How to Grow Pepper Plants Upside Down

Peppers grow well in upside-down containers.

Peppers, like tomatoes, cucumbers and other plants, can be planted in upside-down containers. These specialized planters allow you to grow additional plants without taking up space in your garden. When peppers grow naturally, their stems are prone to breaking. Planting them upside down reduces this danger by allowing the peppers to hang vertically, which reduces stress on the stems.

Things You'll Need

• Upside-down planting container
• Garden shears
• Peat moss
• Potting soil
• All-purpose fertilizer

Instructions

1. Situate the upside-down planter so you have access to the opening. Prepare the young pepper plant for planting by removing all of the leaves except for the upper 2 to 3 inches of them. Doing so will keep more nutrients in the roots and encourage them to grow stronger.

2. Place one hand over the top of the nursery container so that the pepper plant is between your fingers. Overturn the pot into your hand and lift the container off of the plant. Hold down the upside-down container and slide the pepper plant up into it through the spongy foam ring.

3. Fill the container with peat moss and potting soil. If there are multiple foam rings included in your upside-down container, divide the soil mixture into parts equal to the number of rings plus one. For example, if there are two rings, add one-third of the mixture, add a ring, add another one-third of the mixture and so on until the container is full.

4. Secure the top to the container. This will be a funnel-shaped object that allows you to water the plant. Add a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer to the container according to the directions on the packaging. Hang the container outside in a sunny location.

5. Water the plant after hanging. Water the plant every morning to keep the soil moist. Pepper plants like lots of heat and moisture. Fertilize the plant a second time after it blooms and again when it begins to bear fruit. Harvest your peppers after about 10 weeks.

Tips & Warnings

• Hang your container where it will receive at least 6 hours of sun per day.

• Hang your planter using hardware that will support the weight of the plant when freshly watered and as it grows and produces peppers.

References

• Oregon State University Extension Service: Grow Your Own Peppers
• University of Illinois: Containers Offer a Growing Solution for Vegetable Gardeners
• Washington State University Extension: Try Something Different