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ornamental pepper plant--hot pepper?

18 years ago

I just recieved an ornamental pepper plant. I did a search on the web and found conflicting reports. The plant is very compact with purplish leaves. The peppers are very small red, yellow, purple and orange. Are these edible? How do I care for it? It is root bound and I need to re-pot it. Any info would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Jessi

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Comments (4)

svalli
18 years ago
All peppers are edible, if the plant has not been sprayed with pestisides. However some of the ornamental ones do not taste good, since they are grown for looks.

What shape are the peppers? I have Bolivian Rainbows, which stays quite compact and peppers start purple and ripen to red through yellow and orange phases. Peppers on it are small and have a bit the conical shape. An other one which has same color peppers is Pretty Purple, but the peppers on it are totally round.

Some people dry and grind ripe Bolivian Rainbow peppers to be used as seasoning. I have so many other hot peppers growing that I have not yet done that. Sometimes I have eaten the whole red Bolivian Rainbow peppers from plant at my desk. I have noticed that they are not so hot as the ones grown in garden.

Pretty Purple:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y9/svalli/Chili/PrettyPurpleripe.jpg

Bolivian Rainbow:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y9/svalli/Chili/BolivianRainbow.jpg
(This one has been growing inside, so leaves do not have purple)
hijinxer
Original Author
18 years ago
Do you think it is a Bolivian Rainbow pepper? I had never seen a pepper plant with the purple peppers. I just love it! I did not come with a care card so I don't know what kind of light or watering it likes. Thank you for your help.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1226688}}
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svalli
18 years ago
Peppers on your plant are too big to be Bolivian Rainbow. It could be NuMex Twilight or Brazilian Rainbow. What ever kind yours is, it is a really pretty plant.

I have planted my indoor BRs to ceramic self watering containers (meant for African Violets). One is by a south side window and an other one is at my office under a fluorecent light. Both seem to thrive, but the one which does not get sun light has bigger and lighter color leaves.

I really recommend those self watering planters for ornamental peppers. The peppers seem to like the even and moderate moisture, which seeps through the unglased ceramic.
barrie2m_(6a, central PA)
18 years ago
I would agree from the picture that you have a NuMex Twilight. They are one of the mildest of the ornamentals. They are not hard to care for except that they tend to get top-heavy. Some plants develop lower branches of fruit that stabalize the plant greatly. Haven't yet figured how to stimulate more lower branch development other than destroy the whole upper canopy and ruin the attractiveness of the plant.

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