How To Fertilize Peppers (Complete Guide) - Pepper Geek
Summary
TLDRIn this Pepper Geek video, the host discusses the best practices for fertilizing pepper plants at different growth stages. They highlight the importance of adjusting fertilizer types and amounts from seedling to flowering stages. The video offers practical advice on when to start fertilizing, how much to use, and the difference between water-soluble nutrients and slow-release granules. Additionally, the host provides tips on feeding frequency, considering rainfall, and the benefits of soil testing for in-ground planting. The video concludes with a teaser for an upcoming comparison of various fertilizers' effectiveness on jalapeno plants.
Takeaways
- 🌱 Start fertilizing pepper plants about a week after they emerge, depending on the soil medium used.
- 🍃 Use a nitrogen-rich fertilizer for seedlings to promote foliage growth, starting at a reduced strength to avoid burning the plants.
- 🌼 Switch to a fertilizer with lower nitrogen and higher phosphorus and potassium when the plant enters the flowering stage to encourage fruit production.
- 📅 Typically, plants can handle full-strength nutrients at 3 to 4 weeks old, and it's a good time to increase nitrogen value.
- 📦 For potted plants, assume no nutrients are present unless fresh soil with nutrients is used, and fertilize accordingly.
- 🌱 In-ground plants benefit from soil amendments like compost and manure to build up soil vitality and reduce reliance on fertilizers over time.
- 💧 Water-soluble nutrients provide instant feeding for plants showing deficiencies, while slow-release granules are suitable for a less frequent fertilizing regimen.
- 🌧️ Consider rainfall when fertilizing; heavy rain can flush out nutrients, so it's important to feed after rainfall or not just before expecting heavy rain.
- 📏 Always check the product label for feeding frequency recommendations, as they vary depending on the type of fertilizer used.
- 🔍 Conduct a soil test for in-ground beds to understand the nutrient content and needs, then amend the soil with organic matter to improve its quality.
Q & A
What are the three main stages of pepper plant growth discussed in the video?
-The three main stages of pepper plant growth discussed are the seedling stage, the growth stage or vegetative stage, and the blooming stage or flowering and fruiting stage.
Why is it important to fertilize pepper plants at different stages of growth?
-Pepper plants have different nutrient requirements at various stages of growth. Fertilizing at different stages ensures the plants receive the right nutrients at the right time, promoting healthy foliage, flowering, and fruit production.
What type of fertilizer is recommended for the seedling stage of pepper plants?
-For the seedling stage, a nitrogen-rich fertilizer is recommended, where the first number (N) in the NPK ratio is higher than the other two.
How should the strength of the fertilizer be adjusted for young pepper plants?
-For young pepper plants, the fertilizer should be used at a reduced strength, such as half or quarter strength, to prevent burning the plants.
When should you start fertilizing pepper plants after they emerge?
-Fertilizing should start about a week after the plants emerge, depending on the soil medium used.
What is the recommended fertilizer blend when pepper plants reach the flowering stage?
-When pepper plants reach the flowering stage, a fertilizer blend with lower nitrogen and higher phosphorus and potassium is recommended to encourage more flowers and fruit.
How often should you fertilize pepper plants according to the video?
-The frequency of fertilizing depends on the specific fertilizer product used. It is important to follow the manufacturer's recommendations on the product label.
What is the role of rainfall in fertilizing pepper plants?
-Heavy rainfall can flush out nutrients from potted plants and raised beds, so it's important to fertilize after rainfall or not just before expecting heavy rain.
Why might slow-release granules be a better option for some gardeners according to the video?
-Slow-release granules can be a better option for gardeners who don't want to maintain a regular fertilizing regimen, as they provide nutrients over a longer period and can be applied less frequently.
What is the benefit of using organic matter like compost in the soil for pepper plants?
-Using organic matter like compost improves the soil's vitality and nutrient content, reducing the need for frequent fertilization and promoting healthy plant growth.
What is the significance of the 'Tiger Bloom' fertilizer mentioned in the video?
-Tiger Bloom is a fertilizer with a 2-8-4 ratio, which is low in nitrogen and high in phosphorus and potassium, making it suitable for the blooming stage of pepper plants to encourage fruit production.
