Today, I am going to be talking to you about Thai chili plant care, so that you can learn the right methods for caring for and growing them. We’re big fans of Thai chilies, but it turns out that caring for them can be a bit of a challenge. There are many different types of chilies, and knowing which type to grow, or even which type to buy, can be a bit daunting for beginners. So, let us help you out. In this article, we’ll provide a brief overview of Thai chili culture, and the various varieties of chili peppers you can grow.
Contents
What Is Thai Chili?
What is the Thai chili plant? Well, it is a herb known as chili pepper, long used in cooking, and it belongs to a group of plants known as capsicum. Capsicum is the genus name of the family of plants that includes chili peppers. Around the world, the Thai hot pepper plants are not only called Thai chili, the second common name is bird’s eye chili. It actually comes from Mexico, but no one remembers that anymore. Chili has become so firmly embedded in Asian cuisine that it now seems amazing that until the 15th century, when it was brought to Asia by Portuguese traders.
Growing Thai Peppers
Thai pepper plants can be grown from seeds or seedlings. However, it is in the first case that you can get stronger shoots and hope for a rich harvest. For guaranteed success in this case, you need to take into account numerous, but quite simple rules. Let’s understand how to grow Thai peppers from seeds. Talking about how to grow Thai peppers from seeds, it is worth mentioning that you can sow them throughout the year. However, the most fruitful is considered the spring sowing – it is the middle or end of March. By planting Thai pepper seeds in March, you can expect a rich harvest of burning fruits.
Place Selection
Most varieties of chili peppers require the maintenance of greenhouse conditions for growing – it is a stable humidity and temperature. Following some fairly strict but simple rules will guarantee an excellent harvest.
There are very few things to remember, namely:
- The optimal temperature in winter is +18 °C. In summer it is necessary to maintain +20…+25 ° C.
- The seedling tray or pot with a pepper bush should be located in a lighted place, but direct exposure to sunlight should not be allowed.
- Fresh air is good for the plant, but a draft can harm it.
Soil and Pot Preparation
Chili pepper is a fairly unpretentious plant, but its cultivation at home requires some preparation. When choosing soil and containers, it is worth remembering that the bush needs a fairly large space for proper growth and active development.
For planting seeds, you can use special peat cells or cups, filling them with seed starting mix. Special trays divided into sections or pallets made of wood will also be suitable. The seedlings can be planted in medium-sized pots. Another important point is what kind of soil to plant chili peppers in. You can buy ready-made mixtures or a universal soil composition.
Watering And Fertilizing Thai Chili
Every growing thing needs water and fertilizer, right? Well, if you’re growing chili peppers, and even if they’re not the size of a thumb, you need to know that this plant needs water in its soil and fertilizer around the plants’ roots. They love being watered in the morning and late afternoon, when they are most active. After the fruit starts coming out, you don’t need to water as frequently.
Water the plant as the top layer of soil dries out. Do not leave excess moisture in the sump. In summer, watering should be daily, but in fall and winter, reduce it to 3-4 times a week.
Try to periodically spray the leaves of the plant and maintain humidity in the room. Dry air is bad for peppers.
Care After Harvest
If you grow chili peppers indoors, you know that they stop producing after the harvest. To encourage production, you need to cut the plant back, leaving at least two leaves on the stem. Don’t wait until the pepper fruits mature to remove the leaves—doing so will ruin the plant.
How Much Time Does Need To Fruit?
In some cases, the longer it takes, the better. But in the case of Thai chili, the answer is pretty obvious: The longer it takes, the hotter it gets. While the flavor of hot pepper can change depending on the chile’s ripeness, the heat will only increase over time. So if you’re planning to add a little heat to your meal, choose your favorite kind of chili — and let it ripen slowly, so you can savor every single minute.
How Long Do Thai Chili Plants Live?
Thai chili plants live for around five years. They grow quickly, but also need a lot of sun and water to thrive. They should be placed in a warm place with full sunlight and watered regularly. If they aren’t watered enough, the plant will die.
How Do You Grow In Pots?
You don’t need fancy tools or expensive materials. You just need a pot big enough to accommodate your plant. Fill it with compost and plant your seedling into it. Give it water and sun, and you should be fine. Then let it grow. When the first leaves appear, pinch back the top of the plant until the first true leaves emerge. Now comes the exciting part: you can harvest chili peppers whenever you want.
Do Chili Plants Need Big Pots?
Chili peppers require large pots to grow large yields. You don’t want to risk burning the plant by growing them in a smaller pot. You also want a container that’s deep enough to accommodate a long growing season, as well as ample water. The larger pot you use, the more often you’ll need to water, so check to see if your planter is deep enough for your needs.
Can I Grow Thai Chili Peppers Indoors?
You can grow Thai chili peppers indoors. They have a hardiness rating of 10 out of 10, which means they are suitable for indoor growing all year long. As with many plants, the quality of the pepper will improve with maturity. Also, you need to have a controlled environment. These are some tips to help you get started: Choose a good location for your hot peppers. If possible, grow indoors where there is plenty of natural light. If you live in a hot climate, you may want to start your pepper seeds inside a greenhouse or indoors, but protected from the heat.
Read more about Tips On How To Take Care Of Cilantro Plant Indoors?
Conclusion
In conclusion, Thai chili plants should be given some water every day. They don’t like dry weather. So, provide them with a good amount of water when it rains. You should also know that this chili plant needs a bit of sunlight. This plant doesn’t like to be kept under shade. It also likes to be fertilized. Fertilizer can be a compost tea or organic fertilizer. You should fertilize them once a month. If you notice that the leaves turn yellow, it means that you should stop fertilizing your plant and give it some rest.
FAQ
How much sun do Thai chili plants need?
In a recent study, scientists discovered that when chili peppers are exposed to ultraviolet rays, they produce the compound capsaicin. While capsaicin isn't particularly harmful, people often use it to deter insects. If you're growing the plants for eating, the exposure is a bonus. However, if you plan on using them in any kind of food product, you'd better protect them from the sun.
How tall do Thai chili plants grow?
To figure out how tall the chili plants are, it is necessary to measure the height of the soil. The chili plant requires a minimum of three feet of growing space. As you will see in the experiment, this means that your plants may grow to about two feet if the soil is two feet deep. If the soil is only one foot deep, your chili plants will grow to about three feet.
How often should I water Thai chili?
It all depends on where you live and what your environment is like, but if you live in an area that gets hot and dry, you may need to water Thai chili more often than the average houseplant. That said, Thai chili requires very little maintenance, and once established, it will require minimal effort.
How do you prune Thai chili plants?
Pruning a Thai chili plant is easy. But, if you don’t take the proper precautions, you could end up injuring yourself instead of pruning. So what’s the secret to getting those pesky little suckers off without any nasty accidents? The pruner you need depends on the type of plant you have. The best kind of pruner to use is the one made especially for the type of plant you have.
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