Ornamental Pepper Care How To Grow Ornamental Pepper Plants

Basic Care The ornamental pepper is like any other pepper: it loves the sun. A minimum of 2-3 hours of bright light is ideal so choose an east or west facing window. The plant enjoys water but never let it sit in any excess. Water thoroughly but infrequently to keep soil moist (i.e. don't water every day).

How do you care for ornamental pepper plants?
Do ornamental pepper plants come back?
How long will ornamental peppers last?
How often do you water ornamental pepper plants?
Does Epsom salt help pepper plants?
Why are my ornamental peppers shriveling?
How do you prune ornamental pepper plants?
Are the peppers on ornamental pepper plants edible?
How do you overwinter ornamental pepper plants?
Do ornamental peppers survive frost?
Are ornamental peppers hot?

How do you care for ornamental pepper plants?

Water the plants often enough to keep their soil evenly moist. Applying water slowly allows soil to absorb the moisture without letting it run off. Peppers don't like too much water; so allow their soil to dry slightly before watering again. Fertilize with a slow-release fertilizer early in the growing season.

Do ornamental pepper plants come back?

Peppers of all types are grown as annuals by most gardeners: sown, grown, picked, then condemned to the compost heap at the end of the season. Yet these hard-working plants are perennials that, given the right conditions, will happily overwinter to next year.

How long will ornamental peppers last?

An ornamental pepper can survive for quite a while and in the summer you can put it outside to flower and fruit for the next winter. Fertilize it with a mild mixture every two weeks while in bloom and while fruit is present.

How often do you water ornamental pepper plants?

Water. While ornamental peppers react badly to dry conditions, they do not like to be waterlogged either. Water whenever the soil's surface feels dry, and aim for a moisture level like that of a wrung-out sponge. About 1 inch of water per week is recommended.

Does Epsom salt help pepper plants?

Epsom salt used as a foliar spray or soil additive will help tomato and pepper plants grow and produce larger, tastier yields. ... Epsom salt is highly soluble and easily taken in by plants when combined with water and sprayed on leaves.

Why are my ornamental peppers shriveling?

Pests, wilts, viruses and environment are all stressors that can cause pepper plants to shrivel. Minute insects, such as aphids and mites cause leaves to curl. ... Mosaic viruses crinkle and pucker the leaves. Sun-scorch, windburn, too little or too much water can shrivel pepper plants.

How do you prune ornamental pepper plants?

Pruning and Maintenance

You can trim off about a half an inch of new growth from the main stem and side stems when they are about 4-6 inches long. Don't trim any stems that have started flowering. If you're growing them in a container, you'll likely need to repot every couple of years as the plant grows.

Are the peppers on ornamental pepper plants edible?

A • Ornamental peppers (Capsicum annuum) are closely related to the many garden vegetable peppers but are grown for their ornamental characteristics, rather than their edible fruits. They aren't poisonous, but whether they are edible is a matter of taste. Some are blisteringly hot; others are simply bland.

How do you overwinter ornamental pepper plants?

Although they are grown as annuals, ornamental peppers can be overwintered by bringing them indoors at the end of the growing season. If your plants are in the garden, you'll need to dig them up and put them in pots before the weather dips below 40°F.

Do ornamental peppers survive frost?

When growing ornamental pepper plants, flowering seasons demands an increase in nutrients from fertilizer to support their growth. ... As days grow short and temperatures drop in fall, flowering slows and fruit production stops, and the plant stops growing. The fruit will be held on the plant until frost kills the plants.

Are ornamental peppers hot?

Generally, ornamental pepper is the term given to pepper plants that are extremely attractive, and thus grown in the garden for their aesthetic value. But these beauties are also edible – although most are generally fiery hot, way too hot for people's tastes. (Heat is measured in Scoville Units.)