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Vertical Growing

Y

yochannontzvi

Does anyone have experience with vertically growing pepper plants? I used to work on a farm that grew bell peppers vertically with Hydrostackers, but, it wasn't as impressive as I thought it could be. I get the impression that vertical grows aren't necessarily the best option for pepper plants as they're just too tall and bulky. Has anyone else had experience with it? Would you prefer growing it in soil close together (i.e. 2 plants per pot) over vertical growing?
 
i'm using 15 gallon pots and i'm 6`6 and a few of my peppers are way taller than me....don't see  a need to grow vertically or two plants per pot
 
BigB said:
i'm using 15 gallon pots and i'm 6`6 and a few of my peppers are way taller than me....don't see  a need to grow vertically or two plants per pot
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How do you get that? I have 20 gallon pots, am 5'5, and I'm taller than all my plants. I must be doing something wrong.
 
Well, I'm in florida for one. I water every day in the morning, but the potting soil I use is pretty dry by that time. By letting the soil dry out, but not bone dry, then watering, it makes the roots seek out more and thus making the plant taller/bushier.  It probably also has to do with the species. I got a plant from wicked mike that was about 5 ft tall in a 1gal. so some plants are special like that
 
cruzzfish said:
How do you get that? I have 20 gallon pots, am 5'5, and I'm taller than all my plants. I must be doing something wrong.
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BigB said:
Well, I'm in florida for one. I water every day in the morning, but the potting soil I use is pretty dry by that time. By letting the soil dry out, but not bone dry, then watering, it makes the roots seek out more and thus making the plant taller/bushier.  It probably also has to do with the species. I got a plant from wicked mike that was about 5 ft tall in a 1gal. so some plants are special like that
 
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So I should grow in perlite to keep them looking for water?
 
hot stuff said:
Vertical growing is more for vine like plants, particularly squash that generally grows on the ground.
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I tried it this year with pumpkins and water melon did not do so hot because the vines actually root themselves for more nutes, I thought that would be the case but from all I read they say it can be done. Tried to grow them up a 10 foot chain link fence. 
 
cruzzfish said:
So I should grow in perlite to keep them looking for water?
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i honestly use miracle grow mixed with this special coco coir that has worm castings and mycorizzae in it as well as rock dust
 
cruzzfish said:
So I should grow in perlite to keep them looking for water?
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I am growing in 5 gallon containers using about 1/3 added perlite to Ocean Forest mix.  In the blazing heat we have been having here they do dry out pretty fast.  I'm considering growing in all self watering buckets next year to help out with that.
 
Jerry Rigatoni said:
I am growing in 5 gallon containers using about 1/3 added perlite to Ocean Forest mix.  In the blazing heat we have been having here they do dry out pretty fast.  I'm considering growing in all self watering buckets next year to help out with that.
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Here in CT it's pretty humid, so I think perlite might actually work. I could do an aero grow also, which works wonders.
 
Hmm, but, does anyone have experience with it? I'm not convinced that growing them explicitly on the X axis is the best option. I'm a bit on the fence about it. IIRC, the peppers were about 18 in - 2ft tall on the farm I used to work at. I've seen bell peppers bigger having been done in soil/regular hydroponics. But, doesn't the idea of putting 6-8 plants in a 14 in space and getting them to around 2 ft is a better idea than doing one 6 ft plant in the same space? In terms of yield, it just seems more logical. Honestly, I wish I recalled more about what I used to do as it was more than 5 years ago I worked there... And it was only for like 10 months or something.

I think I need a pepper tutor, lol.
 
There is a grower here named Vertically Challenged I believe that runs a vertical set up. And hordes of cannabis growers on other forums. May be helpful.
 
They all look cool but since peppers grow better as a bush than a vine vertical growing just doesnt seem practical. A lot those were pretty much all hydro so you could always dabble with a hydro grow
 
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