Ornamental Pepper Plant

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

How Do I Get My Ornamental Pepper Plant to Bear Fruit Again?

Sadly, ornamental pepper plants only bear fruit one time indoors, then most people just throw the plant out.

We Keep or House Pretty Chilly (65°) Even Colder at Night. Do You Think That This Is Why My Pepper Plats Always Die?

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.