Watering Pepper Plants - When To Water (And When Not To) - In Depth Guide

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In this video, we discuss the process of watering peppers. Watering is a tricky topic, because it will be different for each grower. So many factors impact a plant's watering needs, from temperature, to sun exposure, to size, and much more.

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Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
1:01 Quick overview of watering peppers
2:21 Watering pepper seedlings
4:06 Factors that influence water usage
7:10 How to know when to water
9:03 Preventing blossom end rot
10:24 Tips for watering pepper plants

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Thanks for watching Pepper Geek!
#watering #peppers #irrigation #gardening

[robklein]

I read a tip from an old gardening book from the 50s. Plant a chrysanthemum as if it is one of your tomatoes or peppers in the garden. They are the first plant to wilt from low soil moisture and they wilt very noticeably before tomatoes or peppers show any stress. If you see it start to wilt, water the garden. They perk up right away until next watering is needed and they droop again.

[jacobsidorin]

One thing that worked for me. I bought pots that are clear. I can see how wet the dirt is and also see the roots. Makes it easy to know when to upsize the pot.

[NihilusTheGreat]

I use water from my fish tank when I do a water change. Lots of excess nitrogen in the water to be used up by the plant. It's water that would be sent down the drain anyways, so I'm happy to use it to grow my veggies in the spring->fall.

[FormulaPontiac]

8:38 Over-watering is especially problematic if it occurs right after repotting to a larger pot or outdoors in the ground. What will happen is that the small rotsystem suddenly could have way to much water that will take a long time to return to normal moist condition. More often than not the plant will get a stress reaction due to disturbed root ends when replanting. The stress reaction here is actually a sign of a under hydrated plant. Sun, wind and higher temperatures are all factors to make this situation more noticeable. If you at this point misinterpret the signals and starts drenching the plant with more water the result will probably end with you killing the root-system due to root rot. And then the plant dies of course.
It's important to understand the physiologic reasons behind drooping leaves. Internal under hydration makes the leaves droop. It's a lack of water inside the cells in the leaves and the stems. Both damaged roots in soggy soil and healthy roots in dry soil will have the same impact on the plant internal workings and manifest itself exactly the same way by limp branches and drooping leaves.
I just learned this the hard way and had to do some online reading to solve this. Thought this could benefit someone struggling with the same

[tryitout]

Sometimes I watch your videos when I already know about the subject.... just because I like seeing your plants. hahaha. Thanks for all the videos sharing your knowledge and plants.

[rcredmon]

I had planted a few jalapeño plants a couple years ago... And come summertime (in southeast Texas) I stopped caring so much about garden tending. They produced peppers all the way into winter. With just whatever rain happened to fall on them during the summer months. Same with okra that I've planted.

[ChrisMorton]

one technique i use is to use a saturated sponge on the surface of the ground/potted plants on really hot days to help provide a 'slow release' drip feed to the roots. additionally due to evaporation on the surface of the sponge, it helps keep the soil cooler around the base of the plant. the best way to do the sponge is to take a large household sponge (20cm*20cm or bigger) and put a hole in the middle with a sharp knife or hot iron, the hole must be large enough not to touch the actual plant (because it might cause stem rot). this is a 'substitute' for mulch and is a suitable solution for potted plants that will be left unattended for a few days. the nice thing about using this technique is that it is impossible to overwater, since the water is distributed by osmosis (water flows in the direction of wet (sponge) to dry (soil)) and excess is evaporated out of the sponge. also the sponge can be reused, reducing reliance on a good supply of mulch. the sponge can also be used to administer micronutrients if one uses water with plantfood already dissolved in it. from a water conservation point of view in dry areas with water restrictions (western cape, australia, california) this technique can help by reducing wasted water. be careful when lifting a 'spent' dry sponge - it is likely have spiders, scorpions, millipedes, insects or even snakes hiding in the warm moist spot under the sponge.

[mplslawnguy]

Great tips. One thing I disagree with though is that mulch doesn't do anything in pots. Mulch absolutely does something in pots. A good 2 inch layer of mulch will keep your pots from immediately drying out on those really hot days. It makes a big difference for me.

