How to care for homemade peppers. Decorative indoor pepper: varieties, how to grow in a pot
Pepper is very valuable food product, nutritionists, doctors, pharmacists, scientists, and people not related to medicine, but who have experienced its benefits, agree with this. Pepper is useful to eat both in its original form and as a crushed seasoning.
But eating fresh pepper is not always possible, especially if this vegetable is not in season. Of course, it is sold in supermarkets all year round, but it is not very cheap, and the quality of imported vegetables is healthy eating raises some doubts. So you need to try growing peppers yourself.
It is necessary to immediately make a reservation that the division of pepper into decorative and ordinary occurs according to the place of planting, and not according to some fundamental principle. Many decorative varieties can be planted in the garden in the summer without any additional protection or grow there initially. And many “outdoor” types of peppers take root well indoors and, sitting in a pot, delight their owners with delicious, useful fruits and decorate their home. Check out the article: .
How to grow peppers?
If a person was born, raised and lived his whole life in the city, then much of what is associated with growing food is unfamiliar to him. Is it possible to grow peppers without subsidiary farming V standard apartment, and even out of season?
Perhaps, if it is indoor pepper, of certain varieties, or, as it is also called in specialized literature, decorative, homemade pepper. For example, growing indoor Ogonyok pepper is no more difficult than caring for a violet, cactus or other common flower. The following will describe in detail how to do this.
Preparing for landing
Let's consider growing Ogonek pepper on a windowsill as the simplest and most typical procedure. Plant decorative peppers in a pot, like other indoor plants. A medium-sized pot is taken, one or two liters; if you plan to plant a taller variety, then a larger pot is chosen accordingly.
Land for planting indoor peppers on the windowsill can be purchased in specialized stores or taken from the garden or forest belt. But here it should be remembered that if the store soil is already ready, then your soil must be treated from possible weeds, bacteria and pests (for example, by calcination in the oven). You can enrich the soil for indoor decorative peppers by adding peat or specialized fertilizers. Some people use manure or kuryak, but then the apartment will be bad smell. However, if the pepper grows on open balcony, then it's okay.
Seeds can be germinated in advance by wrapping them in gauze soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, which will further disinfect them. The gauze should be wet before planting, but not too wet, otherwise you can “flood” the seeds. When the seeds sprout, they are ready for planting. You can, if you don’t want to mess around, plant the Ogonyok pepper on dry ground. But then the seeds will sprout later.
Planting pepper
It is better to moisten the soil before planting than to water after it. Then the top layer will not be broken and the seeds will not float. To plant, you need to make a hole in the center of the pot to a depth of one to one and a half centimeters. Place two or three seeds there at a distance from each other and cover with soil on top. A few seeds are placed as insurance so that the plant will germinate for sure. If the sprouts have produced all the seeds, they will need to be thrown out or replanted.
If you plan to grow several plants, you can make a bed and plant them later.
It is better to cover the plantings with cellophane, and if there are cats or dogs in the house, then with glass. That's all - the indoor pepper Ogonyok is planted.
Breeding Ogonyok
If a person already has pepper growing, you don’t have to delve into the above text, but, if necessary, propagate it using cuttings. A shoot is cut off from a side branch, placed in a jar of water, after the plant has produced full roots, plant the cutting in a pot. The process is complete.
Pepper care
Pepper is not a very capricious crop, but it would not hurt to take into account its characteristics and needs so that decorative pepper care is carried out competently. With proper care, the plant can live and bear fruit for up to 8-10 years.
Pepper is a guest from the south and loves light and warmth, but on the contrary is afraid of cold and wind. Therefore, growing pepper on a windowsill should be done where there is plenty of sunlight. If necessary, you can use lighting and heating, although this is not a cheap pleasure. However, you must not overdo it; in the summer heat, on the balcony under the direct rays of the sun, the plant may simply “cook.”
Pepper also loves moisture, so it should be watered generously without flooding, especially during flowering and fruit formation.
Fertilizers are not particularly required; once a month you can add peat or special composition from the shop. If the pepper is not in a residential area, manure or chicken droppings. But if peat, manure and droppings do not cause harm, then ready-made fertilizers It’s better not to get carried away if a person wants to get an environmentally friendly product on his table. You can also water the pepper with water from the meat after it has been washed. The solution contains a lot organic matter. Then watering and fertilizing will be carried out simultaneously.
It is advisable to replant the plant every year, this will lengthen its life and increase productivity. When replanting, you need to take a pot one size larger than the previous one, as the pepper grows and the root system needs more space.
In general, growing hot peppers on a windowsill, as well as caring for them, do not require either an agronomist diploma or the labor of a forced peasant, everything is easy and simple.
Pepper - apartment decoration
Pepper is a very “fashionable” vegetable, it corresponds to the modern urban style, which strives to combine aesthetics and functionality. It is not only useful in cooking, but also decorates the kitchen. You can make it stylish live composition, especially if you don’t spare money on a beautiful pot. It’s not for nothing that it’s called decorative.
Formation of a bush
Many people see photos on the Internet of a beautiful bush with fruits and wonder why their peppers grow differently. The fact is that there are initially bushy varieties, and there are those whose crown needs to be shaped in order to give it the desired decorative shape. The same light, without formation, grows straight and looks like a tree, and not like a bush from the picture.
How to make a lush bush from a tree? It is necessary to trim the shoots and the top of the plant, then it will not grow straight. Side shoots You can cut it in half and simply pinch the top of the decorative pepper. If you want to make the bush not so tall, cut off the top more strongly. The main thing here is not to overdo it, so as not to destroy the plant.
