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I have 4 small chili plants (sorry not sure what variety they are), they have 3 sets of leaves. I re-potted them from a seed tray about 2 weeks ago. I'm a bit concerned the plant pot is too big? When growing from seeds how many times should I re-pot and into what sizes?

small chili plants growing in a pot

J. Musser
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Dan
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3 Answers3

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To me that pot looks about big enough for 1 plant. And only with daily watering care if it is hot. Even if that many plants "work", you won't get more peppers from them than from 1 big healthy plant.

I usually repot once directly to my main growing locations. I may put left overs into medium sized joghurt cups to give away or repot again eventually, but there seems to be no difference in which plants do better.

Jürgen Strobel
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That would be the smallest pot I would use for those plants. I only re-pot once (from the seed tray). Of course re-potting disturbs them and sets them back a bit. Also the roots can get tangled (hence the disturbance).

Over the last 2-3 years, I've come to the realization that peppers do much better in raised beds or normal beds, rather than pots. I have had reasonable size adult plants in pots that size or larger (pepperocini come to mind, although this year's are slow growing), but they tend to be the exception.

Ornamental peppers seem to do fine in pots as well, but ornamentals are generally smaller plants to start with.

Of course pots might be the only option, in which case I think you have to live with smaller plants and less fruit.

winwaed
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  • Why do raised beds or beds matter - more room? – Dan Jun 13 '11 at 21:06
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    Yes I think so: more room for the roots. Also it seems the water is more uniform - plants are not as susceptible to drying out. – winwaed Jun 13 '11 at 21:18
  • You I have too many plants in one pot? – Dan Jun 14 '11 at 14:14
  • Probably? There is a certain amount of subjectiveness. I have five pepperoncini plants in each of my 16in pots on the deck. The largest two are of course the two which have grown together (ie. the seeds must have been almost touching, so I transplanted them together). Also the ornamental 'poinsettia' pepper (rectangular pot but many more plants / less root space) are giving them a run for the money in the height stakes. – winwaed Jun 14 '11 at 14:25
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I think the pot is big enough. I am growing about 6 or 7 plants in a pot smaller than that. I get about 3-4 chillies every month from each pot( i have 3 pots) . Its my first time planting chillies and I don't know how much they grow. They have stopped growing now and they are about 1.5 feet high. I think your pot is big enough.

abhijeetbodas2001
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