Best Fertilizer for Chilli Plants: Complete Guide to Growth, Feeding & Yield

chilli 🌶️

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Chilli Plants – Explosive Growth & Fiery Fruit

Whether you’re growing fiery Scotch bonnets, sweet jalapeños, or compact balcony chillies, using the right chilli fertiliser is essential for strong growth, more flowers, and hotter fruit.

Chillies are heavy feeders during their growing and fruiting stages, and thrive on a diet of balanced NPK fertilisers plus calcium and magnesium to prevent blossom end rot and boost capsaicin production.

Top Fertiliser Picks from Complete Grow:

All Purpose Liquid Fertiliser – NPK 20-20-20:
Balanced nutrients for leafy growth, flowering, and fruiting. Great for in-ground or potted chilli plants. Apply every 2–3 weeks in peak growing periods.
Advanced NPK 4-18-38 + Calcium & Magnesium:
High-potassium formula to support fruit production, boost flavour and prevent common issues like blossom end rot. Ideal as a fruiting stage follow-up after early growth.
Cal-Mag Nutrients Fertiliser:
Perfect for potted chilli plants or sandy soils where magnesium and calcium deficiencies occur. Apply as a supplement when flowers form.

These fertilisers contain all the essential trace elements chilli plants crave — and are proudly Australian-made for optimal performance in local conditions.

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How to Grow Chillies from Seed – Step-by-Step

Growing chillies from seed is simple and rewarding — especially when you control the nutrients from day one. Here’s how to start:

1. Sowing

Sow chilli seeds indoors from late winter through early spring.
Use a premium seed-raising mix and plant seeds 6mm deep in punnets or trays.
Keep the trays warm (18–25°C) and moist, not wet.

2. Germination & Potting Up

Seeds germinate in 10–14 days. Once true leaves form, transfer to small 10cm pots.
Feed seedlings every 1–2 weeks with diluted Complete Grow NPK 20-20-20 for steady root and leaf development.
If leaves appear pale, supplement with a low dose of Cal-Mag.

3. Transplanting

Move plants into 25–30cm pots or garden beds once they reach 10–15cm tall.
Space 30cm apart and keep in full sun.
Water well at transplant time and fertilise weekly until flowering begins.

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Feeding & Fruiting – How to Fertilise Chilli Plants for Maximum Heat

Once your chilli plant begins to flower, its nutritional needs change. To maximise yield, spice level, and prevent common issues like blossom end rot or leaf curl, it’s essential to switch to a fruit-supporting feed plan.

Fertiliser Schedule During Flowering & Fruiting

Early flowering: Switch from 20-20-20 to 4-18-38 + Cal-Mag to promote strong flower formation and prevent flower drop.
Fruit set: Feed every 10–14 days with 4-18-38 and supplement with Cal-Mag if signs of rot or leaf yellowing occur.
Hot weather: Keep roots moist but avoid waterlogging. Fertilise in the early morning to reduce burn risk.

Pro Tips for Fiery Fruit:

Less water, more spice: Slight water stress late in the fruiting stage can increase capsaicin levels for hotter chillies.
Frequent picking: Harvesting ripe fruit encourages more flowers and a longer harvest season.
Sunlight = flavour: Chillies need 6–8 hours of full sun daily for full heat development.

With the right feeding strategy, your chillies will grow strong, hot, and abundant — whether in a raised bed or a patio pot. Use Complete Grow’s fertiliser system from seedling to harvest and unlock your chilli plant’s full potential.