It is best to prune peppers after transplantation, about two weeks later, since transplantation itself is stressful. If the bush is young, then this process can begin after the fruits appear. There is no need to cut everything at once, it is better to spread out the pruning, since for a plant it is the same as an operation for a person.
Varieties of decorative peppers
Above we discussed how to grow Ogonek pepper in a city apartment. However, this variety is not the only one that can decorate a home and bring benefits. There are many more varieties of decorative peppers. They are different in color and shape. Some of them look so unusual that people ask the question, is it possible to eat decorative peppers of this type? There are different varieties and taste: there are bitter and sweet. The most popular ones will be listed below. But other varieties are just worth mentioning: Aladdin, Filius blue, Gavrish, Black Pearl, Red Rocket, Mix.
Pepper Ogonyok
For many, the Ogonyok pepper on the windowsill in the kitchen is a familiar sight. This is, one might say, a classic. It has a very spicy taste. Fruits first Green colour, then they turn yellow, and in the final stage they turn red. The red fruit is ripe and ready to eat. The pepper has an elongated shape, a fairly large size (up to 45 g), and a smooth texture. Medium-sized bush, branched. Vegetables from this plant reach maturity approximately 115 days after planting the seeds.
Pepper Aladdin
Aladdin bush pepper looks very original in the interior modern kitchen. Its color goes through four stages: green, cream, purple, red. Since the bush simultaneously contains fruits at different stages of ripening and flowers, the plant looks very bright and colorful. Even if you have a strong dislike for pepper, it can be used as a decoration. Reviews about Aladdin pepper on the Internet are positive. The bush itself is also quite large (35-40 cm), branched.
Aladdin pepper fruits are spicy, but not too spicy. This pepper variety is famous for its productivity. Although the fruits are not too large, there are a lot of them. They are elongated and cone-shaped. They have a peculiar aroma.
Chilly Willy Pepper
Many would not risk planting this variety in a house where children or very impressionable people live.
The point is the obscene shape of the fetus, which resembles male sexual dignity. Another name, Penis Peppers, speaks for itself. This is the original form of this fruit, and not the result of the experiments of a mad scientist.
However, for those who do not suffer from excessive hypocrisy, Chilly Willy pepper is very tasty. This variety is quite hot and bitter and has high nutritional qualities. The color of the fruit goes through stages: green, yellow, orange, red. The fruits can be picked already at the “orange” stage; at home they will ripen to the “red” stage. There are now modifications of the yellow or orange color.
Pepper Medusa Gorgon
In all taste parameters, this variety is similar to the traditional Ogonyok. The Medusa Gorgon pepper differs only in its shape. The fruits are longer and stick out in all directions, like the tentacles of a jellyfish. Fruit Variation various shades Green, yellow, orange, red colors make the Medusa pepper very stylish. Such a plant can be placed not only in the hall, but also in the interior of the living room. There will be no shame. The bushes are not large, which makes it possible to grow this variety of hot pepper even in a small apartment.
Pepper Little Miracle
However, pepper Small miracle not so small (50-80 cm). He would rather have a place on an insulated balcony than in the kitchen. If a lover of indoor gardening has enough space, why not. The plant looks gorgeous. The rich crown is decorated with colorful fruits: red, green, yellow and purple. The colors on some fruits smoothly transition into one another. Looking at them, one comes to the understanding that nature is the most brilliant designer. The fruits are sharp, long and very beautiful.
Pepper Nosegay
One of the smallest varieties. It can even be grown in a dorm. Grows no more than 15 cm. Fits in a liter pot. The fruits are small and round, looking more like a berry than a vegetable. The plant resembles a children's toy rather than a supplier of food to the table. The taste of the fruit is also “childish”, of medium pungency. The fruit color is classic: green, cream, orange and red.
Pepper Explosive Amber
This type of decorative pepper will fit perfectly into the kitchen interior, which is made in dark colors, in the old style. And all because of its original coloring. Its leaves are green-violet. In combination with fruits of purple, plum, pink and bright red colors, the plant looks more strict than fun. The bush is medium (20-30 cm). The fruits are not large, about 2-2.5 cm, but very sharp.
Pepper Black Pearl
This variety is a real brutal goth. The leaves are dark purple, almost black, which becomes so during growth. Initially, the leaves of the Black Pearl are green. Black in the initial stage and fruits that become dark red when filled. They are shaped like peas.
Pepper Zest Baggio
This variety is worth breeding for its taste, which is somewhat reminiscent of raisins. The highlight of Baggio is very popular in countries Latin America, whose cuisine is famous for its sharpness and piquancy, thanks to different varieties pepper It is most in demand not in its natural form, but in its ground form, since it acquires its own taste when dried. Ripe fruits Brown, long. Bushes of medium height, about 20 cm.
Chili peppers are grown not only in the garden or in the greenhouse: you can also sow them in boxes on the windowsill. This way, your favorite fresh seasoning will always be at hand. In addition, decorative hot peppers in the form of a green bush with bright fruits decorates the interior.
ON THE PICTURE: Pepper on the windowsill will become a spectacular green decoration for the kitchen.
Selection of hot pepper varieties for indoor culture
It is not recommended to use seeds from chili pods purchased at greengrocers. They usually sell industrial grades from South-East Asia. These seeds are not suitable for growing at home.
