Countertop HarvestBy the Countertop Harvest team · Last updated · How we choose products
Small hot peppers and ornamental peppers make cheerful counter plants, with glossy fruit that changes color as it ripens. They take some effort indoors. The University of Saskatchewan says peppers can be grown indoors but need supplemental lighting (USask Gardening), and it cautions that even ornamental peppers are likely to be very spicy (USask Gardening). Here is how we grow a compact pepper plant inside, keep it flowering, and carry a garden plant through winter.
Choose a compact pepper
On a windowsill, short plants with small fruit are the practical choice. One we like is Thai Hot, which Botanical Interests lists as a short plant under 12 inches with fruit 1½ to 3 inches long and a heat of 50,000 to 100,000 Scoville heat units, ready about 90 days from transplanting (Botanical Interests). If you'd like to try it, here are Thai Hot chile pepper seeds from Botanical Interests. Ornamental peppers from a garden center work too; an Ask Extension expert gave advice on keeping store-bought ornamental peppers in quart pots going indoors (Ask Extension).
Before buying an "ornamental pepper" with round fruit, check the label. The ASPCA uses "ornamental pepper" as another name for Jerusalem cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum), which is not a true pepper and is toxic to dogs, cats and horses (ASPCA). True peppers are Capsicum.
Light
Saskatchewan says sweet and hot peppers are tropical plants that do best in warm conditions and full sun (USask Gardening), and that indoor plants need supplemental light (USask Gardening). The Ask Extension expert keeps indoor peppers in direct sun in a bright window or under grow lights (Ask Extension). In most homes, that means a grow light from fall through spring. Our winter grow lights guide compares fixtures.
Pot and mix
Saskatchewan plants a single pepper in a container of at least 1 gallon (4 liters) with a drainage hole, and larger is fine (USask Gardening). We use a regular potting mix and a saucer that we empty after watering, as the Ask Extension expert advises, so drained water doesn't soak back into the pot (Ask Extension).
Watering
The Ask Extension expert lets the top inch or two of mix get slightly dry, then waters thoroughly (Ask Extension). The same expert notes that low indoor humidity in winter can stress plants that prefer more (Ask Extension), so a spot away from heat vents helps.
Temperature
Oregon State Extension gives 70 to 80°F during the day and 60 to 70°F at night as the ideal range, and warns that some cultivars won't flower if temperatures drop below 60°F (OSU Extension). A warm room helps more than a chilly windowsill at night.
Flowers and fruit
Saskatchewan says peppers are self-pollinating (USask Gardening). Indoors, with no wind or insects, we give flowering plants a light shake now and then, the same approach Ask Extension recommends for indoor tomatoes (Ask Extension, tomatoes). Oregon State says that in good conditions peppers take at least 45 to 55 days after pollination to produce harvestable fruit, and suggests checking the days to harvest on the seed packet (OSU Extension).
Harvesting
Saskatchewan explains that most peppers start green and ripen to yellow, orange or red, and that hot peppers usually get hotter as they change color (USask Gardening). Green fruit is mature enough to pick when it is firm and waxy (USask Gardening). Cut peppers off with a sharp knife rather than pulling, as Saskatchewan does (USask Gardening).
Handle hot peppers with care. Saskatchewan advises wearing gloves when handling hot pepper plants and fruit, and washing your hands well with soap and water afterward (USask Gardening). Oregon State notes that capsaicin, the compound that makes peppers hot, is made mainly in the white tissue around the seeds (OSU Extension).
Bringing a garden pepper indoors
Peppers can live for more than one season if they come in before frost. There are two approaches:
- Keep it growing. The Ask Extension expert suggests a bright window or grow lights and says not to prune the roots (Ask Extension). Check for pests before bringing it inside; the expert lists spider mites, thrips, mealybugs and aphids (Ask Extension).
- Let it rest. A Colorado Master Gardener prunes the plant to three main branches after harvest, keeps it cool and dry at 50 to 60°F if possible, and waters only enough to keep it from going bone dry (Ask Extension, habanero). Oregon State gardeners keep peppers in a near-dormant state at 40 to 55°F, noting that short winter days and no pollinators mean the goal is simply to keep them alive (OSU Extension, overwintering).
Common problems
No flowers
Check temperature and light. Oregon State says some cultivars won't blossom below 60°F (OSU Extension).
Sticky leaves or fine webbing
Look for aphids or spider mites (Ask Extension), and see our indoor pest control guide.
Leggy, leaning plant
It needs more light (USask Gardening). Lower the grow light or move it to a brighter window.
For another fruiting plant, see cherry tomatoes indoors. You can also find a guide by plant.
Sources
- University of Saskatchewan, Gardening at USask: Peppers
- Oregon State University Extension, EC 1227: Grow your own peppers
- Oregon State University Extension, Klamath Basin: Five plants local gardeners are overwintering (PDF, 2020)
- Ask Extension (expert answer): Overwintering ornamental peppers, #890162 (2024)
- Ask Extension (Colorado Master Gardener answer): Overwinter habanero peppers indoors, #812297 (2022)
- Ask Extension (expert answer): Pollinate indoor tomatoes, #782922 (2022)
- Botanical Interests product page: Thai Hot chile pepper seeds
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Jerusalem cherry
All sources accessed October 20, 2026. This guide is about growing peppers indoors.
Frequently asked questions
Can you grow peppers indoors?
Yes, with extra light. The University of Saskatchewan says peppers can be grown indoors but need supplemental lighting, in a container of at least 1 gallon.
What temperature do indoor peppers need?
Oregon State University Extension gives 70 to 80°F by day and 60 to 70°F at night as ideal, and warns that some cultivars won't flower below 60°F.
Do pepper plants need to be pollinated indoors?
Peppers are self-pollinating, according to the University of Saskatchewan. Indoors we give flowering plants a gentle shake, the approach Ask Extension recommends for tomatoes.
Are ornamental peppers hot?
Usually. The University of Saskatchewan warns that even ornamental peppers are likely very spicy. Check the label too: the ASPCA uses "ornamental pepper" as another name for Jerusalem cherry, a different plant that is toxic to pets.
Can I bring my garden pepper plant inside for winter?
Yes. Keep it growing in a bright window or under lights, or let it rest cool and dry. A Colorado Master Gardener keeps resting plants at 50 to 60°F, and Oregon State gardeners use 40 to 55°F.