As your pepper plants grow and change, so do the water requirements.

Follow these guidelines to ensure your pepper plants receive the right amount of water:

• Soil Moisture Test
  The most reliable way to gauge watering needs is to conduct a soil moisture test. Insert your finger about an inch into the soil near the plant's root zone. If it feels dry, it's time to water. If it feels moist, wait a day or two before watering.
  
• Observing Plant Signs
  Keep a close eye on your pepper plants for signs of water stress. Wilting leaves, drooping stems, and dull foliage can indicate the need for watering. Be cautious not to mistake overwatering signs, such as yellowing leaves and root rot, for dehydration.
  
• Pepper Watering Schedule
  In general, pepper plants benefit from deep, infrequent watering rather than frequent shallow watering. This promotes robust root development as roots grow deeper in search of moisture. Water your plants thoroughly until water begins to drain from the bottom, then allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out before the next watering.
  
• Adjusting for Climate
  Adapt your watering schedule to accommodate the climate in your area. In hot and dry conditions, you may need to water every two to three days. In cooler and more humid climates, you can extend the intervals between watering to five to seven days.
  
• Rainfall Considerations
  If your region receives regular rainfall, you may need to water less frequently. On the other hand, during extended dry periods, supplemental watering becomes crucial.

Seedlings can be a bit demanding when it comes to the sunlight they require. If you start growing indoors, your plants may be accustomed to indoor grow lights. Once they are mature enough to transition outdoors, we recommend you pick a location where the plants will receive at least 6-12 hours of direct sunlight throughout the growing season.

The morning sun is favorable because it is less intense than the afternoon sun. If your plant receives at least 6-12 hours of sunlight, it will have more energy to grow tall and strong. If your plant only receives 6 hours or less of sunlight, it will likely have a smaller harvest.

Pepper seeds contain all the nutrients they need for healthy initial growth. There is no need to fertilize your seedlings until they develop 4 to 6 "true leaves" and are several inches tall. At this point, you can begin using fertilizer at quarter-strength, slowly increasing fertilizer strength as they grow. We have several fertilizers we stand by from Mighty Plant:

• Mighty Plant Instant Compost Tea - Excellent for all stages of plant growth. This is a compost tea alternative that contains essential nutrients and beneficial microbes that enhance soil fertility. The ingredients boost plant growth, improve stress resistance, and support overall plant health.
• Mighty Plant Organo Grow Soluble Plant Food - For use in the vegetative stage. Offers the benefits of a standard fertilizer but goes a step further by including vital amino acids, peptides, and biostimulants made to increase the plant's ability to more efficiently uptake nutrients.
• Mighty Plant BudCharge Plant Food - For use late in the bloom stage. Bloom stage is when your plants needs more Phosphorous and Potassium to support big buds. BudCharge triggers bud development and promotes high trichome density and large heavy buds rich in aromatic terpenes and resins.

The USDA Grow Zone Map is the go-to standard for gardeners and growers. This map determines which perennial plants are most likely to thrive at a specific location. It's important that your perennial plants are hardy enough to survive the winter in your area. Winter damage occurs the most when plants are planted out of their range. If you take a look at the map, you will see a scale. The 1-13 categorizes every location in the United States by its coldest average temperature of the year.

• The coldest regions are a 1 on the scale.
• The hottest regions are 13.
• The scale is further divided by temperature. For example, 1a is colder than 1b and 2a is colder than 2b.

Check out our blog on Planting Zones to understand the other factors to consider like Microclimates.

The first step in fixing yellow leaves is identifying the root case.

Check watering habits:

• Too much water = soggy roots, yellowing, wilting
• Too little water = dry soil, stressed plant

Fix: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Make sure pots have drainage.

Look at Nutrients:

• Pale, yellowing lower leaves often mean nitrogen deficiency
• Yellowing between leaf veins = possible magnesium or iron deficiency

Fix: Begin using a balanced fertilzer. A balanced fertilizer is one that contains equal or nearly equal amounts of the three primary plant nutrients:

1. Nitrogen (for leaf and stem growth)
2. Phosphorus (for root and flower development)
3. Potassium (for overall plant health and disease resistance)

Consider Pot Size & Drainage

• Roots may be cramped or sitting in wet soil

Fix: Repot if root-bound or improve drainage.

Knowing when your peppers are ripe is the key to harvesting at the right time. The general rule of thumb for maturity of sweet peppers is 60-90 days, and hot peppers can mature around 90 days and up to 150 days. Make sure you know the final ripe color of your pepper variety—that way, you’ll recognize when it’s ready to pick.

Peppers are unique because you can harvest them at any color after they hit the maturity stage. For example, you can pick a Czech Black pepper during the purple/black stage or when it turns ruby red, and it will still be delicious! Pick the peppers when they are the size and color you want, and make sure they are firm.

Note: The more peppers you pick, the more peppers that will continue growing on your plant. Keep removing the peppers as soon as they are ripe so you can grow more!

The most common pests that can damage your peppers are aphids and spider mites. If you're currently dealing with these pests, it's essential to act quickly to prevent the pests from spreading.

We recommend following this DIY and inexpensive solution to Get Rid of Pests on Pepper Plants.:

• Whisk together 1 tablespoon of dawn dish soap, 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, and 1 gallon of warm soft water (tap water is preferred) in a bucket.
• After it’s mixed, spray and apply it in an even coat to the entire plant and coat the underside of the leaves where pests like to hide. The mix will work best when in it's in direct contact with the pests. The solution will not penetrate eggs so you will want to apply the soapy water to the plant once every four to seven days until the infestation is gone. If you wish to maximize the results, spray it in the early morning or as the sun sets so the mixture will not evaporate quickly. Just like when you use the sprinklers to water your lawn!

This solution is great at controlling infestations of many pests such as aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, and thrips.

Pruning pepper plants is the practice of selectively cutting off parts of the plant—usually leaves, stems, or early flowers—to improve growth, airflow, and fruit production. Pruning is not a required step but our team has found great value in this process.

Types of Pruning:

• Topping – Cutting off the top of the main stem when the plant is young (usually 4–6 inches tall). This encourages it to branch out and become bushier.
• Removing suckers – Snipping small shoots that grow in the "V" between the main stem and a branch, to direct energy to fewer, stronger branches.
• Thinning lower leaves – Improves airflow and reduces the risk of soil-borne diseases.
• Removing early flowers – In young plants, this helps redirect energy to vegetative growth before fruiting.
  

Benefits of Pruning

• Encourages bushier plants and more branching
• Increase fruit yield and size
• Improves airflow, reducing disease risk
• Helps sunlight reach more of the plant
  

Bring your plants indoors before first expected frost in a location that gets some sun. Prune the limbs back into 4" 'crotches'. Leave about 8 to 12 of these. Basically you're pruning back about 2/3 of your pepper plants. Water every few weeks while indoors and fertilize lightly about once a month. Your plants will flourish when you bring them back outdoors!