Growing chile peppers indoors and keeping them over winter
Our guide first, then the quoted facts, linked to their sources.
Quoted facts about growing chile peppers indoors and keeping plants through winter, from 4 source publications.
Our guide written by Pepperheads
The Chile Pepper Institute lists room, temperature, light, water, air, nutrients and time as indoor-growing needs. It says windows facing the south or west have the best light, and without a bright window suggests grow lights six inches or more above the plants for 14–16 hours a day. It says most chile pepper plants like to be watered when the top of the soil is slightly dry to the touch, and names dwarf ornamental chile peppers for growing indoors. Oregon State says a 5-gallon container works well for a single plant.
The Institute gives 14–28 days to germinate, then another 90 days to produce fruit.
Oregon State says peppers can be grown as perennials in greenhouses if optimal temperatures are maintained. Oregon State Extension reports local gardeners keeping container plants at 40–55°F, cut back and kept in a garage under a grow light, then moved back outdoors in late spring. In Oregon State’s account of local overwintering, the stated goal is keeping plants alive rather than ripening fruit. The displayed quotations do not give a tested pruning method.
The sourced facts
What plants need
Chile pepper plants are not hard to grow indoors, but there are seven things they need. They will need room to grow, the right temperature, light, water, air, nutrients, and time.
Which peppers
The best chile peppers to grow indoors are dwarf ornamental chile peppers, like the NuMex Holiday Line of Ornamental Chile Peppers.
Light
Windows facing the south or west have the best light.
If you don’t have a bright window, try using grow lights. Make sure the light is at least six inches above the plants and leave it on for 14-16 hours each day.
The stems will be thin and the plant will lean toward the light.
Water
Most chile pepper plants like to be watered when the top of the soil is slightly dry to the touch.
Time
Chile pepper seeds can take anywhere from 14-28 days to germinate, then another 90 days to produce fruit.
Containers
A 5-gallon bucket, half-barrel planter or similar-sized container works well for a single plant.
Perennial habit
it originated in a frost-free climate and grew as a perennial
Peppers can be grown as perennials in greenhouses if optimal temperatures are maintained.
Overwintering
in temperatures from 40-55F
Even at temperatures above 55F, our winter days are too short to ripen fruit and there are no pollinators: the goal is just keeping the plants alive
A greenhouse isn’t necessary: plants that have been grown in containers can be cut back, kept in a garage under a grow light, and moved back outdoors in late spring.
What our sources don't cover
We looked for these and didn't find them for this type in the sources above, so we don't state them: a tested pruning method for overwintered plants. For general germination, hardening-off and spacing figures, see our growing basics.
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