How To Grow Spicy Hydroponic Jalapeno Peppers

Homegrown jalapenos are perfect for adding a spicy kick to your favorite meals! There’s no better way to grow a jalapeno plant than using hydroponics. Here’s everything you need to know about growing hydroponic jalapeno peppers!

Recommended Jalapeno Pepper Varieties For Hydroponics

While I like jalapenos, I don’t give them priority in my hydroponic gardens. I don’t eat them a lot or often, so when I grow jalapenos I typically only grow one plant at a time.

I typically stay away from growing the larger varieties of jalapenos like the Big Boy Hybrid, and instead go for smaller varieties like the Jalapeno Early, Ring Leader, or Perfect Rings.

Getting Hydroponic Jalapeno Peppers Started

Germinating seeds- I prefer to germinate my seeds in rapid rooter. Pepper seeds need warm temperatures for germination. They will need to be kept around 80 degrees, so I would recommend using a heat mat. Depending on the variety, you should see seedlings in about 14-21 days.

Cloning Jalapeno Peppers- Cloning plants using hydroponics is an easy process that guarantees you get a plant with the same traits as the one being cloned. I’ve had great success cloning plants using only oxygenated water and rapid rooter plugs.

Transplant plants from dirt- Another way to get your hydroponic jalapeno pepper garden going is to transplant them from dirt. Though buying plants is the most costly option, it does save you the time of having to mess with seeds and seedlings. To find out more you can check out this article on how to transplant a plant from dirt to a hydroponics system.

What Hydroponic Systems Works Best For Jalapeno Peppers?

There are a variety of different hydroponic methods and systems that work well for growing jalapeno peppers. The main concerns when growing hydroponic jalapenos are space and the weight of the plant, especially when it’s producing a bunch of peppers. Make sure to provide support for the plant to prevent breaking and tipping over.

I would recommend growing jalapeno peppers using 5-gallon hydroponic buckets or dutch bucket systems.

What Is The Best Temperature For Hydroponic Jalapeno Peppers?

Jalapeno peppers thrive in warm temperatures. Plants should be kept in the mid 75-80 degree range during the day or lights on period. At night it’s beneficial to drop the temperature about 10 degrees.

If jalapeno peppers get too hot or cold they may drop their flowers instead of fruiting.

Spacing Requirements For Hydroponic Jalapeno Peppers

Hydroponic jalapeno peppers need plenty of room to grow. I recommend spacing your pepper plants about 18-24 inches apart. You can space them closer but you may run into an issue where parts of plants are being blocked from light by the plants next to them.

Make sure to prune your plants regularly. Pruning keeps plants from growing into each other or blocking light. It also promotes the plant to grow more full.

How Much Light Do Hydroponic Jalapeno Peppers Need?

Jalapeno peppers should receive 14-18 hours of light each day. LED grow lights are preferred as fluorescents tend to not be intense enough light. Jalapeno peppers are day-neutral, so the length of light they receive doesn’t affect flowering or fruiting.

Recommended pH For Hydroponic Jalapeno Peppers

The recommended pH level for hydroponic jalapeno pepper plants is between 5.5–6.5.

Hydroponic Jalapeno Peppers Nutrient Requirements

Hot Pepper plants should start off being grown with a nutrient regimen geared toward vegetative growth. A simple one-part nutrient solution like Dyna Gro Grow works well up until you’re jalapeno peppers are ready for flowering.

For the flowering stage, you should switch to a nutrient regimen with less nitrogen and more phosphorus and potassium for flower and fruit production. A 1 part nutrient like Dyna-Gro Liquid Bloom is easy to use for the flower and fruiting stage of growth. I also use Dyna-Gro’s Pro Tekt throughout the growth cycle.

One-part nutrient regimens are easy to use but don’t allow you the flexibility to tailor your nutrients to the specific crop.

When you start to understand the nutrient needs of the plant you’re growing, you may look to a more advanced nutrient regimen like General Hydroponics Flora Series. Plants can also benefit from various supplements that go by different names depending on the nutrient regimen you’re using.

Pollinating Jalapeno Peppers Grown Indoors

Jalapeno peppers grown outdoors have help from nature when it comes to pollinating their flowers. When grown indoors, they’re going to need some assistance.

Peppers are self-pollinating, plants have flowers with both male and female parts. This means that you can pollinate the flowers pretty easily. For pollinating indoor hot pepper plants, use a q tip or small paintbrush and gently rub the flower to assist with pollen transfer.

I recommend coming back and repeating the process a couple of times over a few days to make sure the flowers are well-pollinated. For more information on hand pollination, check out this article detailing 3 methods of hand pollination.

Harvesting Hydroponic Jalapeno Peppers

Jalapeno peppers should be ready for harvest 50 to 80 days after sprouting, depending on the variety. I harvest mine when they get between 3-5 inches. If good growing conditions are kept jalapeno plants will continue to produce for another 30 -45 days.

Conclusion

Jalapenos are a great way to add both flavor and kick to your meals. Jalapeno plants are easy to grow just maintain environmental control to prevent blossom drop. With attention to water quality, nutrient levels, and environmental factors, you can have a thriving hydroponic jalapeno garden.