All I know is that the badly misshaped leaves are from insect damage. Mine looked like that and it was thirps. You can see them with a magnifying lens on the bottom. If it were aphids you could see them with your naked eyes. I don't know what causes the wrinkling and am having a similar problem with a few of mine and also believe it is a deficiency, probably phosphorus. Most of my plants have outlasted the insects and other problems so the good news is that if they are healthy (and they look pretty healthy) they will doo well anyway.

My guess concerning the wrinkled leaves is a calcium deficiency. I over wintered many Black Pearl this year that looked the same way. Gave them some bone meal and the leaves flattened out. Thrip (and aphids) can also distort leaves. Take a close look under each leaf for small, white insects.
Good luck,
Jennifer

Your plants look good. Get some sevin dust for the insect problem. Keep them healthy and you will have a ton of peppers.

I also live in Florida and was having alot of the same problems. Like sprouts honor said a little bone meal should perk them right up.

Thanks all for the reply's and advice. I wish I would have taken some pictures this morning, my plants looked really good and the droopy leaves were all perked up and sticking straight out! I added a teaspoon of magnesium sulfate to each plant yesterday and watered in. I am still having the problem with leaves twisting though, going to spray with calcium again tonight. Will try the 7 dust soon also. Hopefully all the little 'bugs' (pun intended) get worked out and I have some huge bushy plants with tons of peppers to take photos of and share.

I agree with simsedward, your plants look good.

New growth on some pepper plants produces wrinkled leaves, they grow out of it. Also, you're going to get a few leaves with some holes from insects or wind damage, no big deal unless it takes over the plant.

I think you're worrying too much. I'd leave them alone and let them grow, they're pretty tough.

I am noticing the same issue right now with one of my jalapeno plants - and I am new to planting a pepper garden. I sprayed them with "Organocide" I am by no means an organic gardener but this stuff worked great so far. It kills 25 problem insects, controls 4 major diseases, and is safe to use around the home, garden, children, and pets too *smiles* it is made by Organic Labratories, Inc. I would recommend it for your peppers too - just because it is definitely working on mine. I have banana peppers, green bell, cayenne, red cherry bomb, and the jalapeno's. Good Luck with your peppers. Your plants look great!

Just a quick question...how did you post your pictures? I am new to this forum as well and looking for help too. Maybe as a fellow pepper gardener you could help me figure the posting picture thing out? Any help would be great.

For an expert contact:

The Chile Pepper Institute
New Mexico State University
P.O. Box 30003 MSC 3Q
Las Cruces, NM 88003
Phone: 575-646-3028 phone
Fax: 575-646-6041
Email: hotchile@nmsu.edu

@ sjs56222 Thanks for the advice and comment about my plants. I found some natural remedies and am going to try those out today if they don't work I will try the Organocide.

I noticed ants pouring out of the base of my jalapeno plant when I watered it but I cannot find any aphids. I'm going to spray with a light vinegar solution, sprinkle corn meal (kills the ants) on the soil and black pepper also.

Like I said ealier the plants are already looking better. I will post some more photos in a few weeks when hopefully a few of my plants are really blooming. Can't wait!

As far as postings pictures. It was a pain. I actually created the post in MS Frontpage and hand edited it in wordpad and uploaded the photos to a personal website (this site needs a easy way to post photos). You could upload your photos to this site: http://imageshack.us and try to embed or just post the link to the photo(s).

@ chimayo_farmer
Thanks for the info. I was on their website last night, it was wonderful! I should be in school there if I didn't live in Florida, must be great to be around a bunch of chili heads all the time. I'm going to email them some photos and will post any info they send my way.

Nice Plants! I have the same problem with a Fish and a Pequin plant. The leaves are funky like that but the plants seem healthy. I did have an aphid problem, but I released about 15 lady bugs in my hoop house, they started going to town on the aphids, only problem now is I have tons of big black ants now protecting the aphids from the ladybugs because of the crap the aphids secrete. I guess its time to 7 dust.

@spice8

Thanks! After doing much reading I think one of the main problems is I've been hitting the plants with to much nitrogen. I'm cutting that back so hopefully I will get some nice flowers and fruit to start setting. Also, just a few days after spraying with calcium and adding magnesium sulfate the plants look much better.

I contacted the Chili Pepper Institute as chimayo_farmer suggested and got a reply right away. A nice lady named Denise said that she thinks the leaf twisting problem is from high air temperature. This could be the case considering we've been having 102-105 (heat index) days here in north Florida!

That's funny with the insect problem, sounds like a little war over your plants, I hope the ladybugs win. I made a ring around my plants with black pepper as it is suppose to repel ants, just did it today so not sure if it will work or not.

Just a suggestion, before you use the 7 dust you might want to try spraying your plants with a soapy water solution, it's suppose to get rid of aphids.

Good luck and would love to see some photos!

I agree with chilifanatic, the twisting of the leaves is caused by high temp or high humidity. Overall, your peppers look great,bonemeal every two weeks and a dusting of seven will solve most of the issues....

Don't fret over twisting leaves. Also, as far as the mishapen leaf goes, my tobago and bhut jolokia had one or two form that way in the very same growth stage yours is in. I let it go and it eventually solved itself. Now I have my first and second ghost peppers forming. I'm such a proud father!