Thai Hot Pepper

Thai Hot Pepper Care

Capsicum annuum 'Bird's Eye'

What is the plant

If you are a spicy food lover, your seasonings collection is complete once you start growing your own Thai hot peppers. These small red peppers can be used in so many forms that you will indeed find a way to accommodate them in your kitchen. They are also packed with vitamins and medicinal purposes, so the Thai hot peppers are a win.

Originally from Thailand, Thai hot peppers were first brought to the Southern part of Asia during the era of Spanish conquistadors. From there, they started to become a hit in the kitchen, as they are easy to grow indoors and outdoors, and the plant produces multiple fruits that last for a long time, so you can stock up. The plant grows about 1 foot tall (30 cm), while the peppers grow about 1 inch (2,5 cm). At first, they will grow to be green peppers, but be patient and soon start to turn bright, hot red.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Full Sun

Temperature

12°C - 21°C

Hardiness zone

11 - 12

Difficulty

Medium

Hibernation

Cold Period

How to Care for the Plant

Water
You should keep the plant hydrated and not let the soil get bone dry, as this might affect the growth rhythm of your peppers—water every other day, especially when the peppers start to appear. Do not waterlog the greenie, but also keep its moisture levels up to ensure a good harvest for your Thai peppers.
Pruning
There isn’t too much pruning needed for your Thai hot pepper plant, but it is beneficial for the plant to pinch the growing tips to make a bushier plant. After the last frost, cut about 4 inches (10 cm) of the tips, and you will see them coming back stronger and ready to produce new growth in springtime.
Fertilizer
Fertilize your plant about one month after planting with a fertilizer full of phosphorus, potassium, and calcium, then fertilize again one month after new growth appears. Avoid overfertilizing your Thai peppers with a solution rich in nitrogen, as this might burn the plant, and it might not produce fruit in the end.

Disease diagnosis

Check your plant’s health

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Sunlight
Thai hot pepper plants are sun lovers, so keep them in a spot where they will receive full sun for at least 6-8 hours daily. Too little sun can result in a dense, green bush without fruit, so give them your sunniest spot in the garden or inside the house, and the hot peppers will not shy away from showing up.
Soil
Use well-draining soil that has an acidity level of around pH 6. Regular potting soil should be efficient; however, you can add peat moss to the potting mix to maintain proper moisture levels for the plant. Make sure the growing medium you use is full of nutrients, and avoid planting your Thai peppers in soil previously used to grow other vegetables, as it might need more nutrients to make your hot peppers grow.
Propagation
Propagation of the hot pepper plant is done by seed, but the process is rather slow, as it takes around 100-130 days for the first peppers to appear. Start the process during fall, about 1 month before the first frost, so you allow the seeds to absorb the needed nutrients to get through the winter. Plant the seeds about ¼ inch deep (6 mm) into starting soil. Keep this soil moist until the seeds germinate, and make sure you keep them in the warmest spot you can find, if possible, around 75 °F (24 °C). After about two weeks, the seeds will germinate, and you can start to acclimate them to the normal growth temperature and plant them in the garden or their future container. It is crucial to keep the growing plant under a warming shelter until spring. You can use plastic bottles for this. Your plant should be ready to reach maturity and harvest the first peppers by springtime.

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Temperature
Thai ot peppers like to grow in hot weather and are not very good friends with the cold. Grow them only if your area allows them to have around 70-85 °F (21-30°C) during the day. Keep them away from spots where cold airflow can reach them, and avoid keeping them outdoors if the temperature tends to drop too much during the night.
Container
You don’t need to buy any special container for growing Thai peppers, as their root system does not get too deep. As long as your container has drainage holes, you are good to go.
Fun fact
Thai peppers will be your best friends for strengthening your immunity. When you think of natural ways to source your vitamins, you will most certainly think of citrus fruits. Still, Thai hot peppers and peppers generally have almost double the amount of Vitamin C than oranges do, so stock up and use them wisely.