Can Pepper and Calathea share one grow tent?
One tent means one light, one timer and one climate. This is what Pepper and Calathea each need, and which differences moving the pots can fix.
The short answer
- Light: at their most demanding stage, no single light level suits both. Pepper wants 600–900 µmol/m²/s, Calathea 70–135. (Placement can fix this)
- Day length: Pepper is usually grown at 16 h, Calathea at 12 h. One light has one timer. (Same for the whole tent)
- Temperature: both are comfortable at 24–26 °C.
- Humidity: Pepper wants 50–65 % RH, Calathea 70–90 %. No range suits both. (Same for the whole tent)
Light, stage by stage
| Pepper | PPFD | Calathea | PPFD | Suits both |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seedling | 100–250 µmol/m²/s | Mature | 70–135 µmol/m²/s | 100–135 µmol/m²/s |
| Vegetative | 400–600 µmol/m²/s | Mature | 70–135 µmol/m²/s | none |
| Flowering/fruiting | 600–900 µmol/m²/s | Mature | 70–135 µmol/m²/s | none |
They share a light level in 1 of 3 stage combinations.
For plants whose target is daily light (DLI), the PPFD shown is at their usual day length. On a different timer it changes.
How to make it work
Light is strongest under the centre of the fixture and weaker towards the edges. Put Pepper under the centre and Calathea towards an edge or the back of the tent.
If Pepper still falls short, lift its pot on a box: closer to the light means more light, without changing anything for Calathea.
Day length, temperature and humidity are the same for every pot in the tent, and moving the pots does not change them. Where the two differ, any setting is a compromise for one of them.
Where exactly, in your tent?
That depends on your tent, your fixture and how high it hangs. Add Pepper and Calathea in the app and it shows where each pot gets its own light.