1/10

Chile Penguin

Also known as

Chile Petin, Bird Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Capsicum annum 'Glabriusculum', chile piquín and caballero

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum

Genus

Capsicum

Family

Solanaceae

Order

Solanales

How to care for Chile Penguin

💦 Water

How often to water your Chile Penguin

Chile Penguin needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Chile Penguin in your home

Chile Penguin love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Chile Penguin does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Chile Penguin in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Chile Penguin

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Chile Penguin: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Chile Penguin after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Capsicum

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

Chile Penguin prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Chile Penguin Water Frequency →

Chile Penguin Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Chile Penguin requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Chile Penguin Light Requirements →

Chile Penguin Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Chile Penguin is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.

Is Chile Penguin Edible? →

Chile Penguin Toxicity to Cats →

Chile Penguin Toxicity to Dogs →

Chile Penguin Toxicity to Humans →

💨 Humidity

Chile Penguin doesn’t require additional humidity. Plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves, so the best way to provide humidity for your plants is through watering the soil.

Chile Penguin Humidity Needs →

🪴 Soil

Chile Penguin does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Chile Penguin →

Best Pots for Chile Penguin →

When and How to Successfully Repot Chile Penguin →

What Are Healthy Chile Penguin Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Chile Penguin is a fast growing plant and may deplete the nutrients in its soil over time. Replenish them with a gentle organic fertilizer or compost every 1-2 months depending on your location and season. Fertilize more often during the growing season and in warmer and brighter climates.

How Much and When to Fertilize Chile Penguin →

🌎 Native Region

Chile Penguin is native to the Americas.

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Chile Penguin can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Chile Penguin Temperature Tolerance →

Chile Penguin Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Chile Penguin →

When to Plant Chile Penguin →

How to Plant Chile Penguin →

Where to Plant Chile Penguin →

Winter Care for Chile Penguin →

Best Companion Plants for Chile Penguin →

Is Chile Penguin a Weed? →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Chile Penguin, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.