For an apartment or house, indoor hot peppers belonging to the species are preferable.- Annual or vegetable pepper. It preserves the varietal qualities of wild “ancestors” from low-light undergrowth. This pepper can cope with a small space in a flower pot and a lack of sunlight.
ON THE PICTURE:The unpretentious Capsicum annuum takes root well in open ground, and in a container.
Popular varieties of indoor peppers
The concept of “pepper in a pot”, or “indoor pepper”, is relative. Any hot pepper that is suitable for this purpose in size and level of requirements for living conditions is sown in a pot on the windowsill. WITH decorative purpose and sown for food use varieties growing in open ground or in a greenhouse.
For individual chili varieties very similar (Solanum pseudocapsicum), popularly called " Jerusalem cherry " . Nightshade fruits are poisonous, and only varieties of vegetable pepper are used in cooking.
Commonly grown the following varieties room pepper:
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"Ogonyok"
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"Aladdin"
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"Bell" ("Christmas bell ")
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"Explosive Ember" ")
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" Poinsettia "("Poinsettia")
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" Garda Firewax " ("Garde fireworks")
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"Nosegay"
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Especially decorative varieties of peppers
- "Variegatta"- variegated variety.
- "SHU"-also differs in variegated, variegated color. The fruits are mostly yellow or purple. Powerful beautiful bush.
- "Purple Tiger" ("Purple Tiger")-a low bush with light purple small fruits and variegated foliage. Refined, good in compositions.
- "Salsa Orange"- a very popular variety with small orange fruits. It resembles indoor pepper "Ogonyok" and needs the same growing conditions. The foliage is large, dark green. Small bright fruits look very attractive on it.
- "Rowanushka"- a variety with small multi-colored pea-shaped fruits, reminiscent of mountain ash clusters. The bush is compact, with small, slightly curled “boat” leaves. The pepper berries “sit” in them.
ON THE PICTURE:Original decorative foliage of the Variegata variety.
ON THE PICTURE:Indoor pepper "SHU" with yellow fruits.
ON THE PICTURE:Searing and sophisticated "Purple Tiger".
ON THE PICTURE: Bright and colorful "Orange Salsa".
ON THE PICTURE:Round-fruited variety homemade pepper"Rowanushka".
You can choose the variety of hot pepper according to your own taste, using the review in the article: "".
Growing indoor peppers
Soil selection and preparation
By nature, pepper is a perennial, so it can grow at home for up to 10 years. For successful cultivation culture is needed, first of all, correct soil. Store-bought mixtures are only suitable for seedlings. For a permanent container or pot, it is better to prepare the soil yourself.
Peppers like slightly acidic soil (pH 5.0–6.0). Composition of a suitable soil mixture:
- neutralized peat: 4 parts;
- compost or leaf humus: 4 parts;
- or agroperlite: 2 parts. The last ingredient retains moisture well and prevents excessive compaction of the soil.
ON THE PICTURE: Mulching the soil in the pot will help preserve required humidity and will increase the level of light, which is especially important for peppers in winter time.
When and how to sow hot peppers for growing indoors
Optimal sowing dates:
Sowing peppers in boxes for growing indoors is done all year round, taking into account cultural characteristics:
- Early spring varieties sown from the beginning of November to the last days of December.
- The right time to sow summer crops - March, April.
- Autumn varieties sown in July-August.
You can sow decorative peppers in boxes in winter, but in this case additional lighting will be required.
Agricultural technology for sowing homemade hot pepper:
To sow indoor hot peppers, you need small pots with a capacity of 0.2 liters. At the bottom of such containers pour garden or clean medium size. Optimal thickness The drainage layer is 2–3 cm. Then the containers are filled 2/3 with the soil mixture described above.
Pepper seeds, pre-treated with Epin-Eksta or potassium humate, are planted 1 cm deep into the ground. After this, they are sprinkled nutritious soil, which thickens a little. The sowing is covered with an opaque film and placed for germination at a temperature of +23–25°C.
ON THE PICTURE:Sprouted hot pepper seeds.
Growing seedlings:
After the sprouts appear, the protective film is removed 7–12 days later. On the fourth or fifth day, the temperature drops to +16–18°C. In the future, for the pepper seedlings to survive and grow stronger, the soil temperature should be +20–22°C, the air temperature - +24°C and above during the day, +18–20°C at night.
Seedlings are regularly and moderately watered with soft, settled water at a temperature of +20°C.
It is important not to allow the soil to become waterlogged: it will destroy the fragile roots of the peppers.
Picking is done at the stage of two or three true leaves. Before it, the seedlings are fed with a solution of 1 tbsp. l. calcium nitrate in 10 l. water. Two to three hours before picking, the sprouts must be watered to prevent the soil from falling off the roots.
After the seedlings have finally become stronger and grown to the stage of 6–12 leaves, they are transplanted into containers 3–5 liters deep.
ON THE PICTURE:In order not to waste time on picking in the future, you can immediately sow the seeds of decorative peppers in separate pots.
Conditions for keeping and caring for peppers on the windowsill
Watering and air humidity:
After planting in a permanent container, indoor peppers are watered frequently and sparingly. During fruiting, the plant requires more moisture. Watering is done in the morning, at the root, with further careful loosening of the soil.
Pepper needs air humidity of 65–75%. If the room is dry, spraying will be necessary.
Temperature and ventilation:
Indoor hot peppers are kept at a temperature of +20–28°C. Regular ventilation of the room is mandatory, but drafts are undesirable.
