The Best Ways to Grow Bell Peppers Indoors

Season

• Bell peppers are summertime plants and require bright sun and warm temperatures. Grow them in spring, summer and fall for easiest maintenance, or provide extra care for winter growth. Never expose the plants to temperatures under 60 degrees Fahrenheit, as this restricts growth, blooming and fruiting.

Pots and Containers

• Bell pepper plants don't grow very tall but do get heavy with foliage and fruit production. Use heavy 5-gallon pots or larger containers to balance the foliage and allow for full root growth. Ohio State University Extension recommends pots with 12-inch diameters and drainage holes for bell peppers.

Potting Soil and Starting Nutrition

• Bell peppers thrive in moist, rich and quick-draining soil and need more supportive soil in pots than they do in the garden. Mix quick-draining garden soil with organic compost in equal parts for a quick potting soil. Ohio State University Extension recommends adding perlite and sphagnum peat moss to this mix. This foundation provides long-term organic nutrition and moisture retention for growth. Turn 5-10-10 or 8-16-16 granular fertilizer into the soil for additional starting nutrition. Plant one pepper plant per 5-gallon pot.

Maintenance

• Keep indoor peppers in full sun or bright all-day artificial light. Bell peppers thrive with temperatures of 65 to 75 degrees F and bloom best in bright conditions. Don't put the peppers near heating registers or fireplaces; the dry air dries plant foliage. Water the plants with 2 inches of water whenever the soil dries. Use water-soluble 20-20-20 or 15-30-15 fertilizer once a week, starting at mid-season, to encourage fruiting.

Harvest

• Pick bell peppers when they're full, ripe and firm. Allow the peppers to ripen on the plant and attain mature coloration for the sweetest, juiciest harvest. Bell peppers require 70 to 80 days of growth to produce their harvest.