Chili peppers in hydroponics Noucetta Kehdi - GHE All capsicums, better known as chili peppers, come from South and Central America. They have been used in their native land for their nutritive and therapeutic qualities since the oldest days, and we find their first trace back in 7500 BC in Ecuador. Discovered by Christopher Columbus who first encountered them in the Caribbean, they were spread into the rest of the world following the flux of colonization. Today it seems that most of the world production comes from India. Because of their nutritional and medicinal qualities, and because they generally adapt and grow easily, capsicum rapidly became an Bishop’s hat chili peppers growing in our grenhouse - 28/11/2013 intrinsic part of many cuisines worldwide. Another good reason for their fast propagation in Middle-Age Europe, is their price compared with the much more expensive peppercorn that came from South-East Asia at that time. There are only 5 domesticated species of chili peppers in the world: Capsicum annuum, frutescens, chinense, pubescens, baccatum, including several varieties each. Chili peppers are generally known for their pungency. It is their content in capsaicine and other capsaicinoids that determines the level of their intensity. In 1912, an American pharmacist Wilbur Scoville invented the “Scoville scale”, a method of measuring the sharpness of a chili. It is a very interesting chart that you can discover on http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scoville_scale. As you can see, the higher the capsaicine level and the most intense is the fruit. Some chilis are so spicy that they can literally burn your skin. There exists today many chili fan clubs worldwide where members compete to know who will eat the most and the hottest chilis. If you google “chili pepper contests” you’ll find numerous descriptions of those amazing events. Often these same persons are also dedicated growers. They collect the largest varieties of plants and love to compare their results. Many grow in soil, in their gardens, when weather permits. But more and more opt for hydroponics and grow indoors for pleasure, for home production, or for commercial purposes. We also have grown a few varieties over the years: Habanero, Jalapeno, Bishop’s Crown, Espelette and more. All of them in hydroponics, most of the time in an AquaFarm, but also in Dutch Pots, in AeroFlos, and in soil*. Generally we use Flora Series** (FloraGro, FloraMicro, FloraBloom) with Diamond Nectar. But some of the world’s most dedicated chili plant collectors and growers love FloraMato** and FloraMicro (http://fatalii.net/Growing_chile_peppers/Hydroponics). This is why I am giving you both formulas in case you’d like to give it a try. Growing chilis hydroponically is a very easy and satisfying adventure. As you know, hydroponics will help you produce up to 30% more fruit than in soil. If you do it right (following the indications on the feeding charts, keeping the right pH Chocolate Habanero chilis growing in Aquaand EC, and the usual parametres of cleanliness, temperature, ventilation, and Farms in our grenhouse - 28/11/2013 humidity), you will achieve excellent taste and nutritional value. To have more details about growing your chilis in hydroponics, there are lots of very interesting websites. The one I like best, after Fatalii in Finland, is http://www.fiery-foods.com/chile-pepper-gardening/136-growing-incontainers/1879-forget-the-soil-grow-hydroponic-chiles. You are also welcome to contact us directly if you need any help. To grow chilis you can choose any variety you like and start in a WaterFarm. You’ll find complete lists on internet. I found this one to be quite complete for my needs http://www.cayennediane.com/BigListofPeppers/Big-List-of-peppers.html. It gives you a description of taste and pungency. Or you can choose to grow several varieties for different flavors and intensities to use fresh or dry. For this purpose choose a WaterPack, to help monitor maintenance simply and efficiently. It’s quite easy to dry your crops and make your own chili powders. You can even mix your own fragrances and flavors. Chili peppers are easily propagated from seeds. We sow them in a light mix of peat and perlite to make root cleaning easier. As soon as 3 pairs of real leaves appear, they are ready for transplant. Delicately wash the substrate off the roots and place your chili plant in your WaterFarm as indicated in your instructions. Mix your solution, adjust your pH, and get ready for a great experience. Needless to say that starting a commercial hydroponics micro farm would be also a successful operation in most areas, including greenhouses, on roof tops and at home.
ml / 10 L
EC
FloraGro
FloraMicro
FloraBloom
Diamond Nectar *** pH
Seedlings
0.3 – 0.6
2,5
2,5
2,5
20
Vegetative
1.9 – 2.5
20
20
15
20
Flowering & fruiting 1.9 – 2.5
25
20
15
-
5.5 6.5
ml / 10 L
EC
FloraMato FloraMicro
Diamond Nectar***
pH
Seedlings
0.3 – 0.6
2,5
2,5
20
Vegetative
1.9 – 2.5
30
15
20
5.5 6.5
Flowering & fruiting 1.9 – 2.5
30
25
-
* In soil use half this concentration ** Shake well before using. Our nutrients are highly concentrated, do not mix undiluted. To avoid salt precipitation, always rinse your measuring cup between each Flora component. *** Diamond Nectar increases the nutrient uptake capacity of plants, and results in better diet. How to manage the rest of your growing area? As with all indoor growing areas, using soil or hydroponics, it is important to keep your grow room clean, maintain it at the right temperature (for chilis it should be around 25 to 30°C), with humidity level around 65%. Use ventilators to prevent the formation of hot air stagnation, and consequently fungi, moulds, and pests of all kinds. Use prevention as often as you can, this will keep your plants healthy. For more information on hydroponics and/or product support, don’t hesitate to contact our distributors worldwide on http:// gb.eurohydro.com/wheretobuy.php, or contact us directly at info@eurohydro.com
Chili peppers of different varieties grown in our greenhouse with our nutrients and our hydroponic systems.
Our latest harvest - 28/11/2013