I have always wanted to grow my own pepper plant. I became very inspired when I saw how fruitful and rewarding it was to grow your own pepper plant. I did some research and found out that it is a creeping plant and usually thrive with lots of sunlight and does not like very damp soil.
It is very hard to get pepper plants in Kuala Lumpur even though Malaysia is pepper producing country as most of it is grown in East Malaysia in Sabah and Sarawak.
I was so excited when the nursery near my house had some stock. It was not cheap costing me RM39 for a small plant in a polybag. Where do I start or how should I plant it. In a pot with sticks. But thank God, I was able to find more information online and the Indian way of mass production is amazing.
As peppers are creepers with nodes along its vines and usually roots in the node area, the Indians found a very productive way to cultivate these plants to be fruitful.
It is very easy to set up. You need a medium-sized pot, preferably using a big pot. Then one PVC pipe around 2 or 3 inches in diameter, and some PVC mesh.
This is my setup.
Firstly, bury the PVC pipe in the middle of the pot, and then make a cylinder mesh using cable ties to secure it. Then put compost or loose soil in the middle.
The idea is really brilliant as peppers are creepers and usually roots around the nodes, it is able to draw water and nutrients at every node point which is rooted along the PVC mesh.
Within a year, I am so pleased to share that my pepper is already bearing peppercorns. It starts with a spike and slowly gradually the spike will turn into peppercorns.
My pepper plant after a year, it has grown taller than me and continues to grow. I can’t wait to harvest my own peppercorns.
Honestly, I didn’t put much effort into caring for these pepper plants, it seems to just thrive especially if you have placed or planted them in an area where you get lots of morning sun and avoid the direct hot sun. I usually water them whenever the soil is dry and mist the entire plant as it has small roots around every node.. Overall, it looks gorgeous with luscious green color and can be used as an ornamental plant, but in this case, you will be able to harvest your own homegrown organic peppercorns.