How to Grow Jalapeno Plants Indoors

Position your jalapeno plant near a window

Nothing spices up cooking like fresh jalapeno peppers. Buying them at the store can be costly and inconvenient. Since jalapeno pepper plants are fairly easy to grow, why not add a few plants to your kitchen and enjoy fresh peppers year round?

Things You'll Need

• Jalapeno pepper plant
• Small rocks or stones
• Natural sunlit window
• Plant food sticks
• Water
• Plant light (optional)

Instructions

How to Grow Jalapeno Plants Indoors

1. Buy healthy looking jalapeno plants at your home and garden store. Look for leaves that are a rich green in color, and that when pinched gently tend to spring back to life. Avoid plants that seem overly dry or that smell moldy. Be prepared to re-pot your plant once you bring it home.

2. Line the bottom of the plant pot with small rocks or stones. This provides ample drainage for your jalapeno plant. Too much moisture will cause your plant to rot and won't yield any peppers.

3. 

   Use good soil in your jalapeno plant. Rich soils are made specifically for plant and flower growth. Nutrients in rich soil fall into two categories; non-mineral nutrients and mineral nutrients. Non-mineral nutrient include hydrogen, carbon and oxygen. Mineral nutrients include nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, boron, copper, iron, chloride, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc. Re-pot your jalapeno plant using a dark, nutrient-rich soil.

4. Place your jalapeno plant in a window that receives at least a couple of hours of direct sunlight each day. Water your plant two to three times per week.

5. Transfer your jalapeno plant into a larger pot when it reaches about one foot in height. Full grown plants may grow up to two feet high, so plan accordingly for that kind of growth.

6. Pluck off any dried or dead leaves as needed. Allow the peppers to ripen on the plant for optimal taste.

Tips & Warnings

• Once a month treat your jalapeno plant to a plant food stick. Place it about an inch deep into the soil and water as usual.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Fiery Foods.com
• UBC Botanical Garden