Q. My patio faces mostly to the west and gets 4-5 hours
of shaded/direct sunlight each day. Will
pepper plants in containers work well under these conditions? I have read that peppers want/need up to 8
hours direct sun each day.
A. Direct sunlight requirements for enough hours in a day
are not like an “on” and “off” switch. They will get light from indirect
sources as well so it is hard to say but you are most likely on the borderline
in regards to light for good pepper production. Reflected light from walls will help.
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| Peppers do well in containers provided they have enough light to flower and produce peppers. Mulching peppers with an organic surface mulch like these wood shavings help to shade the soil, keep it cool and preserve soil moisture. |
When you say this light is shaded/direct that can
make a big difference. The amount of shade will have an effect as well. All I
can do is to tell you to try it and find out. If they are going to be in
containers and the light is coming from one direction, rotate the container so
that the plant will get light from different directions. It will grow more
evenly that way.
make a big difference. The amount of shade will have an effect as well. All I
can do is to tell you to try it and find out. If they are going to be in
containers and the light is coming from one direction, rotate the container so
that the plant will get light from different directions. It will grow more
evenly that way.
If you are on a patio and there is not enough light from the
sun you might be able to supplement that light with a fluorescent light source
a few inches above the plant during the morning hours when it is “shaded” or
the light is coming from the wrong direction. This might be enough additional
light to improve your production or improve flowering.
sun you might be able to supplement that light with a fluorescent light source
a few inches above the plant during the morning hours when it is “shaded” or
the light is coming from the wrong direction. This might be enough additional
light to improve your production or improve flowering.
Our sunlight is pretty
intense in the desert. To compensate for sunlight intensity we can, on some plants, give it
more light at a lower intensity and achieve what we want from a plant. Just an
idea for you to play with.
intense in the desert. To compensate for sunlight intensity we can, on some plants, give it
more light at a lower intensity and achieve what we want from a plant. Just an
idea for you to play with.