Outlines
🌱 Fertilizing Pepper Plants at Different Growth Stages
This paragraph discusses the importance of fertilizing pepper plants at various stages of growth. The video presenter explains that pepper plants have different nutritional needs during the seedling stage, the growth or vegetative stage, and the flowering or fruiting stage. During the seedling stage, nitrogen-rich fertilizers are recommended, but at a reduced strength to prevent burning the young plants. As the plants grow, the strength of the fertilizer is increased. When the plant reaches the flowering stage, a switch to a fertilizer with lower nitrogen and higher phosphorus and potassium is advised to encourage fruit production. The presenter also mentions their ebook 'Growing Perfect Peppers' for more detailed information on fertilization and provides practical advice on when to start fertilizing and how to adjust the regimen based on the plant's stage of growth.
💧 Practical Fertilization Techniques and Considerations
In this segment, the presenter shares practical tips on how to fertilize pepper plants. They demonstrate the use of a liquid fertilizer, Tiger Bloom, which is applied at a rate of 2 to 3 teaspoons per gallon of water. The presenter advises starting fertilization about a week after the plants emerge and emphasizes the importance of following the product label's instructions for frequency and dosage. They also discuss the impact of rainfall on nutrient levels in potted plants and the difference in fertilization needs between container-grown and in-ground plants. The video touches on the benefits of using slow-release granules versus water-soluble nutrients, leaning towards the preference for slow-release fertilizers for their long-term benefits and convenience.
📊 Testing Fertilizers for Optimal Plant Growth
The final paragraph highlights the presenter's ongoing experiment with different fertilizers on jalapeno plants to determine which yields the best results in terms of plant vigor and fruit production. They mention having a variety of fertilizers, some intended for hydroponic use, and others for general soil application. The presenter expresses a preference for slow-release fertilizers and encourages viewers to share their experiences with different fertilizers in the comments. They also invite viewers to subscribe to stay updated on the results of their fertilizer tests and to explore their other channel, Geeky Greenhouse, for information on a wider range of plants.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Fertilize
💡Nitrogen
💡Phosphorus
💡Potassium
💡Seedling Stage
💡Growth Stage
💡Blooming Stage
💡Fertilizer Regimen
💡Tiger Bloom
💡Slow Release Granules
💡Water Soluble Nutrients
Highlights
Discussing the best practices for fertilizing pepper plants at different stages of growth.
Three main stages of pepper plant growth where fertilizing regimen changes: seedling, growth, and blooming stage.
Using nitrogen-rich fertilizer for seedlings to promote foliage growth.
Starting to fertilize a week after plant emergence, depending on the soil medium used.
Increasing fertilizer strength as plants grow faster post-seedling stage.
Switching to a lower nitrogen, higher phosphorus and potassium fertilizer during the flowering stage.
Avoiding excessive leafy growth at the expense of fruit production by adjusting fertilizer blend.
Demonstration of how to fertilize with liquid fertilizer, Tiger Bloom, during the flowering stage.
Recommendation to feed plants according to the fertilizer product label instructions.
Adjusting fertilizing frequency based on rainfall to prevent nutrient loss.
Differences in fertilizing potted plants versus those grown in the ground or raised beds.
Importance of soil testing and amending soil with organic matter for long-term nutrient management.
Choosing between water-soluble nutrients and slow-release granules based on plant needs.
Preference for slow-release fertilizers for long-term plant nutrition.
Testing different fertilizers for their impact on yield and plant vigor.
Invitation for viewers to share their fertilizer experiences and preferences.
Cross-promotion to the Geeky Greenhouse channel for information on fertilizing other types of plants.
