Decorative pepper

Decorative peppers: description and purpose

Decorative peppers, which grow indoors, at home, also have another name - capsicum. The shrub, like other peppers, belongs to the genus Solanaceae, has approximately the same characteristics, but nevertheless, at home, the peppers are significantly different. Basically, ornamental peppers are grown as decorative elements, although vegetables can also have such qualities that they can be eaten. But do not confuse capsicums with ordinary black pepper, since it does not belong to the nightshade family, but just the same to the pepper family. Sorts of such peppers are divided into two types: there are bitter peppers and, accordingly, sweet ones.

Indoor culture differs in that it is quite compact. Bushes branch, their height can vary from 20 to 40 centimeters. On it, an abundance of the thick part and fruits is noted, which, however, cannot always be eaten. In summer, it is best to put the plant on the balcony, and if the gardener has this opportunity, then plant the plant in open ground. Before the air temperature begins to drop, you can repot the plant back into the pot and continue growing indoors.

As for whether it is possible to eat the fruits of capsicums, many gardeners in general give an unequivocal answer. In essence, these are false fruits that have completely empty seed pods. They can be used for food, but rather not fresh, but only as a spicy addition to dishes. Depending on which variety the plant belongs to, it can have its own unique shape, color and size, which also always differ from each other. However, if there are also such varieties where the fruits are unsuitable even to simply add them somewhere. The roots of these peppers, their green part and tops in general have a poison, which to a large extent can only harm the human body.

Decorative peppers: popular varieties

There are several of the most popular varieties of ornamental peppers that are in great demand among the population today.

The first variety, called Tabasco, is a very famous pepper, belongs to the classic variety. It is a component of the famous sauce of the same name. The fruits reach a length of about five centimeters, the color is usually bright orange-red when ripe, rich, the taste of the pepper is very high, it can be eaten.

Tepin - This variety belongs to the wild. The fruits are round in shape, their color is red, and the size is small enough. Peppers taste very hot, it is better not to use them fresh at all. Another name for the Tepin peppers is Cowboy of the Year.

Troll - is a sprawling shrub that can reach a height of about forty centimeters, no more. The leaves are bright, variegated. Fruiting is high; in the process of ripening, the peppers can change their color: at first they are bright green, then they begin to turn yellow, and when they reach ripening, they become perfectly red.

Black Pearl is another variety that is relatively unusual. Growing up, the fruits change their color from green to black, hence the name of this variety. The fruits of the plant have features, in the form of small balls, when they become ripe, the black color changes to the red we are accustomed to.

Jellyfish is one of the most beautiful varieties of ornamental peppers.The bush is simply strewn with a huge number of bright fruits that have an elongated shape. More they resemble the tentacles of a jellyfish, hence the exotic name. Peppers can be eaten, they are safe, but you should take into account their sharp and very pungent taste.

Salute is a dwarf variety, which is the smallest among the decorative ones. It is ideal for growing at home - on windowsills or balconies. The height of the bush does not exceed twenty centimeters, the fruits are decorative, bright orange in color.

Goldfinder is a pepper variety that also belongs to ornamental. The fruits are not eaten, the bush is grown indoors and is intended mainly to decorate the interior. The fruits also have a very aesthetic appearance, their color is bright yellow, pleasing to the eye of anyone who sees them. In care, the variety is very unpretentious, you just need to adhere to the rules of agricultural technology in the care.

Indoor paprika is an annual variety of ornamental peppers that produces fairly sweet fruits. Unlike the other varieties we have listed, this variety has a peculiarity: after collecting fruits from it, the bush can simply dry out. The plant reaches a height of about half a meter, the fruits are bright red. To avoid damage to the bush, it is best to immediately determine its purpose and not collect the resulting fruits from it.

Growing at home

Of course, if the gardener observes some agro-technological rules and conditions, then he will be able to grow a beautiful ornamental bush that will bear fruit for several seasons in a row, usually up to four years). But for this to happen, you should carefully and responsibly treat each stage of growing a plant.