ON THE PICTURE: In the summer, it is useful to place ornamental peppers outdoors.
Lighting:
All types of pepper, even those coming from those growing in shaded undergrowth, have difficulty withstanding winters temperate latitudes. Short daylight hours combined with cloudy weather are a severe test for “immigrants from the south.”
Peppers have a particularly difficult time with a lack of light from November to January. Plants not only stop blooming, but also stop growing. Some varieties shed their leaves when there is a lack of light.
ON THE PICTURE:One of the secrets to the decorative appearance of an indoor pepper bush is uniform lighting of all parts of the plant.
Feeding:
Hot peppers in a container are fed once every 10–12 days. To prepare something suitable for him mineral fertilizer , can be diluted in 10 l. water of your choice:
- 30–40 g superphosphate;
- 15–20 g ammonium nitrate;
- 25–30 g of potassium sulphide.
Mineral fertilizers alternate with organic ones. Simple recipe organic fertilizer for indoor peppers: dilute half a jar bird droppings in granules in 10 l. water.
The composition of the fertilizer depends on the phase life cycle plants. For example, during the active growing season, a sufficient amount of calcium is essential. Therefore, foliar feeding is carried out with calcium nitrate 0.2%. When planting buds, peppers need nitrogen. To increase the activity of roots at the stage of fruit formation, phosphorus fertilizers are applied.
Trimming:
With proper care, peppers in a pot will delight you with their decorative appearance and productivity for 8–10 years. However, it is advisable to update it every three years, cutting off old and too powerful shoots. Young peppers look more aesthetically pleasing.
First, shoots directed inward and those that bear fruit are cut off. At the beginning of flowering, the crown bud, the first in the branching of the stem, is necessarily removed.
Let the indoor pepper grow, bloom and bear fruit to its glory!
Decorative capsicum (Capsicum armuum) belongs to the Solanaceae family. Homeland - Central and South America, as well as Asia. At this time, the culture is widespread on all continents.
A flower like decorative pepper, is a small perennial ornamental plant up to 30-40 cm high.
In an apartment it can grow well and bear fruit for 4 to 5 years. However, it is often used as an annual. Its leaves are simple, can be single, or can be collected in a rosette. They have an oblong, lanceolate or ovoid shape with solid edges. Their color varies from green to black-olive.
The leaves fold slightly along the central prominent vein. Petioles vary in size. The crown is quite branched. As a houseplant decorative pepper It is not much inferior in beauty to other domestic flowers, especially with regard to its flowering and subsequent fruiting.
Varieties of this pepper differ in the size of the fruits, their color and shape. Pepper flowers yellowish-white. They are located in the axils of the leaves. Sometimes they grow solitarily, and sometimes they gather in inflorescences.
The corolla may have a yellow or greenish color with purple inclusions. Sometimes a solid purple color is also found. This culture is self-pollinating. Flowers bloom in late June - early July.
As you can see from the photo, the main decoration of decorative peppers are the pods, which, depending on the variety, are painted bright red, orange or purple, ranging in size from 2.5 to 5 cm. They are hollow and have many seeds inside. Their weight can vary from 0.25 to 190 g. One of the features of the plant is the placement of flowers and fruits of varying degrees of maturity on one bush.
In addition to the pod form, there are also spherical, oval peppers. It bears fruit in August - October, and very abundantly. The fruits of homemade ornamental peppers contain the alkaloid capsaicin, which is why they are very hot, bitter and at the same time spicy. At the same time, the leaves and stems of the flower are poisonous.
Types and varieties of bitter and sweet ornamental peppers (with photos)
A plant such as ornamental pepper is represented by species that can be completely different in shape, color and taste qualities fruits (bitter and sweet), flowering time, etc.
Popular varieties:
Decorative pepper "Christmas Candle" (S. "Christmas Candle");
Decorative pepper "Festival" (S. "Festival");
Decorative pepper "Orange Wyler" (C. "Orange Wonder");
Decorative pepper "Apache" (S. "Apache").
Berry-bearing. This type pepper got its name because of the fruits, which are not cone-shaped, but flattened.
Bishop's Crown. One of the most interesting varieties decorative pepper plants, its fruits are somewhat reminiscent of unfolded bell flowers. Its yield is average. The growth is quite large, it can reach 80 cm, so it is better to choose the most practical place for it instead of a window sill.
Chinese. This species is represented by low plants - up to 50 cm. Ovoid, slightly wrinkled leaves have a light green color. The flowers are white, sometimes with a green tint. This flower grows very slowly, but bears fruit well.
Can be seen in the photo varieties of this decorative bitter pepper, the fruits of which are particularly hot and pungent.
The most popular among them:
"Santa Lucia";
"The Devil's Tongue"
"Devil's Yellow"
Cayenne or bush pepper. These representatives of ornamental peppers are especially well suited for growing on window sills or loggias. With proper care, these perennial flowers can grow and bear fruit for 5–6 years. Their height usually reaches 15–45 cm, and the bushes themselves are very dense and branched. Thanks to this, they are abundantly covered with fruits.
The species is represented by the following varieties:
Pepper "Salute";
Pepper "Carmen";
Pepper "Queen of Spades";
Pepper "Spark".
"Firework". This ornamental pepper feels good as a houseplant; the growth of its rounded bushes does not reach more than 20 cm, thanks to which it fits on any windowsill. Cone-shaped peppers have a slightly ribbed surface. At first their color is dark green, but as they mature they turn orange. The plant is often used in culture as an ornamental thanks to correct form crowns, it does not need to be trimmed. The fruits are used to make spices or canned.
