Cayenne Pepper Live Plant

Cayenne Pepper Plant

Cayenne pepper is a productive, heat-loving plant that grows long, slender peppers that ripen from green to bright red. The peppers have a bold, spicy flavor and can be enjoyed fresh, cooked, dried, or ground into homemade cayenne pepper powder. It is a beautiful and useful addition to vegetable gardens, patios, and sunny container gardens.

Common Uses

Use cayenne peppers to add heat to sauces, soups, chili, marinades, salsa, seasoning blends, hot sauce, and infused oils. The peppers can also be dried whole, crushed into pepper flakes, or ground into powder.

Growing Outdoors

• Plant in full sun with at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily.
• Grow in fertile, well-draining soil or a large outdoor container.
• Water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry.
• Keep the soil evenly moist, but never soggy.
• Space plants approximately 18–24 inches apart.
• Feed periodically with a fertilizer formulated for vegetables or peppers.
• Provide support with a small stake or cage as the plant becomes loaded with peppers.
• Protect the plant from frost and temperatures below 50°F.

Growing Indoors

• Place near your brightest south-facing window.
• For reliable flowering and pepper production, use a grow light for approximately 12–14 hours daily.
• Plant in a container with drainage holes that is at least 3–5 gallons.
• Water when the top inch of soil feels dry and allow excess water to drain.
• Keep the plant in a warm area away from cold drafts.
• When flowers appear, gently shake the plant or brush the flowers to help with indoor pollination.

Harvesting

Cayenne peppers can be harvested while green for a fresher, slightly milder flavor or left on the plant until bright red for fuller flavor and heat. Cut peppers from the plant with clean scissors rather than pulling them from the stems.

Important: Cayenne peppers and their seeds can irritate the skin and eyes. Wear gloves when cutting or processing them, wash your hands thoroughly, and keep them away from children and pets.

Plant appearance and size may vary naturally. Each plant is locally grown with care by Wild Fern Apothecary.