The first stage is the choice of material for planting. In order for a beautiful, decorative bush to grow in a gardener's pot, this step must be taken seriously. It is best to propagate plants by seeds, but in order for bushes to sprout from seeds, the following is necessary:

- for planting when self-collecting seeds from fruits, the peppers must first be dried in order to remove all excess moisture and juices

- seeds should be harvested from a strong bush, which the gardener liked the most for its shape and size

- it is not necessary to immediately sell all the seeds: from hot peppers in the right conditions, they can be stored for four to five years. But nevertheless, it must be borne in mind that the best germination will go away only from those seeds that were obtained a year before planting. This simple rule can actually provide excellent yields and an attractive, healthy appearance.

- the seeds should not be affected by any diseases, and they should not have any rotting, mechanical damage

- if the material has all the correct properties, then the seeds should have a bright yellow color.

According to the terms of fruit ripening, all varieties of ornamental peppers are divided into several main categories: early ripening varieties, mid-ripening and late-ripening ornamental peppers. Early maturing varieties ripen about 95 days after the seeds have been planted in the pot. Mid-season varieties need about 110 days for this. As for the late-ripening varieties, for this you need to wait about one hundred and thirty days. The choice of this or that species or variety entirely depends on what results the gardener wants to achieve, and what shrub after what time he wants to see on his windowsill in the apartment.

One pot will be enough for planting seeds. At the same time, a successful landing has to be carried out in several stages at once, which should be taken into account and followed:

- a drainage layer is placed at the bottom of the pot, which consists of expanded clay, broken brick

- the soil must be neutral, for this you can take the most common substrate that is sold in shops for gardeners. You can also collect the soil from the plots yourself, but before that it should be warmed up and disinfected.

- before the seeds are planted in the substrate, it is best to soak them for two to three hours in water. During this time, the seeds will noticeably swell, and then they can be processed with biological growth stimulants

- the seeds are distributed over the soil surface, while the gardener should maintain a certain distance between them. The soil must be moistened, but in no case should it be wet

- the seeds are covered with a substrate by about 0.5 centimeters, that is, there is no need to deeply deepen them into the soil

- the soil is best sprayed with warm settled water from a spray bottle

- the seeds are covered with foil or glass to create a greenhouse effect for a while and maintain a suitable moisture level.

After the very first shoots appear from the soil, they must be regularly inspected. As the soil dries up, it will need to be moistened, but extreme care must be taken when watering. If waterlogging occurs suddenly, then the root system runs the risk of rotting. The plant should be ventilated daily, for this the film is lifted from the pot or box. As soon as the plant grows a little, and at least two formed leaves appear on it, the pepper is planted in a separate pot, in which it will constantly grow. For one pepper, one pot is used, respectively. Decorative varieties are not recommended to be planted in large quantities, they are not intended for this at all.

Fruiting and flowering in some cases needs to be stimulated. To do this, the container in which the plant is located should be shaken from time to time, and due to this, in the future, the number of ovaries on the pepper will increase. The plant is loyal to sunlight, the more, the better. Systematically, the gardener should water the plant well, but in this process, observe the norms and frameworks so as not to harm the root system. It is important to remember that the very first inflorescences can crumble, but new ones appear after them, and they are precisely responsible for the fruiting function.

Ornamental peppers are usually propagated and grown using seeds, but there are also gardeners who prefer the cuttings method more. In order to grow indoor peppers using the seed method, you need to purchase high-quality material, as well as prepare the growing container and soil in advance. The seeds are planted, the grower waits for the shoots to emerge, and then tends the shoots to stimulate their growth. Disembarkation is usually carried out at the end of winter.