"Queen of Spades". A low rounded bush - 25 cm tall. It has purple fruits.
"Spark." Bright red fruits weighing up to 45 g. Begins to bear fruit 115 - 120 days after sowing. The bush is not very large, branched.
"Annual". These plants are distinguished by the fact that after picking the fruits and shedding, they can dry out. It's not very tall bushes, - from 35 to 55 cm in height. Depending on the variety, the fruits may vary in color and shape.
The most famous varieties:
Pepper "Tepin";
Red pepper;
Pepper “Siberian Prince”;
Cherry Bomb Pepper.
Pepper "Tepin". Small-fruited pepper with incredibly spicy fruits. The leaves are small, not reaching more than 1 cm in length.
Microclimate for caring for decorative peppers in a pot on the windowsill
When growing ornamental pepper plants, you should pay particular attention to the microclimate conditions in the room, since this is one of the main factors for successful fruiting.
The flower needs a very bright place. Ornamental peppers feel great placed on a windowsill on the south side of the house, where there is always a lot of light and direct sunlight penetrates the room for several hours a day.
In very hot weather, it is still better to protect the plant from the sun. If the weather is good, the pepper can be taken out onto the balcony, veranda or even into the garden. But it is worth remembering that he does not like wind and cold. The plant must also be protected from drafts. In the winter season, when daylight hours become much shorter, you can install lamps near the pot daylight. This way the pepper will bear fruit and bloom throughout the year. With a lack of light, the plant branches and blooms poorly, and the fruits almost never appear.
When caring for decorative peppers that grow in a pot, it is important to take care of the air temperature and humidity in the room. In spring and summer optimal temperature air temperature for this plant should remain within 24 - 26 degrees, in winter 15 - 18 degrees. The flower benefits from day-night temperature changes, so in the warm season it is better to keep it at fresh air. Musty air is also harmful to the plant, so it is advisable to ventilate the room well from time to time.
The humidity in the room should be moderate. In hot weather, it is advisable to spray with water. On average, spraying is carried out at least once a week - this promotes fruit set. Optimal humidity fluctuates between 65 – 78%.
Any soil will do, provided it is not too heavy. The soil should be as loose and breathable as possible. Substrate: turf and clay soil, peat (2:1:1). Some gardeners use nutritious greenhouse soil by adding a little sand to it.
How to properly care for ornamental peppers
One of the answers to how to properly care for ornamental peppers so that fruits appear on them consistently is timely and sufficient watering. During the growth period, water abundantly as the top layer of the earthen clod dries. If the apartment is very hot, then you need to water it every day. It is also possible that you will have to do this procedure in the morning and evening. Under no circumstances should the soil be allowed to dry out completely, especially if the flower is in bright sun. Particular care must be taken to monitor humidity during fruit setting.
At home, an important part of caring for ornamental peppers is regular feeding, which will saturate the soil. nutrients. This is done approximately once every two weeks with liquid fertilizers. The most effective effect will be provided by alternately changing fertilizers from mineral to organic. As minerals, you can use superphosphate, potassium sulfide or ammonium nitrate.
Formation and transplantation of decorative peppers
Sometimes the plant is used as an annual; after fruiting, it loses its decorative value and is thrown away. However, there are many perennial varieties that look good for several years. Often, to maintain a neat appearance, decorative pepper bushes are formed by cutting off old and too powerful shoots. In addition, this procedure helps to increase the number of flowers and fruits. It is necessary to do this in early spring every two to three years. First of all, shoots directed inwards are cut off, as well as those that bear fruit. It is also important to remove the crown bud, the first in the branching of the stem, at the beginning of each flowering. Pinching of each shoot is carried out immediately before fruiting. It is also recommended to trim off any branches that escape the crown.
When caring for ornamental peppers, it is important to plant the plant in a new pot with fresh substrate every year, while getting rid of part of the old earthen lump. Since the root system of the flower is very fragile, the best option will carefully transfer the plant into a new pot. The pot for transplanting is chosen slightly larger than before. Drainage is poured at the bottom. The remaining area after transplantation is covered with fresh soil. From time to time you can do without a transplant by carrying out partial replacement substrate. This will help avoid injury to the root system of the flower, which will then have to take a long time to recover from such stress.
How to plant seeds to grow ornamental peppers at home
Propagation of this plant is usually carried out by seeds.
In order to grow ornamental peppers using seeds, you need to pay as much attention to the sowing process as possible, because this is the key to healthy growing seedlings. The time for this procedure depends on the variety. Early spring varieties are sown from the beginning of November to the last days of December. Summer crops are best sown from April to May. Autumn - in July-August.
First you need to prepare pots with a capacity of 0.2 liters. Place drainage 2–3 cm thick at the bottom, then fill the container with substrate. The seeds should be soaked in a solution of potassium humate for several hours, after which they are placed in the soil to a depth of 1 cm. Sprinkle them with soil on top and compact it slightly. Containers are covered with glass or transparent film. The room temperature should be kept between 23 - 25 degrees. After 7 - 12 days, shoots should appear. After this, the shelter is removed.
After 5 days, the air temperature is reduced to 16 - 18 degrees. From time to time, the soil needs to be moistened with warm, settled water. After 2–3 full-fledged leaves appear on the seedlings, it is necessary to plant the decorative pepper, trying to handle the fragile roots as carefully as possible. When the plants are fully grown and at least six leaves appear on the shoots, you can place the flower in a pot 3 - 5 liters deep. It is not difficult to grow decorative peppers at home after planting them in a permanent pot - you just need to choose the plant a good place and install proper care behind him.
