An Ornamental Pepper plant (Capsicum Annuum) originally from South America, is an attractive plant that can be as small as 6” or, if planted outside, as large as 2-3 feet. They have upright, shiny, green leaves and when bearing fruit, these plants are covered in small, vibrantly orange, red, yellow, and purple peppers. An Ornamental Pepper plant grown indoors usually bears fruit only once and is then discarded or planted outside. This is an easy care plant that bears ornamental fruit in the fall and winter. If you are interested in learning about more easy care houseplants, check out our Plant Wizard.
Plant Care
Light
Very bright light, even full sun. Ornamental pepper plants start to reach for the light and become quite leggy if they don’t get at least 6-8 hours of very bright light every day; near a south-facing window is a great location.
Water
Keep the soil barely moist and water the surface of the soil evenly. Water well, until it comes out the drip holes in the bottom of the pot; then allow the top 20% of the soil to dry out before watering again. Do not allow the plant to sit in the excess water.
Fertilizer
Feed every two weeks during the growing season with a liquid plant food diluted to ½ the recommended strength. Use a plant food high in phosphorous and potassium (5-10-10); this ratio helps the flowers and fruit to develop. )ice the plant has developed fruit, stop fertilizing.
Temperature
These plants like warm temperatures, above 75°F (23.9C) if possible. The warmer the temperature, the faster the plant grows and the fruits develop.
Humidity
Basic household humidity
Flowering
An Ornamental Pepper plant develops small white flowers before the fruit appears.
Pests
Aphids and spider mites can be a problem. Read more about how to identify and treat these pests in the Glossary of the website.
Diseases
Leaf Spot and Wilt-diseases.
Soil
Use a rich organic soil that drains quickly. If the soil doesn’t drain well and stays wet too long, the plant develops root rot
Pot Size
Indoors, an Ornamental pepper plant rarely needs a pot larger than 6″. Be sure there are drip holes in the bottom.
Pruning
Pinching the top of the plant stems (just above a branching point) encourages the plant to branch out and become bushy and full.
Propagation
Ornamental Pepper plants are propagated by seeds
Special Occasion
Ornamental pepper plants are very popular around halloween and thanksgiving.
Poisonous Plant Info
An Ornamental Pepper plant is a non-poisonous plant.
FAQ
Sadly, ornamental pepper plants only bear fruit one time indoors, then most people just throw the plant out.
Ornamental pepper plants like to be really warm (above 75°F). It sounds like your home is just too chilly to grow an ornamental pepper plant.