or copper formulations, such as copper oxychloride.