Hot pepper plant leaves yellowing

Lowlander · May 12, 2013

I have had these super hots under T5 grow lights for several months. They are in 3" peat cups and wating to go out into the garden. Recently they have started to get yellowing of the larger/lower leaves and several of the leaves have fallen off.

What causes this?? mineral deficiency? too much water?? root bound??

I have a lot of work in getting these germinated and healthy sized,...so I don't want to lose any of them.

Ghost,Yellow Ghost, Naga Viper, Carolina Reaper, Butch T trinidad scorpions, chocolate duoglah, Thai chili

rockhound · May 13, 2013

3" cups for several months means they are root-bound, probably. Try setting them out (after a little hardening off)or pot up to a larger size.

dustdevil · May 13, 2013

I don't think they are root bound, but you should slide a couple out of their cups to check.

Too much water or a deficiency is likely. Let the soil go bone dry before you water them with a Miracle Grow liquid solution to try and bring them around. Pepper leaves droop when they need water...just like tomatoes. Don't over-water!

Peat pots can go moldy, so I avoid them in an attempt to avoid disease possibilities. Look at the inside of the cups when you pop a few out when you're checking for root bound.

I would try repotting them deeper in some larger cups with fresh soil mix if you think some nastiness is firing up in the peat cups.

With the recent cold snap, you need to keep them in cups for at least a couple more weeks...keep them in a warm spot to recuperate.

I have found that a sprinkle of bone meal on the surface sometimes helps with deficiency. It smells terrible when you water. Also, there is some debate about disease possibilities in the ground bone.

If you have success in rejuvenating your peppers, I suggest you share with others here in this post.

Lowlander · May 13, 2013

The soil is pretty moist and has been for a week or so. Maybe allowing it to dry out is the key?? I will try that first,..thanks

Mojave · May 13, 2013

Some of my peppers go through the same thing this time of year. Once it warms up things should get better. Don't water unless they really need it.

Re bone meal, yes there is some evidence that BSE (Mad Cow) can be transmitted by inhaling bone meal from infected cows. To play it safe I've switched over to using fish bone meal.

guruofgardens · May 13, 2013

Lots of good advise. Since you're in Maryland, the weather is most likely good for your plants.

Start by repotting your plants into larger cups, not peat pots, with good soil. Set them out in the shade for a day, bring them in at night, then after maybe 2-3 days of this, keep them outside in the shade at night for another couple of days.

Your yellowing leaves may be due to overwatering and/or lack of dilute fertilizer. In any event, when the plants are in the ground, they will grow new leaves where the ones fell off.

It sounds like you're doing a great job and are on the way to a wonderful harvest. Next year I'd steer clear of the peat pots. Even the red Solo cups (18 oz.) are great for transplants.

Lowlander · June 13, 2013

this was a few weeks back.

May 12, 2013	#1
Lowlander Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Eastern Shore of Maryland Posts: 76	Hot pepper plant leaves yellowing I have had these super hots under T5 grow lights for several months. They are in 3" peat cups and wating to go out into the garden. Recently they have started to get yellowing of the larger/lower leaves and several of the leaves have fallen off. What causes this?? mineral deficiency? too much water?? root bound?? I have a lot of work in getting these germinated and healthy sized,...so I don't want to lose any of them. Ghost,Yellow Ghost, Naga Viper, Carolina Reaper, Butch T trinidad scorpions, chocolate duoglah, Thai chili

May 13, 2013	#3
dustdevil Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: WI, USA Zone4 Posts: 1,887	I don't think they are root bound, but you should slide a couple out of their cups to check. Too much water or a deficiency is likely. Let the soil go bone dry before you water them with a Miracle Grow liquid solution to try and bring them around. Pepper leaves droop when they need water...just like tomatoes. Don't over-water! Peat pots can go moldy, so I avoid them in an attempt to avoid disease possibilities. Look at the inside of the cups when you pop a few out when you're checking for root bound. I would try repotting them deeper in some larger cups with fresh soil mix if you think some nastiness is firing up in the peat cups. With the recent cold snap, you need to keep them in cups for at least a couple more weeks...keep them in a warm spot to recuperate. I have found that a sprinkle of bone meal on the surface sometimes helps with deficiency. It smells terrible when you water. Also, there is some debate about disease possibilities in the ground bone. If you have success in rejuvenating your peppers, I suggest you share with others here in this post. Last edited by dustdevil; May 13, 2013 at 01:11 PM.

May 13, 2013	#5
Mojave Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: SF Bay area Z9a Posts: 821	Some of my peppers go through the same thing this time of year. Once it warms up things should get better. Don't water unless they really need it. Re bone meal, yes there is some evidence that BSE (Mad Cow) can be transmitted by inhaling bone meal from infected cows. To play it safe I've switched over to using fish bone meal. __________________ Bill _______________________________________________ When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe. -John Muir Believe those who seek the Truth: Doubt those who find it. -André Gide

June 13, 2013	#7
Lowlander Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Eastern Shore of Maryland Posts: 76	this was a few weeks back. Last edited by Lowlander; June 13, 2013 at 02:24 PM.

May 13, 2013	#2
rockhound Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 285	3" cups for several months means they are root-bound, probably. Try setting them out (after a little hardening off)or pot up to a larger size.

May 13, 2013	#6
guruofgardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: zone 5 Colorado Posts: 942	Lots of good advise. Since you're in Maryland, the weather is most likely good for your plants. Start by repotting your plants into larger cups, not peat pots, with good soil. Set them out in the shade for a day, bring them in at night, then after maybe 2-3 days of this, keep them outside in the shade at night for another couple of days. Your yellowing leaves may be due to overwatering and/or lack of dilute fertilizer. In any event, when the plants are in the ground, they will grow new leaves where the ones fell off. It sounds like you're doing a great job and are on the way to a wonderful harvest. Next year I'd steer clear of the peat pots. Even the red Solo cups (18 oz.) are great for transplants.