How To Grow Bell Peppers At Home In Pots: Step-By-Step Guide

Pick a pot that is about 12 inches deep and wide, with drainage holes at the bottom. Bell pepper plants develop a fairly wide root system, so avoid picking any small containers. A 15- to 18-inch pot can comfortably keep one mature plant and gives the roots enough space to extend.

Fill the pot with loose, fertile soil that allows excess water to drain easily. A simple mix can have garden soil, compost and cocopeat in equal amounts. Avoid using very heavy soil that remains soggy for long after watering. Before planting, mix in some compost to give the young plant a nutrient-rich beginning.

Bell peppers need a lot of sunlight to grow the leafy plants and produce fruit. Place the pot where it gets about six to eight hours of direct sunlight on a daily basis. A sunny balcony, terrace or south-facing window can work well. Rotate the pot sometimes so that the plant grows evenly from all sides.

Water the plant when the top layer of soil feels a bit dry. Pour water slowly until you get a little water draining from the bottom, then empty any water that is collected in the saucer. During the hot weather, the plant may also be watered more frequently, but avoid keeping the soil constantly wet.

As the plant grows taller and begins carrying peppers, its branches can become a bit heavy. Push a small bamboo stake into the pot and loosely tie the stem to it. Feed the plant with compost or balanced vegetable fertiliser every few weeks during active growth to support flowering and fruit production.