Read Part One: How to Grow and Feed Chilli Plants first for germination and transplant.
Feeding chilli plants through flowering is the stage that determines your final fruit size and heat, picking up where Part One left off. By week four or five, most chilli plants show flower buds, and it's time to prune, switch nutrient formulas and start counting down to harvest. This guide covers A-Grade's pruning approach, the full flowering feed schedule from week one through to flush, and the troubleshooting tips growers ask about most.
✂️ To Prune, or Not to Prune?
Some growers prune their chilli plants at week 4–5 to increase the size and weight of the final chillies. Others don't — both approaches are used by different growers, and neither is strictly required.
One common approach is to prune everything below the natural 'Y' formation of the plant. Doing so directs the plant's energy and resources toward the fruit-bearing canopy above the Y, rather than lower growth that won't set flowers.
💡 A-Grade Tip: Keep the pruned cuttings and clone them using a cloning product. Once they root, you'll have another chilli plant or two, at no extra seed cost.
🌸 Flowers Appearing? Switch to Bloom Nutrients
The moment chillies start budding or flowering, change the nutrient formula and begin week one of the flowering nutrient schedule below.
💡 A-Grade Tip: Keep a plant journal from this point on. Note the date, feeding formula used, temperatures and the plant's appearance each time you feed — this makes it much easier to diagnose issues later in the cycle.
🗓️ Feeding Schedule for Chilli Plants During Flowering
Use the dosages below as a starting point, adjusting for plant size and how the plant responds. All amounts are per 1L of water.
| Week | Dosage (per 1L water) | Feeding Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 2.5mL Bloom A&B + 0.5mL CalMag | Every 2 days |
| Week 2 | 2.5mL Bloom A&B + 0.5mL CalMag | Every 2 days |
| Week 3 | 2.5mL Bloom A&B + 1mL PK | Every 2 days |
| Week 4 | 2.5mL Bloom A&B + 2mL PK | Every day |
| Week 5 | 2.5mL Bloom A&B + 1mL PK | Every day |
| Week 6 | 2.0mL Bloom A&B + 1mL PK | Every day |
| Week 7 | Flush generously with plain water (or a flushing product such as CYCO Kleanse) | 2–3 days before harvest |
The PK used in this formula is MILLS Ultimate PK (0-7-6). The CalMag is FLAIRFORM CMX (4-0-0).
💡 A-Grade Tip: For really hot chillies, let the coco dry out completely before harvesting.
🌶️ More A-Grade Tips for Flowering Chillies
- Use a silica-based product such as MILLS Vitalize in your feeding formula to support cell strength through fruit set.
- Prevention is better than the cure — implement pest prevention early to guard against fungus gnats, whitefly, aphids and thrip.
- Nutrient build-up is a common issue when growing chillies in coco. Brown leaf tips are a typical indicator. Flush the coco a few times with plain water and measure runoff until the EC reads around 0.6 or lower, then leave to dry for a day before resuming normal feeding.
🤔 Common Questions About Feeding Chilli Plants Through Flowering
When do I switch chilli plants to bloom nutrients?
As soon as flower buds appear, generally around week 4–5 of the plant's life. Switch straight into week one of the flowering feed schedule above.
What causes brown leaf tips on chilli plants?
Nutrient build-up is a common cause in coco-grown chilli. Flush with plain water until the runoff EC reads around 0.6 or lower, then resume feeding as normal.
Should I flush before harvesting chilli?
Yes — flush generously with plain water, or a flushing product such as CYCO Kleanse, for 2–3 days before harvest.
🌶️ To Finish Up
Getting the prune, the bloom switch and the flowering feed schedule right sets up a strong final fruit set and, for hot varieties, more heat at harvest. 🥵
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