There are not so many plants in the world that can feel great both on the summer cottage and on the window sill. And at the same time they not only serve as an excellent decoration of the room, but also delight with their taste. One of these plants is a hot pepper light, which can be planted in a pot.
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Description and characteristics of pepper light
Pepper light is a perennial plant, which appeared due to the interbreeding of Chilean and Cayenne varieties.He comes from Mexico, and his taste became known to Europeans thanks to Columbus.
Growing a plant on your windowsill is not at all difficult. Under favorable conditions, the pepper can live about 6 years.
Pepper throws out its flowering in spring, and at the end of summer it has fruits. However, one can often observe how it blossoms and bears fruit at the same time.
The fruits on it are perfectly formed and without cross-pollination, but if you take a soft brush and carry pollen, the crop will be much richer.
With the right care, you can achieve excellent yield, even up to 100 pieces. And the plant bears fruit year round.
The advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Pepper light has a lot of advantages:
- it can be grown both in the garden and at home on the windowsill;
- depending on the sort he different in shape and color;
- not only pleases the eye, but also gives great taste to your dishes;
- due to the content of a complex of vitamins, health benefits;
- if he is provided with artificial light in the winter, he will bear fruit year-round.
The disadvantages of the variety include the fact that the light:
- does not tolerate direct sunlight, but the place of its habitat must be bright at the same time;
- does not love heat, cold and wind;
- when grown in a greenhouse, it is also necessary to regulate heat and light.
Planting seeds at home
The most suitable soil for a plant will be that which consists of the following components:
- turf ground;
- leaf earth;
- peat.
These substances are taken in equal amounts and added to them. a quarter of the sand.
So, with the soil decided, now you need to choose the right seeds. To do this, we collect in the water tank and soak the seeds in it for a day. Those that pop up, throw away, and use the rest for landing.
It is necessary to plant seeds in early spring. Sow them into a moist soil to a depth of no more than 1 cm. At the same time, the room must be maintained at a temperature of about 24 degrees Celsius. After 10 days, the pepper should germinate.
Emerging seedlings put in a bright place with a temperature of about 20 degrees. When the plant throws out the first leaves, it is transplanted, and after 60 days the light is either planted in a separate pot, or on a bed.
Growing conditions on the windowsill
If you follow the recommendations, then with growing you have no problems.
Be sure to follow the rules of watering. There is no need to allow the soil to dry out. The fire is watered regularly, but weakly copiously, since an excess of moisture can lead to rotting of the roots.
As for fertilizers, they must be applied at the time of transplantation. It must be organic matter. And during the growing season, phosphorus-potassium supplements are applied every 2 weeks.
The first harvest after sowing seeds can already be harvested in 2-3 months.
Transplantation and reproduction
If the light grows on the window sill, then it should definitely repot every 2 or 3 years in a bigger pot.In this case, be sure to pay attention to the development of its root system.
As for breeding, the light is best grown from seed. How to do it is already mentioned above. However, good results can be achieved with the help of grafting. In order for the stem to blossom it will take only one and a half month, and when propagated by seeds, such results will not be achieved.
To propagate by grafting, the following very simple steps are necessary:
- cut a twig and stick it in the soil;
- water the plant and cover with foil.
After 7 days rooting will come.
Special features
Pepper light has a number of unique features and a beneficial effect on the human body:
- is he contains vitaminswhich improve the functioning of the brain, nervous and circulatory system.
- Interferes with the development of cancer cells.
- It should be eaten by people who suffer from diabetes and who have high cholesterol. This pepper is able to lower them.
- It is part of the useful medical tinctures.
Diseases and pests
Pepper light is very hardy and resistant plant. It contains capsaicin, which is often used in the fight against all sorts of pests, because it is so easy not to overcome.
If the leaves of the plant turn pale or fall off completely, then you should not immediately panic and think about the fact that the pepper has fallen ill or has become a victim of some pests. He can just not enough daylightand he decided to go to sleep. With an increase in the day the plant will return to normal, or it can be helped in this case by providing artificial lighting.
As for pests, fans of this kind of delicacies include spider mite and aphid. To pick up these parasites the chances increase in those plants that first grew in the garden, and then moved to the window.
However, getting rid of spider mites or aphids is not at all difficult. To do this, you should use the following advice:
- Take a few peppercorns and skip through the meat grinder.
- The resulting mass is filled with water in the ratio of 1:10.
- Insist 24 hours.
- Strain through gauze.
- Add rubbed soap in the ratio of 1 tsp. on 1 l.water.
- Spray the plant with the resulting solution. every 5 days repeatedly.
So that the pepper does not become a victim of spider mites, it will be enough maintain air humidity. Since the mite likes a dry climate, regular spraying will surely scare him away.
Pepper light is a plant that will not leave indifferent any hostess, because who does not like to have a beautiful and healthy harvest in his window sill all year round.