How to Grow Scotch Bonnet Peppers Indoors

Date: January 27, 2022
Time to read: 2 min.

Scotch bonnet peppers are simple to grow indoors if you use the right tools. Start the seeds in small pots and move to a larger size when the seedlings are still small. Take care to keep the soil moist and fertilize weekly. Grow the peppers under a grow light rather than in the sunlight. In a few weeks, you should have some delicious peppers to pick and eat!

How Do I Grow Scotch Bonnet Peppers Indoors?

The first step to growing scotch bonnet peppers is preparing the growing container. Lightly pack pre-moistened soil into a small container or seed tray. Plant your pepper seeds about an eighth to a quarter of an inch deep and moisten the soil daily with a spray mister.

Once your seedlings start to sprout, they should be moved under grow lights. At about three weeks old or when the seedlings reach about one and a half inches in height, transplant your pepper plant to a larger pot. A one gallon pot is usually sufficient but if you want a bigger plant, a three to five gallon pot is the way to go.

Your pepper should begin to produce fruit around three to four months after sprouting. Since you’re growing your scotch bonnet peppers indoors, as long as the plant stays healthy, it should produce fruit all year round.

What Kind of Lighting Do I Need to Grow Scotch Bonnet Peppers Indoors?

You may think that sunlight is the best kind of lighting for growing your scotch bonnet peppers inside but that is not true. A grow light is the better way to go, especially for the beginning stages of growth.

A P1500 LED works just fine and has adjustable light intensities which are important for the different stages of growth. As seedlings, you’ll want to limit the light intensity, but after they are transplanted, they will need much more light.

What Soil Should I Use to Grow Scotch Bonnet Peppers Indoors?

Any type of regular indoor potting soil will work great for growing your scotch bonnet peppers, especially ones mixed specifically to grow vegetables. You can use outdoor soil, but you should sterilize it first to kill off any pests or bacteria that may harm your plant or prevent proper growth.

How Much Food and Water Do My Indoor Scotch Bonnet Peppers Need?

Scotch bonnet peppers should be lightly misted after planting seeds in the soil. Once the seedlings begin to sprout, water from the bottom and be sure the plants are not soaked. If the soil is too wet, it can cause damping off disease which can kill seedlings.

Continue regular watering, keeping a good balance of keeping the soil moist but not soggy.

For food, scotch bonnet pepper plants should be fed quarter strength fertilizer at about one week old at a weekly rate. Once the plants have been transferred to a bigger pot and reach about four inches tall, full strength fertilizer can be applied weekly.