1. Unboxing Live Plants

Carefully open the packaging to reveal your plant. We've used custom packaging to securely protect your plant and its roots during transit, ensuring they arrive in great condition. The rock wool surrounding the roots plays a key role in this—it’s a lightweight hydroponic material that helps maintain the perfect balance of moisture and oxygen, while also shielding the roots from pests and diseases.

Here's how:

• Gently remove the plant from its box and packaging.
• Inspect the plant for any damage. 
  • Broken Stems or other physical damage? Email us within 2 business days of delivery at customerservice@pepperjoe.com with a photo of the issue and we'll make it right. 
  • Wilted Leaves? Water your plant immediately after arrival and give it 24 hours to recover. A bit of wilting after shipping is normal and usually resolves after your plant settles in. If it hasn't bounced back after a day, email us at customerservice@pepperjoe.com with a photo of the issue and we'll make it right. 

-Leave the rock wool intact - don't remove it! The rock wool is there to protect the delicate roots. Removing it can damage the plant and stunt its growth. 

Once your plant is safely out of the box, you’re ready to start planting!

2. Pot Your Plant

Next, place the rock wool end of your plant about 2-3 inches into your favorite potting soil (use a pot that's at least 1 gallon). Give it a good drink of water right after planting—your plant’s been on quite a journey! Keep an eye on the soil moisture, but be careful not to overwater, as pepper plants don't like soggy roots. For more watering tips, check out our How Often to Water Pepper Plants blog.

Pro Tip- Hot pepper plants thrive in well-draining soil. Avoid heavy, water-retentive mixes. Ensure your potting medium lets excess moisture escape so roots stay happy and healthy.

3. Harden Off Your Pepper Plants

Plants adjust to small, gradual changes in their environment better than sudden shifts, that's what hardening off is all about. Just like untanned skin can burn in strong sun, indoor-grown leaves can develop pale, sunburned patches if they're suddenly exposed to full sun and wind. To prevent this, introduce your seedlings to outdoor conditions slowly.

1. Days 1-3: Start in a shaded, sheltered spot for 1-2 hours a day.  
2. Days 4-7: Gradually increase direct sunlight for 2-4 hours, then bring indoors.
3. Weeks 2-3: If your plants not ready, continue to gradually increase direct sun by 1-2 hours each day until your plants thrive in full sun. 

By easing them into their new environment you'll help ensure they grow strong and healthy. 

More on Pepper Plant Care

Hardening off your pepper plants is the process of transitioning seedlings from indoors to the outdoors. This involves slowly exposing them to sunlight, fluctuating temperatures, and wind to help them adjust. Planning ahead is key to ensuring a smooth transition before permanently moving your seedlings outside. This step is essential for healthy transplanting and strong plant development.

• WATCH: How to Harden Off & Transplant Pepper Plants in 6 Easy Steps

Keep in mind that pepper seedlings don't tolerate cold weather too well. The soil environment should be perfect for your plants, reaching temperatures of at least 60 degrees, and all awareness of frost is done. The key is to not disturb the pepper plant's roots as they adjust to their new outdoor environment.

Routine Upkeep & Care

On average, our live pepper plants will start producing peppers in 60-90 days. While they're growing, each variety will undergo different changes in growth and production. 

• Feed your plants nutrients. Your plant needs essential nutrients to thrive and boast great yields of peppers. We have a great selection of fertilizers to help give your seedlings the boost they need.
  
  
• Look out for pests. Common pepper plant pests like aphids and spider mites look to wreak havoc on your newly planted seedlings. Use a soapy water solution or stronger pesticide to keep pests, pathogens, and other invasive species at bay. 
  • LEARN: Tips & Tricks on How to Get Rid of Pests
    
    
• Prune your plant as needed. Giving your pepper plants a trim allows more sunlight to hit the plant and promotes areas of new growth such as where pepper pods form and develop. 
  • WATCH: How to Prune Pepper Plants in 5 Easy Steps

You can learn more tips and tricks on how to care for your new pepper plant by visiting our Grow With Joe blog page today!

Live Pepper Plants from Pepper Joe's

Growing peppers from seed can become a tedious, time-consuming process. Live pepper plants from Pepper Joe's help you skip the seeds and get right to the fun of planting and caring for healthy established pepper plants. You can choose so many different options from super hot pepper plants to our rare and exotic plant varieties!

Each of our pepper plants has been hand-picked and cared for by our team of pepper-growing experts. Our team works hard to ensure you get a quick and safe delivery of your favorite pepper plants to your doorstep!

PLEASE NOTIFY US IMMEDIATELY IF YOUR PLANT ARRIVES DEAD OR IN POOR CONDITION. PICTURES ARE REQUIRED. WE CANNOT REFUND PLANTS IF THEY HAVE BEEN IN YOUR POSSESSION FOR MORE THAN 48 HOURS.

If you have any questions or concerns about your pepper plants, please contact our team at (888) 660-2276 or customerservice@pepperjoe.com.