[asafvarlix]

Wonderful and thank you. apperantly i over-loved my peppers and killed them by over-watering. now i know and understand
very very very informative and clear video, keep up the good detailed information brother!

[johnjude]

Great video and you explain well, I have 10 sweet bell peppers and some giants said 5"X8 inches and thick walls so yeah I'm excited to eat well this summer planning 40 plants so should be able to allow many to mature in to their colors.
I'm planning again to mulch as I think so helpful.
Thanks

[smas]

Now I finally have the answer to why my bell pepper in the ground got bottom rot. The same variety, which is for containers produced into November, using a cover at night.
I KNEW THE "FINGERS" IN THE SOIL TEST. I did that for the container bell pepper.

Thanks for the help. I'm watching all your videos.

[kenshinhimura]

I have 4 bell pepper plants in a RDWC system outdoors in a greenhouse. They use about 2-2.5 gallons of water per day. Plants are between 2-3 feet tall and produce massive peppers.

[MrEiht]

With my pepper plants I always have basil. Not that I want to but some years ago I was not careful with the seeds. Besides, they are good plant friends and benefit from each other. The Aji White Fantasy and "dem Habaneros" have ginger as additional friend.

[Ira]

Love this channel!

Very tough for me in South Florida with extreme heat and brutal showers just about every day in the spring and summer. I’m new at this…only been at it for about 6 months…but even during this short time, I think I’ve “correctly” learned a few things:

1) We each have to work with what we got, and the environment we live in. The soil stinks in my part of South Florida (mostly sand, very shallow until you hit rock/coral), so all of my plants are in containers.

2) I have zero indoor space to accommodate anything, so ALL of my seedlings have to be outside, under cover when needed. But I’m sometimes not home, there’s a downpour, and those seed pots are flooded and totally toast. I’m gonna work on a better situation for this, but they HAVE to be outside.

I’m getting like a 10% seedling survival rate now, probably much lower, but it is what it is. I KNOW being out in full Florida sun isn’t good for them so young, but maybe it’s super hardening those that DO survive this torture test environment, and that’s a good thing.

3) Before our rainy season began…and we’ve actually had a VERY dry winter…no problem for me to water every day. I’m retired and nothing else to do with my life!

4) Since our rainy season began about 6 weeks ago, I determined that much bigger pots are more appropriate for adolescents than “size appropriate” pots…and I’m planting 2 adolescents per pot.

First, with much more soil, and a heavy downpour, there’s much more space for the rainwater to drain and not flood the roots. (I also put a few empty water bottles at the bottom of the pot.) No matter how well a smaller pot drains, the physics of a larger pot simply makes more sense. And as a bonus, larger pots…as you’ve said in the past…grow larger peppers.

Next, and this is total conjecture on my part, I think that planting 2 to a pot is going to protect each from too much sun. One shields the other half of the day, and then vice versa.

5) I avoid mulch because I can’t get the good kind, and I just don’t need it during rainy season and non-rainy season, when I can regularly and easily water anyway.

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Again…I love what you do, and plan to visit your website often! You always give great, sensible advice, with a great understanding that everyone’s situation is different!

[Jimmynitro]

Here in Vegas my pepper plants do pretty good! Until 120° hits then the struggle is real.

[robertacordova]

Great video! I learned a lot about how to care for my new heirloom chile seedling and what not to do. I just looked at your video library and it looks like I need to get busy and watch. I’ve got a lot of catching up to do. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[thetexianpatriot]

Thank You for the video. Your content has really helped me step up my pepper game. My Friends and Neighbors thank you as well.

[matthawkins]

One of my issues out here in Victoria BC Canada is that our summers, though not hot (think 80 degrees is a scorcher) are very dry. We get almost no rainfall between late May and October. This makes watering a critical concern.

[TheNetsrac]

Great video and tips, thank you very much

[jackiecollins]

Very informative thk u first time growing peppers, so very helpful 👍🏻👍🏻