What causes pepper plants to create blossoms??

boffer 11/24/2013, 12:31 pm

I'm growing an unknown type pepper plant from seeds that my BIL brought back from Peru.

It's been growing indoors under a metal halide light for about 11 months, 16 hours on, 8 off. Day temps 75-85, night temps 65-75. It's planted in the same MM in which my outdoor peppers grow and produce. The plant is about two feet tall and healthy, but not a single blossom to date.

This past spring/summer I grew a bell pepper plant right next to it, and it produced fruit, so the artificial environment is OK for some pepper plants.

What variables can I change to induce blossoming?

bnoles 11/24/2013, 12:43 pm

Hi boffer,

Maybe change the length of time of the light being on/off according to season to imitate actual daylight time??? Just thinking out loud on this.

**sanderson** 11/24/2013, 12:50 pm

Boffer, The only thing I (a Newbie) can suggest is that the plant may want a "winter" and a "summer." Opps, I see Bob has already responded. Slowly start reducing the Lamp time so that it gets a "winter". Then, after Christmas (winter solstice) slowly start increasing the lamp time to match the sun.

Edit: Well, I feel dumb. I checked latitudes and S 10* goes right through it, like Costa Rico has N 10*. However, the plant has to live in your environment. Was it a high elevation or low elevation plant? It may want to have cooler and warmer periods.

boffer 11/24/2013, 1:11 pm

Thanks for the thoughts. I did consider photoperiod, and have found that peppers are 'day neutral' ie not responsive to various day or night lengths.

I also found that, "The ideal daytime temperature for fruiting vegetables, such as peppers, is about 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and the nighttime temperature can range from 60 and 70 F. The blossom may drop from pepper plants that are exposed to a temperature below 60 F at night or above 90 F during the day." So my temperature variations seem to be in a good range.

A couple weeks ago, I started pruning the tops of the stalks, and it is quickly responding with new leaf growth. Maybe that will encourage blossom formation too?

**camprn** 11/24/2013, 3:07 pm

GDD?
http://www.btny.purdue.edu/pubs/vegcrop/VCH2003/VCH421.pdf

to flower, they need more phosphorous and potassium, and less nitrogen.
http://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2011/06/coaxing-pepper-plants-to-bloom/

Pollinator 11/27/2013, 4:19 pm

I concur with Camprn. Especially, cut off any nitrogen fertilizer - too much nitrogen will prevent blossoming.

Also it would be good to stress the plants just a little bit. I'd hold off on the watering, until they wilt just a little. Make sure they are warm - your temps may be too cool.

Most peppers don't really get to bearing until you get some hot, dry summer weather.

Are you planning to hand pollinate?

Pollinator 11/27/2013, 4:22 pm

I might add that a trace of Boron is needed for flowering. This really should be determined by a soil test, but a pinch of Borax one time would not hurt, just in case there is a Boron deficiency. Don't do it again, and not more than a very small pinch, as too much Boron is quite toxic.

boffer 11/27/2013, 6:54 pm

OK, thanks, I'll try feeding it some 0-50-30. It's not organic, but I probably won't eat the peppers anyhow!

As for pollinating, I have had very good success with peppers in my greenhouse by just giving them a shake twice a day.

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What causes pepper plants to create blossoms??

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