You can grow your chili pepper plants inside, and many people have been successful doing this for years. Not every type of chili pepper plant will be as successful as others, but you do have options. Smaller chili pepper plants, like ornamentals, will grow more effectively indoors as they do not require as much room as a larger chili plant.
Temperature
Temperature is a consideration. Many chili pepper plants prefer the warmer climes, but some species grow best in more moderate temperatures. Capsicum annuums grow best with plenty of sun and moderate humidity, while Capsicum chinense grow best in moderate temperatures and higher humidity. Most prefer cooler temperatures in the evening, however.
Light
Light is always a factor. Place your plants near brightly lit windows that receive many hours of sunlight. Little sunlight results in narrow stems.
Watering
Be sure to water properly when growing chili peppers indoors. Water when the soil is slightly dry, but do not overwater as you may rot the roots, therefore killing the chili pepper plants. Water until the soil is slightly moist.
Feeding
Feeding your chili pepper plants can help, especially when growing them indoors. Miracle Gro or a similiar plant food or fertilizer is recommended for feeding the plants. To break it down, these fertilizers contain three important elements that feed the plants - Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Pottassium, or N-P-K. Use as recommended on the package. Usually you only need to fertilize every 2 weeks.
Air Quality
Note that air quality is important. You don't want to pollute the air with smoke or other irritants, as that can affect the growth of your chili pepper plants.
Lastly, keep an eye on your chili pepper plants. Some produce more quickly than others, but many take a while.
Learn more about growing chili peppers here - A Guide to Growing Chili Peppers.
Additional Information
Learn more about growing and harvesting chili peppers through the links below, including:
- Growing Chili Peppers from Seed
- Growing Chili Peppers in the Ground
- Growing Chili Peppers Indoors
- Growing Chili Pepper Plants in Pots
- Harvesting Your Chili Peppers
- Winter Gardening for Chili Peppers and more
Cred says
I'm so glad to have found your site. I have grown peppers indoors a couple of times to overwinter peppers. I live in southern Ontario and the cold was bearing down but my peppers in the garden were still producing. I didn't want to harvest all at once, so I potted them up and brought them indoors. They did well- I don't get enough light for them to continue bearing but I could leave the peppers on the plants and just harvest as needed. I then discovered that they are actually a perennial and I could plant them in my garden in the spring. It was amazing. Huge plants leaps and bounds ahead of the seedlings sold in the spring- with a short growing season I'll take every advantage I can.
I'll now be busy perusing your site for other tips for growing and recipes. Thanks.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Cred! Yes, very smart, and glad you were able to save the plants as long as you did.
Les Hoare says
I'm growing chili peppers from seeds on a window ledge. So far we have an abundance of leaves but no fruit, is this normal or is there something wrong?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Les, this is a fairly common issue with growing peppers indoors. Issues could be the amount of sunlight, soil conditions, fertilizing schedule, difficulty of the particular pepper plant variety, and more. Here is another link that might be helpful for you to review: https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/growing-chili-peppers/how-to-grow-chili-plants-in-pots/
Let me know if this helps.
Richard says
Hi growing ghost chilli plant and doing well but leaves are wilting is this due to temprature lack of sun or water perks up then wilts quite quickly
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Hi, Richard. There are a number of factors that might affect the growing indoors. Check the soil to make sure there are enough nutrients and room for the plant. Light is a big issue. Many people turn to artificial light to let the pepper plant get enough proper light. Internal temps in the home can be a factor, and be careful to not over-water.
Jane says
I grow peppers indoors for many years. I use LED grow light to help the plants. Even in winter, the plants can receive enough light. If growing is your hobby, LED grow light will help you a lot. Here is what I have: https://goo.gl/gwX7p9
claudine primrose says
iam growing a chili pepper plant bought in a supermarket a long time ago. please tell me .which soil to replant it in as i feel it is the wrong soil .
thanks.
claudine
REPLY: Claudine, it is best to use a good organic, nutrient rich soil for growing potted pepper plants indoors. -- Mike from Chili Pepper Madness.
Jessica says
Really, great article. Thanks a lot Mike and Patty. I'm so happy that I found your post, as a garden lover I found your post pretty impressive.
Saiful says
Hi Lisa....yours flower but fall off and did not bear fruit because the flowers were not pollinated. Try using the end of your little finger to collect the pollen from some flowers and dab the pollens on the stigma ( end of whitish projections in the middle of the flowers) and that should do the trick. You can also use a fine tip painter brush for this but I prefer to use the tip of my finger as I could see the pollen and target them to stigmas better.
lisa says
My indoor pepper plant bear abundant flowers but no fruit, I got 3 so far out of hundreds flowers. What's wrong and what should I do about it? I live in a cold climate - the prairie of western Canada - if this info is important for you to diagnose the plant's problem.
Many thanks!
REPLY: Lisa, here is a link to some information you can review to see if it helps. https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/growing-chili-peppers/growing-chili-peppers-indoors -- Mike from Chili Pepper Madness
Gary says
Can I grow pablano chilis from store bought chilis
REPLY: Gary, yes, you should be able to, though it might depend on where you got them from. -- Mike from Chili Pepper Madness.
Mike from Madness says
Leigh, everything I see indicated cherry peppers, though the sizes can vary depending on growing conditions. I will email with some information.
leigh says
Hello,
I am so glad I found your site! I love anything spicy. I'm hoping you can help me. For years I have wanted to start seed indoors then plant outside. I would like to plant the spicy pepper the Italians stuff with prosciutto and cheese or that pastene makes. It just says hot cherry peppers. And the ones I find online are very little. I have never been able to figure out what they are called and where I can buy the seeds. Can you help me with this?
Thanks!
Leigh