If the gardener has chosen the method of cuttings, then he must remember that it is best to grow peppers and propagate them by this method in the spring and summer. To do this, lateral viable shoots are cut from the main bush, placed in a container that contains a mixture of earth and sand. The soil is watered regularly as it begins to dry out. In containers, it is also better to pre-equip a drainage layer of expanded clay, brick. A stalk that has managed to take root is best not needed, because in order for the process to proceed as quickly as possible, you should pinch the stalk slightly.

Decorative pepper: care and properties of peppers

There are several rules that should be followed if we are talking about arranging the most suitable conditions for keeping decorative peppers and caring for them.

The first factor is humidity as well as air temperature. Capsicums are quite thermophilic plants. They grow well and show ideal results of their development in spring and summer, when the air temperature is kept around 25 degrees.If we take care of capsicums in winter, then during this period the temperature around the ornamental pepper should not fall below 15 degrees, otherwise it simply will not survive this time. The plant, however, is resistant to temperature extremes; in the summer, it is best to expose the capsicums in the garden or on the balcony. When it comes to humidity, it is best to stick to moderation.

Lighting is another significant factor. When a gardener takes care of indoor plants, and in particular peppers, he must remember that these are very thermophilic crops that simply need to be constantly lit. But if we are talking about direct sunlight, then they should be provided to the peppers for no more than four hours. If you overexpose plants in the sun, then they can be exposed to overheating and burns. In summer, the plants can even be slightly darkened, since the sun is especially active at this time, and this can even more harm both the plant itself and the ornamental fruits. If there is so little light in the room, then artificial lighting can be created, it will also be most useful for the plant. At the same time, the amount of harvest and the overall external qualities of the plant depend on the degree of illumination.

Soil - for growing ornamental peppers, it is best to use light soils that have a neutral acid reaction. The substrate is purchased from specialized gardening stores. Experienced gardeners can also mix the soil on their own: for this they use turf soil, deciduous humus and sand in equal parts.

Watering - in the spring and autumn periods, the plant should be watered abundantly, and watch how much the earthen lump dries out - it should always be moist, but not wet. At the same time, the peppers are regularly sprayed: in especially hot moments it is best to spray the green part every other day so that the plant is evenly fed. Water for irrigation should be settled, at room temperature. If the peppers are growing near the batteries, it is best to water them even more often. In autumn, watering may decrease, and in winter, they are completely reduced to their minimum indicators. Indoor peppers cannot stand the fact that the soil can dry out altogether. Usually they express dissatisfaction with this withered leaves of theirs, and the fruits completely crumble. If you do not take action on time, then the plant dies after a short period of time.

Like any plants, decorative peppers also need additional fertilizers and feeding. Most often these are fertilizers with a high phosphorus content, as well as nitrogen mixtures. Root fertilizers are best applied with watering once every two weeks, not more often. Periodically, the peppers should also be pruned, as this will improve yields, as well as create an attractive crown for the plant. Sometimes the branches should be cut almost in half, because this is the only way to achieve good results when it comes to the yield of pepper bushes and their appearance.

Repotting is not the best idea for ornamental peppers, but it is still more of a necessity and is best done every year. This process should be treated with all responsibility and seriousness, the plant is transferred into a pot, new soil is added, without disturbing the soil ball, in which the entire root system is concentrated. The purpose of transplanting in general is to create new soil.

Peppers can be attacked by pests. The most common among them, as well as among diseases of peppers, are the following:

- spider mite

- mealybug, which provokes powdery mildew

- aphid

- downy mildew

- black leg

- late blight.

Also, among the diseases, we single out root rot, shedding of leaves, shrinking, blanching and depletion of the deciduous cover of decorative peppers.It is necessary to carry out preventive treatments, competently prepare the soil and planting material in order to avoid such negative manifestations, since sometimes ornamental peppers are simply not ready for this. Peppers have a lot of useful qualities, they are suitable for the preparation of many national dishes, seasonings, sauces. This option is quite economical. Pepper also boosts human immunity, improves metabolism and metabolism, which is great for those who are on a diet and dream of losing weight.