Ornamental Pepper plants are a great way to add color into your house. The level of care needed to grow this plant is easy, and just needs the basics, such as moist soil, plenty of light and moderate to cool temperatures.
Don't Overwater
Ornamental Peppers don't like to be waterlogged.
Water only when the soil's surface feels dry, and give water slowly, allowing the soil to absorb the moisture without letting it run off.
Make sure to empty the bottom saucer after watering, so that the roots won't sit in standing water (which can cause rot root).
Mist the foliage twice a week to keep humidity levels elevated.
Give Plenty Of Light
Ornamental peppers need full sun and only occasional part shade to produce flowers and colorful fruit.
Be sure to select a location that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day – place the plant in front of a very bright, south or west-facing window, as close to the window as possible.
If the plant is not getting enough light, it will start leaning toward the lightnand becoming leggy. The stem will thin, and the plant will produce only a few peppers.
If your home doesn't get enough light, you might consider adding supplemental artificial lighting.
Choose A Well-Draining Soil
Place your Ornamental Pepper in a rich, loamy soil.
Choose a soil that is well aerated and doesn't hold water back. If the soil appears to be too tightly packed, add perlite and peat moss to it.
Keep It Warm
Temperatures of 70-75 degrees F and up will stimulate rapid growth.
At night, keep the plant between 12ºC (55F) and 15ºC (60F): it will increase the longevity of the fruit.
Feed Once A Month
Use a liquid 5-10-10 fertilizer with more phosphorus and potassium than nitrogen – it will encourage fruit and bloom production without making plants too leafy.
The plant doesn’t need additional fertilizer after producing fruit.
Eat It If You Enjoy Spice... A Lot
Although Ornamental Peppers are mainly used for decoration, these plants are edible.
They are non-toxic, and as safe to consume as culinary peppers, but usually very spicy.
Pay Attention To Pests And Root Rot
Ornamental Peppers are usually healthy, vigorous plants.
From time to time, they may suffer from aphid or spider mite infestations. In this case, you must spray the plants with insecticidal soap or neem oil spray.
Ornamental Peppers can also suffer from root rot, which causes stems and roots to become darker. To prevent this problem, start with healthy plants, provide well-draining soil, and avoid over-watering.
Remember
Since Ornamental Peppers are extremely hot, don't let children or pets eat them. Use hanging baskets to keep the plant out of their reach.
Pinching the top of the stems will encourage the plant to become more bushy and full looking. You can also pick the peppers to encourage more flowers. If you prefer, you can allow the fruits to dry on the plant so you can collect their seeds.
It's time to repot if you need to water the plant more than once per day.
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