Posted: Sunday, November 30, 2008 12:00 am
As colorful as confetti, ornamental pepper plants are an exciting hostess gift to give or receive.
These cheerful chile plants are easy to care for, look good for weeks and generally make great indoor winter house plants.
There are an estimated 30 decorative pepper cultivars. The NuMex line, introduced by the Chili Pepper Institute at New Mexico State University and developed by Paul Bosland, is among the latest offerings.
According the Associated Press, the line is built around the Capsicum pepper species, an ancient species and shrub native to South and Central America.
Although ornamental pepper plants can be grown in the garden as decorative annuals or tender perennials in some regions, most people are more familiar with the potted versions.
During the holidays, ornamental peppers are sold as fully fruited plants. Usually the fruit will last for about two months.
The NuMex line commemorates other holidays, too, with special color combos.
For Thanksgiving, there are cream-colored pods that turn orange; traditional red and green for Christmas; orange and black for Halloween; and cream, pink and red for Valentine's Day.
The AP reports that Bosland is working on a burnished orange ornamental pepper for Chinese New Year and a yellow-to-red pepper for Cinco de Mayo.
Bosland said ornamental peppers with dwarf genes are better for indoor growing on a windowsill, while taller varieties are best in the garden.
I can't recall seeing variety labels with potted peppers - usually just a tag that reads "ornamental pepper."
You'd probably be able to recognize varieties like 'Medusa," with its tiny, twisted peppers; "Poinsettia Pepper," with fruit that grows in a circle; "Fiesta" red fruit clusters and NuMex "Twlight," purple fruit that turns red, orange and yellow as it ripens.
Ornamental peppers require bright light to prevent yellow leaves. They like to be kept moist when in bloom, and should be fed every two weeks.
Use a water-soluble tomato fertilizer according to package directions. After the fruit begins to drop, reduce the amount of fertilizer and apply only once a month.
Temperatures should be kept at 55 to 60 F. Misting plants is encouraged. If temperatures are closer to 70 and humidity is lacking, leaves will drop.
Generally, pests and diseases don't find these plants appealing.
Plants will fruit again if pruned hard, repotted and set outside in the summer.
Ornamental peppers are thin-skinned and off the Scoville chart in heat measurement.
Although edible, most commercially available potted peppers are "for ornamental use only." That's because they've probably been sprayed with chemicals not for human consumption.
Caution: Don't confuse ornamental peppers and Jerusalem cherry or Christmas cherry plants. They are not the same thing.
The Jerusalem cherry resembles a cherry tomato and it is toxic if eaten.