Best Fertiliser for Hot Pepper Plants: Nutrients, NPK Ratios & Feeding Guide

Hot pepper plants (Capsicum chinense, C. frutescens, and C. annuum) are sun-loving, fruit-producing crops that thrive with the right balance of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and trace minerals. Whether you’re growing habanero, Thai bird’s eye, jalapeño, cayenne, or ghost pepper, your chilli plants will only produce consistent, high-quality fruit if fertilised correctly throughout their lifecycle.

Unlike sweet capsicum varieties, hot peppers develop slower and demand a more precise feeding schedule. Inconsistent or excessive nutrients can result in poor flowering, low yields, or excess foliage with no pods.

Hot Pepper Growth & Nutrient Phases

• Germination: Warmth >20°C and steady moisture needed (7–14 days)
• Seedling Phase (Weeks 1–3): Focus on root strength and leaf canopy
• Vegetative Growth (Weeks 4–6): Requires nitrogen and phosphorus to prepare for flowering
• Flowering (Weeks 6–8): Phosphorus and potassium become more critical
• Fruiting & Ripening (Weeks 9+): High potassium ensures flavour, heat, fruit size, and colour

With the right fertiliser and feeding schedule, chilli plants will produce spicy, pungent pods continuously for months—especially in warm Australian climates where fruiting can last into late autumn.