Transcripts
hey there welcome back to Pepper geek in
today's video I'll be discussing how and
when to fertilize pepper
plants now if you've been following our
channel for a while you know we do have
a video about fertilizer for pepper
plants but that video goes more in depth
about nitrogen phosphorus and potassium
and all the other micronutrients that
plants need this video is intended to be
a bit more straightforward we'll show
you our process of fertilizing the
different stages of plant growth at
which we change our fertilizer regimen
and we won't talk so much about what's
actually in fertilizer before we get
started check out our ebook growing
perfect Peppers it's all about growing
peppers from start to finish and we
definitely have a section about
fertilizer and how to use it properly so
if you're interested in growing better
pepper plants check it out in the
description below okay so let's talk
fertilizing peppers I have a plant here
to demonstrate we're in early July right
now but there are three main stages
where we change our fertilizing regimen
and the three stages are the seedling
stage when the plants are very young
the growth stage or the vegetative stage
and then the blooming stage flowering or
fruiting stage now pepper plants behave
differently in these three stages so you
want to feed them accordingly so first
I'll give a really basic overview of
what we do at those three different
stages at the seedling stage we'll start
fertilizing with a nitrogen Rich
fertilizer basically the first number
the N number is higher than the other
two numbers so the plants are getting
plenty of nitrogen which they need to
grow lots of foliage we'll use use one
of these at a reduced strength so that
we don't burn the plants the plants are
really slow growing early on so they
don't need much fertilizer just a little
bit goes a long way we'll use a half
strength or sometimes even a quarter
strength depending on how strong the
fertilizer is once the plants take off
and they start growing faster will
increase the amount of fertilizer and
eventually get to a full strength of one
of these nitrogen-rich Blends then once
the plant gets to its flowering stage
this is sort of a good example of when
to switch over to a different
fertilizing regimen this plant is
beginning to produce flowers it's still
growing it's still using nitrogen but
you want a different blend you want a
lower nitrogen and a higher phosphorus
and potassium and all of these are
examples of fertilizer that provide that
and so you can sort of wean off of these
and onto one of these or you can just
reduce the amount that you're using over
here less nitrogen and try to get more
phosphorus and potassium for the plant
so now let's dive in when do you start
fertilizing well we usually start
fertilizing about a week after the
plants emerge that's going to depend on
what soil Medium you're using if it has
nutrients built in you may not need to
fertilize at all until a few weeks after
the plant Sprout or if you use a seed
starter mix like we do then you'll want
to fertilize about a week after the
plant Sprout to give them what they need
this is probably one of the most common
reasons people have stunted plants they
forget to fertilize or they don't know
that they need to fertilize uh you want
to provide the nutrients your plants
need especially when you're growing in
containers once the plants are about 3
to 4 weeks old that's usually when they
can handle full strength nutrients they
start growing a lot faster they can
photosynthesize more and they really
start to Branch out growing more leaves
more rapidly and at that stage you'll
just use full strength nutrients with a
high nitrogen value now about 6 to 10
weeks depending on the variety that's a
good time to switch over to a more
phosphorus and potassium rich fertilizer
and wean off of so much nitrogen and the
reason you do that is to avoid an
abundance of leafy growth at the expense
of fruits and to encourage the plant to
produce more flowers and set more fruit
so tiger bloom again this is another
example that we always use it's a 284
low nitrogen high phosphorus higher
potassium than nitrogen so that's one
option and all of these kind of do that
same thing they reduce the nitrogen
increase phosphorus and pottassium so
with all that in mind let's take this
plant outside and show you how we
fertilize okay so we're outside and
we're ready to feed this plant like I
said it's producing flowers so we're
ready to switch over to our blooming
fertilizer and today we'll just be using
tiger bloom because it's the most
straightforward and they recommend
adding 2 to three teaspoons per gallon
of water this is a 2 gallon watering can
so I'm going to go on the low side since
this plant isn't huge and I'm going to
do four teaspoons for 2 gallons and over
time if the plant does get large if it's
a very large variety then you can
increase the amount of fertilizer just
try to keep that in mind as the plants
are growing so give it a good
Shake so with this since it's liquid
it's very simple just add the required
[Music]
amount I will say less is more you don't
want to just try adding more than they
recommend start on the low side and see
how it
performs and we'll fill up just make
sure your hose water isn't too warm
sometimes if the hose lays in the Sun
for a while it'll get hot one
recommendation if you're using granules
that are water soluble use a little bit
of warm water to start you know just add
maybe an inch to the bottom of the
watering can and then swish it around
that can help dissolve those granules
and then you can fill the rest of the
water and can with cold
water but in this case we're using a
liquid fertilizer so we can
just add it all the way to the
top and so this will definitely feed
more than one plant I'll use it to feed
this one but then I'll take it over and
feed probably five or six pepper plants
uh 5 gallon grow bags here um and I like
to go slow when feeding just make sure
that the
soil is getting evenly
saturated and you don't want too much
draining out the bottom because that's