Diseases and pests of ornamental pepper
Due to waterlogging of the soil, ornamental pepper plant diseases such as root rot or late blight often occur. When brown spots appear on the leaves, the flower is treated with preparations containing copper. The appearance of root rot is indicated by wilting of pepper leaves. In this case, the plant is removed from the soil and completely replaced. A pest such as spider mites appears on peppers when the recommendations for moisture content in the air are violated.
The flower must be bathed regularly and the air must be humidified. You can get rid of mites using fungicides. Sometimes peppers become infected mealybug, which amazes root system. To prevent the appearance of this pest, the soil should be disinfected before planting. They get rid of it by treating the earthen ball with fungicides.
You can learn more about growing ornamental peppers by watching this video:
Hot pepper on the windowsill is not only a necessary spice that is always at hand, but also an excellent decorative decoration at home, easy to grow. A pot with a bright, beautiful plant will serve as an exquisite decor for any home, and the piquant taste of such a hot spice will make this pepper indispensable in the kitchen of every housewife.
It is possible to grow sweets at home too. bell pepper and hot hot, Drakosha or other varieties. We will tell you further how to plant seeds for seedlings and the conditions for planting in an apartment.
Breeders have specially developed several varietal varieties of hot peppers for growing on windowsills. This indoor pepper is also divided into a fruit variety and an ornamental one (without fruit).
The fruit variety of indoor hot pepper is a perennial that reaches a height of no more than 40 cm. The plant has bright green leaves and richly colored multi-colored fruits: scarlet, sunny or orange.
Growing indoor peppers is not difficult and does not require any special knowledge or wisdom. Very unpretentious and low maintenance.
Flowering begins in June. During this period, delicate white flowers with a slightly yellowish tint appear on the stems.
How to grow at home on a windowsill
To get a plant with beautiful fruits on the windowsill, you need to sow seeds for seedlings. Do it late February – early March.
To speed up the process of seed growth, they can be pre-heat-treated. To do this, the seeds are poured warm water(not higher than 40 degrees) and seal in a thermos for 3 hours.
Preparing the soil and pot
The soil for seeds must be nutritious. You can prepare it yourself. To do this, mix 5 parts of humus, 2 parts of turf soil and peat and 1 part of sand. Mandatory at the bottom of the container there must be drainage. Small expanded clay or pebbles are suitable for this.
The soil must be additionally disinfected: treated with boiling water or a solution of potassium permanganate and thoroughly loosened. Seeds are sown to a depth of 1 cm.
Growing seedlings from seeds
The containers are covered with glass or film and left in a warm place where the temperature should not be below 20-25 degrees.
You can use a regular pot or box as a container, it all depends on how many seeds are sown.
The first shoots are already appearing in 7 – 10 days. There should be sufficient sunlight in the room.
When the first shoots appear, the plants are planted in separate pots. When several true leaves appear on the seedlings, they are picked again, and the strongest and strongest sprouts are selected.
The plant needs a sufficient amount of moisture, heat and light at any stage of cultivation.
During the growth of seedlings, it is necessary to ensure that the seedlings do not stretch too much. To do this, they need to provide a certain ambient temperature.
When the first leaves appear, the temperature must be reduced to 20 degrees within 7 days. And when three true leaves appear, be sure to reproduce the pick in a spacious pot. On permanent place seedlings are planted after 2 month period after planting the seeds.
Caring for indoor hot peppers
To grow hot pepper on the windowsill you need to provide it light and warmth.
Fertilizer
Loves this pepper very much various kinds feeding. The most optimal fertilizer is 2 tablespoons of ash mixed with 3 liters of water. The mixture should brew well. It is necessary to fertilize every two weeks.
Can be used nitrogen fertilizers, but much less often. It is important not to overdo it with such fertilizers, otherwise you may be left without a harvest.
Watering
The soil must be loosened and watered regularly two times a week warm, settled or purified water. You need to make sure that the soil in the pot does not dry out, but is not constantly damp. Both will contribute to various plant diseases.
In winter, you can not use fertilizers and water the plant much less often. If the air in the room is dry, you can slightly moisten the leaves by sprinkling them with water from a spray bottle.
In the warm season, the pots are taken out onto the balcony or outside.
Fruiting
Temperature
Until about February, the plant can be kept indoors at cooler temperatures, but not lower than 18 degrees.
But before the start of the growing season (usually it starts in February), the pot needs to be moved to a more warm room and trim it. To do this, you need to trim the stems so that they are no higher than 5 cm.
If you correctly follow all the recommendations for growing and caring for the plant: from the very preparation of seeds to timely pruning, then such a pepper will retain its decorative appearance and will actively bear fruit. up to 5 years.
Diseases and pests
This variety indoor plants may be susceptible to the following diseases: blackening of the stem or spotting of the leaves. This happens when too abundant watering, which causes stagnation of water in the pot.
The main pests of such pepper include aphids, spider mite And powdery mildew . Aphids or mites can appear with the help of wind through an open window.
To combat ticks, you can use the plant itself. To do this, you need to grind the pepper seeds along with the internal veins and fill them with water for a day. Then you need to add a little ground laundry soap to the mixture and spray the plant. To completely get rid of pests, it is enough to carry out three spraying procedures.
