One question we get asked a lot here at The Chilliking is how much should I water my pepper plants?
Below we’ve compiled some watering tips to help you give your peppers the right amount of water they need to flourish.
Chilli Watering Tips
- Plant your seedlings in clear plastic drinking cups. Not only will this save you money on expensive pots but you will also be able to see how dry/moist the roots are. You’ll soon see that the surface can look bone dry while just a centimeter or two below the surface the soil will be perfectly moist.
- Chillies hate wet feet. Ensure your plants have lots of drainage and do not let them sit in a tray full of water. Always water from the top and allow any excess water to drain out of the roots by putting holes in the bottom of the pot helping to reduce fungal infections of the roots.
- Avoid using tap water straight away. Try to let it stand overnight in a watering can or bottle before giving it to your plants. This will firstly let the temperature get up to room temp so as not to shock the plants as well as letting some of the chlorine evaporate meaning your plants get cleaner water!
- If using liquid feed avoid the temptation to use strong doses. We recommend liquid tomato feed diluted to half the recommended strength.
- Water regularly. Letting your plants dry out then giving them a big water can flush out valuable minerals from the soil/compost. Aim to water at least every 2-3 days, more regularly if required. Regular drinks will place less stress on your chillie plants.
The above tips are only advice. Different chilli varieties grown in different environments will al respond differently.
If you are experiencing problems with your plants (e.g flower drop, yellow leaves etc) it is well worth doing some split testing to find out what solves the problem.
Simply take half of the problem plants and experiment – water less/more, add feed, bottom water etc and see what if anything helps cure the problem. Oh and if you find something that works be sure to pass on the tip by posting a comment below.