just a waste of nutrients so I'll sort
of Let It settle a bit there
and then feed one more time just to make
sure as much of the soil is saturated as
possible and so once again careful not
to lose any of the nutrient
water and go around the base of the
plant and water
thoroughly in case you're curious this
is some sweet alysum just to attract
some beneficial insects it's been
attracting lots of hoverflies and this
one's just about to start flowering so
this fertilizer should help the alysum
as well okay so this plant is done like
I said I'll use some of that nutrient
water to feed our other pepper plants
and other flowering plants like tomatoes
so now let's head back in and talk about
some other things to consider when
fertilizing okay so back inside let's
talk about some common things you want
to consider when it comes to feeding
pepper plants the first is how often to
feed your plants and there's a really
simple answer for that it's check the
product label on your fertilizer and go
by what the manufacturer recommends we
get this question so often but it really
depends on the nutrients that you're
using for example this Dr Earth's slow
release granular fertilizer requires a
feeding every 2 months whereas Miracle
girl performance Organics requires you
to feed every 7 days for ideal results
so you really need to check the product
labeling you don't want to feed too
often with something like this and you
don't want to skip a week with something
like this so I don't think we've ever
had a fertilizer where there weren't
instructions on how often to feed so
just make sure you're reading the label
another thing to consider if you're
using water soluble nutrients is
rainfall if you have heavy rain in your
area it can flush out some of the
nutrients from your potted plants and
even your raised beds so you want to
make sure that you're feeding after
rainfall or at least not just before you
expect to have Heavy Rain another thing
to consider is whether you're growing in
pots or if you're growing in the ground
potted plants you can basically assume
that there are no nutrients at all in
the soil unless you bought fresh soil
that does have nutrients then you can go
by the packaging of that soil and wait
until those nutrients are depleted
before fertilizing but after that point
you need to feed the plants it's a small
enclosed container where the nutrients
eventually get used up and then you have
to provide them for inground beds it's a
totally different world you're going to
want to use things like compost you're
going to want to feed that soil and sort
of amend it over time and build up its
Vitality that way you won't have to use
fertilizers like this so much in the
long run maybe early on but eventually
you'll have a soil that can be relied
upon to provide the nutrients your
plants need so in the case where you're
growing in the ground or in a raised bed
you should check what's in that soil
already get a soil test send a sample
away and understand what's in there and
what the soil needs to begin with then
like I said over time add that organic
matter add compost add rotted manure and
improve the soil adding those beneficial
bacteria and all those microbes that
help plants grow well another thing to
consider is whether to use water soluble
nutrients or slow release granules and
it's really going to depend on what you
need if your plants are showing a
deficiency in something you're seeing
yellowing leaves and your plants are low
in nitrogen for example you'll probably
want to use something water soluble
because that's going to feed the plants
instantaneously they're going to get
what they need and the problem will
start to resolve right away slow release
is great if you don't want to keep up
with a fertilizing regimen you can just
mend this into the soil at the beginning
of the season and it'll feed the plants
for months and this can be used as a
preventative side dressing it just takes
a little bit longer for it to start to
break down in the soil and release for
the plants to use but to give you my
opinion you can see we've tried so many
fertilizers I really am starting to lean
towards the slow release fertilizers and
getting those into the soil early on in
the season so that the plants have what
they need then all you really have to
worry about is irrigating is watering
your plants and those nutrients are
there I'll definitely leave a link down
below to some of our favorite nutrients
that have given us really good results
with our pepper plants if you're
interested or in the market for
fertilizer and you might be wondering
why we have so many different nutrients
well some of these are actually for
Hydroponics this is intended for
hydroponic use only and others we just
like to try but the biggest reason we
have so many right now is we're actually
testing five different fertilizers on
some jalapeno plants that we're growing
this season and we'll see which produced
the best results in terms of yield and
plant Vigor and also just sort of round
up the usability of the fertilizer so
that video will be coming at the end of
this season so make sure you're
subscribed so you don't miss it now this
topic applies to more than just Peppers
so if you're growing anything else check
out our other channel geeky Greenhouse
where we talk about all the other plants
we're growing like tomatoes and carrots
and chard and pretty much anything else
Under the Sun we have lots of new videos
over on geeky Greenhouse so go check it
out and subscribe in the link down below
now I'm curious what fertilizers do you
use have you tried many in the past and
ended up switching to a different
fertilizer what is your go-to today
please share in the comments down below
we're always curious and willing to try
something new on the channel if you have
additional questions please check out
our other video about fertilizer where
we go a little more in depth about how
nutrients actually work when it comes to
growing plants I think you'll learn a
lot more on that video thanks for
watching pepper geek and I'll see you
next time
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