To prevent the appearance of mites, you need to provide the plant with sufficient moisture or place a container of water near the pot of pepper.
At proper cultivation and care, the plant will delight the eye with its excellent decorative properties for as long as 5 years, and its fruits will become a piquant spice in the kitchen.
Capsicum peppers belong to the Solanaceae family; its varieties are divided into hot and sweet. The bitter taste comes from the alkaloid capsaicin.
Decorative indoor pepper stands out effectively on the windowsill and serves as a source of spices for preparing a wide variety of dishes. In everyday life it is called “light”, although in fact several dozen species and varieties of the plant are found in culture. What makes it popular is not only its pungent taste and attractive appearance, but also the ease of growing it at home.
Choosing a variety and seeds for successful cultivation
The easiest way to propagate decorative indoor peppers is by seeds. The key to success in making the right choice planting material.
How to choose seeds for planting at home
Seeds taken from dried fruit are excellent. Can be purchased planting material in gardening stores - or in online stores offering seeds of exotic and ornamental plants. If you start planting in February-March, you can easily get fruits already in September-October of the same year.
First, you need to decide what kind of pepper you want in the end - tall or short, spicy or not very hot, with fruits or berries or a classic “pepper” shape. As a rule, this information is on the bag. However, when purchasing, you need to pay attention to how long ago the seeds were collected?
Hot pepper seeds proper storage can remain viable for up to 5 years, but every year germination percentage drops. It is better to grow indoor peppers from seeds collected last season if you plan to harvest this year.
The most important! The selected seeds should not have any defects - dark specks, severe curling, damage, or signs of rot. Quality seeds are pale yellow, almost White color.
How to choose the best variety
There are early ripening, mid ripening, late ripening. You can enjoy the fruits of early ripening varieties within 65-100 days from the moment of germination. Fruits from mid-season plants can be obtained in 100-120 days. But late-ripening varieties will be able to please you with a harvest only after 120-150 days.
Bush height. As a rule, lovers of indoor hot peppers prefer abundantly fruiting bushes up to 30 cm high - this optimal height bush for home pepper growing. There are also very miniature bushes of 15 cm, and real giants up to a meter high.
Fruit shape. Most lovers prefer peppers with a classic conical or elongated shape. Fruit round shape, berries, are often mistaken for their close and poisonous relative, nightshade, and are considered inedible. This is not so - such pepper can also be eaten, but if you are not sure that it is not nightshade, then it is better not to risk it. There are also fruits of exotic shapes, for example, Aji orchid.
Color of fruits and leaves. This is especially important if you plan to grow the plant as an ornamental. There are very decorative varieties of indoor peppers, for example, Bolivian rainbow, Fish, which change color several times as they ripen, and in the final stage of ripening can be yellow, orange or red.
The foliage of some varieties may also have inclusions different colors- white spots and dashes, lilac stripes, which become brighter the sunnier the plant’s location.
Acuity– if you plan to eat the harvest of hot indoor peppers, it is important to make sure that you can do this - there are types that are not at all spicy, but some are so bitter that it is unsafe for an unprepared person to eat them. Especially appreciated among gourmets Habanero– the fruits, depending on the variety, are spicy, but have an incomparable citrus-floral aroma and taste!
If you want to have hot peppers at home just for the sake of beauty, then spiciness is not important, but decorative properties(bush height, shape and color, ripening characteristics) should be noted Special attention.
Seed germination technology
For planting five seeds of hot indoor pepper, a plastic or ceramic one is quite suitable. flower pot 300 ml. If you plan to plant in individual containers, you can choose smaller pots or use yogurt cups.
Step-by-step instructions for growing peppers from seeds at home:
- Pour drainage into the bottom of the container - expanded clay is best.
- Place soil on top. Usually choose a ph-neutral soil for houseplants or a mixture for peppers and tomatoes. Garden soil is not suitable, as it may contain insect larvae and fungal spores, which have a detrimental effect on seed germination.
- It is recommended to pre-soak the seeds in warm water for several hours for swelling and faster germination. Sometimes a stimulant is added to the soaking water, in particular - Epin, to increase germination. The use of a stimulant will not affect the plant in the future, but if the seeds were collected 2-3 years ago, the likelihood of successful germination will be higher. Can be planted without soaking.
- Distribute the planting material evenly over the soil surface at a certain distance from each other. This is necessary so that as the young plants grow they do not interfere with each other.
- Sprinkle the seeds with soil on top - approximately 0.5 mm so that they are completely covered. If the surface of the soil is dry, moisten it with water, preferably from a flower spray bottle. It is important that the surface of the soil is slightly moist, but not wet - otherwise the seeds may rot.
- As the top layer of soil dries, it needs to be moistened regularly.
- It is advisable to place a plastic glass on top of the pot, thereby creating a greenhouse. This is especially true if planting takes place in February-March, and the room temperature may be below 25 degrees.
At a temperature of 22-25 degrees, seedlings appear in 10-14 days, if the seeds were collected 2-3 years ago, the germination process may take another 1-2 weeks.
Seedlings need to be ventilated periodically - raise the greenhouse briefly so that young plants get used to environment. Gradually, the periods “without a greenhouse” should be increased, and eventually completely eliminated.
Transplanting young plants to a permanent place
When the seedlings have two pairs of true leaves, they need to be planted if the seeds were planted in one container. If the seedlings were planted in individual pots, then you can transplant the plants into larger pots when roots appear at the bottom of the water hole.
