TheNaturePlanet

Just place a flower pot in a small corner of your balcony, and you'll harvest clusters of small chili peppers hanging all over the branches!

Many beginners often ask, "What fertilizer should I use for chili peppers?"

"Why do my flowers fall off as soon as they bloom?"

"Why does it grow like this? Does it need pruning?"

"Should I prune the branches in winter?"

Today, let's talk in detail about how to grow small chili peppers on the balcony, making it easy to achieve chili pepper freedom.

Preparation: Container + Soil

Container: A flower pot with drainage holes is enough! Choose one with a diameter of 20-30cm and a depth of 25-35cm. Both plastic and ceramic pots work, as long as they leave enough space for the roots to grow.

Soil: Small chili peppers love "breathable and fertile soil"! You can directly copy this formula: garden soil + leaf mold + river sand = 3:3:1, and then mix in some decomposed chicken or sheep manure organic fertilizer.

Sowing

Seed soaking tip: Soak the seeds in 50-55℃ warm water for 15-20 minutes (stir to prevent scalding). When the water temperature drops to 30℃, continue soaking for 12-24 hours. The seeds will germinate better after absorbing enough water.

Sowing steps: Fill the pot with soil to about 70-80% full, water thoroughly, then scatter the seeds and cover with a 1cm thin layer of soil! If the temperature is below 20℃, cover with a layer of plastic film to keep warm and moist, which helps germination.

Maintenance

Watering mantra: Keep the soil slightly moist after sowing, spray water once every 2-3 days; after germination, follow the "water when the soil is dry" rule, water when the surface of the soil turns white, once every 3-5 days. This way, the roots will grow stronger and stronger.

Temperature: 20-30℃ is the most comfortable. In winter, don't place it where cold wind blows directly.

Key point about light: 6-8 hours of sunlight every day! Put it on a south-facing balcony to get enough sun, don't worry about it wilting from the sun~ When the seedlings grow 5-6 true leaves, they can gradually get sunlight. Start with the weak morning light and slowly adapt to strong light.

Management

Fertilization schedule:

Seedling stage (small leaf stage): Apply dilute nitrogen fertilizer (urea water) 1-2 times to promote the growth of branches and leaves.

Bud stage (when small flower buds grow): Switch to spraying potassium dihydrogen phosphate, once every 10-15 days, to promote flowering and fruiting, so that the chili peppers will hang all over the plant!

Pinching to become "high-yield type": When the plant grows to 30-40cm tall, pinch off the top buds to force out side branches, making the plant shape fuller and bearing more fruits~

Don't be afraid of pests and diseases: For aphids and red spiders, spray imidacloprid; for anthracnose, ventilate early, avoid getting caught in the rain, and cut off diseased leaves in time~

Harvest

It only takes 3-4 months from sowing to harvesting~ Pick the fully red small chili peppers and eat them directly. If you can't finish them, dry them to make chili oil or chili sauce, which is so fragrant that it makes your mouth water!