Anyone who likes to eat fresh chilies would like to grow the plant at home and wonders whether the exotic species can survive the winter outside or inside. How and where can you overwinter chili? We will answer this question today. Regardless of whether you are in oneApartment or in the houseYou can let your favorite plant overwinter without any problem.
Overwinter chili outside
The chili likes the Mediterranean climate, so it is important to prepare the plant for winter in good time if you do not live in such a region. Hot varieties find it more difficult to spend the winter in the cold. It is best to overwinter chili in a warm room with lots of light. If you live in a house, you can in the fallChili in the winter garden or greenhousebring. If the temperatures are between 12°C and 15°C, it is still sufficiently warm and the plant can stay outside for some time, but it will grow more slowly. If it gets colder in the region where you live, the chili can easily freeze. That's why it's best to place the plant in a room where it will feel comfortable.
Chilies need a lot of light, but cannot tolerate direct sunlight well. It is best to place the plant in a sunny location.
You should bring in your chili by the end of September or as soon as the weather forecast shows low temperatures and bad weather and the plant no longer bears fruit. Do you live in an apartment? It's also no problem to overwinter your chili on the balcony. As long as it is glazed and the temperature there is more than 15° C, you can safely keep and grow the plant there during the winter.
Overwinter chili indoors
If you don't have a greenhouse or winter garden, and if your balcony is not glazed, there is also the option of overwintering the chili indoors. You can also overwinter chili in your apartment or house. The best location for the plant is in a bright room. If you have a basement, attic or garage, the chili can spend the winter there too, provided you provide the necessary lighting and temperature. In such rooms you can even build a small garden and not just overwinter your beloved chili. You can buy the necessary equipment at the garden center. The fluorescent lamps or LED lamps are often used in gardening and are also recommended so that your plants feel comfortable indoors. This makes it easier to overwinter chili indoors if it doesn't get enough light from outside.
The plant should receive 10 to 12 hours of good light. You should keep in mind that the higher the temperature inside the room, the more water your chili will need. If the room temperature is more than 20°C and the location is very sunny, the soil and air will dry out more quickly. You should water the chili appropriately to prevent it from drying out. The soil must remain moist, but not too wet, to prevent the roots from rotting. Don't forget that plants will grow slower in low lighting. They become weak and can easily become ill. If there is not enough light or the room is not frost-free, the leaves turn yellow and fall off. This is the first sign that you should take action to help your chili overwinter.
Your plants can quickly be attacked by aphids or mites, especially in heated rooms. In this case, you should stop by the florist or garden center and buy an insecticide to save your chili. You can also spray the plant regularly with a homemade garlic extract if you want to save money and time. If you spray the plant with neem oil in advance, you will protect it from attack. It is good throughout the wintering periodChili on plant peststo check. It's best to look at the leaves every 3-4 days.
Pruning and repotting chili
The natural way to overwinter a chili plant is to repot it and place it in a small pot in the greenhouse, winter garden, house or apartment. You can use soil for plantingtomatoes or spicesuse. The branches are cut and shortened from the outside in, leaving a branch approximately 15 cm high with leaves. This will make it easier for your plants to survive the winter. If the chili has been cultivated in pots in advance, transplanting will not be necessary. This saves you time, effort and additional stress for the plant that occurs when transplanting.
If the plant has dry branches or wilted leaves, cut them off immediately. This is how you protect your plant from diseases and pests. There is no need to fertilize the plant in winter. Your chili can also produce fruit indoors, so you can enjoy eating it even during the winter.