You should not leave all the plants in one pot. Decorative indoor hot peppers are grown according to the principle one pot - one plant. The fact is that, being planted together, weaker specimens are “drowned out” by stronger ones. The weak ones will be greatly retarded in growth and development, flowering will be late and sparse, and fruiting may not occur at all.
When planting, it is better to use small deep pots of 100 ml. Transplanting a young specimen immediately into a very large pot is not useful - the “extra” soil will begin to sour from watering. It is better, as the plant grows, to gradually transfer it into containers slightly larger than the previous one. Main sign that it is time to replant the plant - roots peeking out from the bottom of the pot. During the season, as a rule, the bush is handled 2-3 times.
Features of care and creation of conditions
The goal of every home gardener is to see his plant bloom; in the case of decorative peppers, the finish is beautiful fruits decorating the plant.
Stimulating flowering and fruiting
Young seedlings of “light” on the windowsill begin to bloom approximately a month after germination. The first flowers will most likely be empty and fall off, but as they grow and develop, ovaries will appear and fruits will develop.
Special pollination is not required, but to increase the number of ovaries, you can periodically lightly shake the pot with the bush or “pollinate” the flowers with a soft brush.
Depending on what variety of indoor hot pepper you have grown (early-ripening, mid-ripening or late-ripening), the first fruits may appear in the summer, when the sun is most active, or in early to mid-autumn.
It is important to remember hot peppers at home does not require pinching and intensive formation of the bush in the first year of growth, cutting off flowers and first ovaries. The indoor pepper itself “knows” to what height it needs to grow, when to start blooming and how many fruits to set. Your task is to provide him comfortable conditions growth.
What conditions do peppers need?
Sunny location. It is advisable to keep the pot on the windowsill indoors. On very sunny balconies, the “lights” suffer greatly from the rays, the leaves may be damaged, the flowers may fall off, and the fruits may be severely deformed and have no seeds.
In the shade, seedlings bloom reluctantly, set few fruits, and may suffer from flooding. Bushes of hot indoor decorative peppers feel extremely uncomfortable on shelves, refrigerators and closets – away from the sun and fresh air.
Regular watering and spraying– the main components in caring for peppers at home. Ogonyok loves water very much. In summer, on sunny days, the plant must be watered every day. Spray with water room temperature, preferably twice a day.
Fertilizer. From March to September (and for late-ripening plants - until October), it is advisable to feed indoor peppers with specialized fertilizer for fruit plants. There is also a special fertilizer for peppers and tomatoes; it is found in stores for gardeners and flower growers.
Formation. In addition to sun, water and a pot of sufficient volume, indoor hot peppers can be shaped as the branches grow - this is relevant late summer and in autumn for plants of the first year of life and in early spring period when it comes out of rest.
They shape, that is, cut off branches that are too long - this gives a more tidy appearance and allows the plant to save energy. But you shouldn’t shorten the main trunk - this could cause the bush to die.
Rules for harvesting and collecting seeds
As the fruits ripen, the harvest can and should be harvested. There are varieties of indoor peppers, the pungency of which decreases when fully ripe. Therefore, such fruits are harvested at the stage of technical ripeness. Such unripe peppers often turn out to be much tastier than ripe ones.
For example, the fruits of the decorative bitter indoor pepper variety Jalapeno (Jalapeño) are most often harvested when they are still green, but characteristic “scars” have already appeared on them, but when they become red, this species already loses its taste value.
If you are interested in seeds for planting in the future, then you need to wait until the fruits are fully ripe, that is, they acquire their final color (yellow, orange or red). The fruits must be removed from the bush and allowed to dry for several days.
If the pepper is thin-walled, then it dries quickly enough; if it is thick-walled, then when the fruit wrinkles, it must be carefully cut and allowed to dry again for several days.
Then the seeds are carefully removed and laid out on a napkin to dry. Well-dried seeds can be placed in a bag and stored in a dry, dark place; storage in the refrigerator is allowed. The main thing is that moisture does not get in, in which case they can rot.
Caring for homemade peppers in a pot in winter
Contrary to popular belief, hot indoor peppers are perennials. On average, a bush can actively bear fruit for 5 years. The main thing is to move the plant as it grows and update the soil every spring. However, not all flower growers are ready to provide comfortable conditions for wintering for this handsome pet. Therefore, three options are possible.
First. If you do not want to save this specimen, at the end of the season after fruiting has ended, the bush can be thrown away, and in February-March a new plant can be grown from the obtained seeds.
Gradually the leaves will partially fall off. Sometimes the pepper sheds its leaves completely. Branches that are too long can be shortened a little. In winter, new leaves and even flowers may appear on the branches, especially if the thaw lasts for a long time and the heating works intensively.
In February-March, indoor pepper will begin to grow again; at this moment it is necessary to transplant it into a pot slightly larger than the previous one, and replace the bulk of the soil. Gradually increase watering.
Third. If you not only want to preserve the plant, but also get a harvest in winter, then additional lighting is necessary. In this case, special lamps are installed, watering is not reduced, and fertilizing continues.
As you can see, growing ornamental peppers at home does not require special knowledge and skills. “Ogonyok” in a pot is perfect for those who don’t like to wait too long for the planted plant to finally bloom - it only takes 3-4 months from seed to beautiful and fragrant fruits.
If you love, find out how to grow avocados from seeds and seeds. Watching a miracle being born is much more interesting than buying a ready-made flower in a store.
Hot pepper is added to confectionery, chocolate, tea - very unusual and effective remedy in the fight against colds and flu!
