Your Guide To Growing Peppers In steadyGROWpro
Sweet or bell peppers are popular indoor garden plants. SteadyGROWpro is an ideal media for growing peppers. SteadyGROWpro is:
Inert – allows for maximum nutrient intake to the plant. It does not attract pests
Sterile – eliminates algal, fungal and bacterial growth
Good aeration – makes sure the root zone is provided with ample oxygen
Optimum water holding capacity – facilitates healthy root formation
Picking Your Pepper Seeds
Pepper seed selection is critical to successful germination rates. Select varieties which grow quickly, are known to produce higher yields and can tolerate temperature fluctuations during the various stages of growth. Be sure the seeds you select are disease resistant and will produce good quality fruit. Never use seeds which are more than nine months old.
Preparing Your Indoor Garden
Prepare your indoor gardening area by cleaning and sterilizing with a disinfectant. If this is your first indoor garden, click here for a recommended layout and set up.
Sowing Pepper Seeds
Once the seeds are selected, sow them in steadyGROWpro sheets or plug strips. Make sure the steadyGROWpro product is thoroughly saturated with water.
Sowing in Plug Strips - Plug strips should be watered from the top only; place the plugs in standard 10" x 20" grower trays to capture any excess water. Push the seed down in the foam about ½" into the starburst hole using a sharp and thin object (ie: sharpened pencil). Place the seeded trays in a room which will maintain a temperature of roughly 80° F. At all stages of growth, you should shoot for a minimum of eight hours and a maximum of 12 hours of natural or artificial light per day. Check the media from time to time to make sure it is properly hydrated. SteadyGROWpro plug media should feel moist at the top. Be careful not to overwater the media. If the seeds are oversaturated or sitting in water, it will prevent proper growth.
Sowing in Sheet Media - Sheet media placed in a standard 10" x 20" grower tray may be subirrigated or watered from the top. Maintain a water level within the grower tray of about ⅓ the media height. Drop the seed in the prepunched holes. Place the seeded trays in a room which will maintain a temperature of roughly 80° F. At all stages of growth, you should shoot for a minimum of eight hours and a maximum of 12 hours of natural or artificial light per day. Check the media from time to time to make sure it is properly hydrated. SteadyGROWpro sheet media should maintain a water level of ⅓ the height of the media. Be careful not to overwater the media. If the seeds are ove saturated or sitting in water, it will prevent proper growth.
Germination And Transplanting To steadyGROWpro Blocks
Germination of pepper seeds are slow compared to lettuce and tomato seeds. At a temperature of 70°-75° F, pepper seeds will germinate in about two weeks. To avoid slow growth rates or death of the plant, make sure that the temperature does not fall below 50° F . When you see the formation of the first leaves, transplant the seedlings to steadyGROWpro blocks. Make sure the blocks are thoroughly saturated with water and nutrient supply before transplanting. Increase the day temperature to around 77°-81° F and the nighttime temperature to around 64°-68° F. Water the steadyGROWpro cubes every two to three with 150 ml of water and nutrient solution. Drip irrigation systems are highly recommended as they ensure an even distribution of water and nutrients. For more on drip irrigation systems, click here. At this stage of the growth cycle, we recommend a nutrient solution 50 ppm Nitrogen, 20 ppm of Phosphorous, 50 ppm of Potassium and 100 ppm of Calcium.
Transplanting To steadyGROWpro Slabs
After four to six weeks, when the seedlings are about 6" long, transfer the blocks to the steadyGROWpro slabs. Make sure the slabs are thoroughly soaked first with water and nutrient supply. You will find precut 4" x 4" holes in the steadyGROWpro slabs for you to place your steadyGROWpro blocks. When using drip irrigation systems, make sure that the drip tubes are placed on the blocks. Place your drip irrigation tube on the block near the main stem to effectively supply water and fertilizer to the actively growing stem and roots. During the day, you should hydrate with 150 ml of water and fertilizer every two hours. Thirty-six hours after transplanting, cut two drainage slits at the bottom corner of your slabs. The slits should be roughly 1" in length.
Pepper seedlings will grow for almost 10 weeks before you will see flower growth. They do not need pollination, but fruit growth can be enhanced by artificial pollination. Two to four weeks after the plants flower, you will begin seeing fruits at regular intervals until the plants are removed. Enjoy your fresh farm taste peppers grown in steadyGROWpro!
