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scottier1947

Droopy looking pepper plants

14 years ago

I have 4 Ghost Pepper Pants and 4 habanero pepper plants. Two of my ghost pepper plants are doing very well the other 2 and all 4 habanero plants started getting are droopy and wilted looking within a matter of a few weeks from each other. It looks like they are not getting enough water but the soil is still damp to the touch.

Comments (7)

  • 14 years ago

    Geeze, that sure looks like lack of moisture or way too much heat. Either that or they got froze over night. That is what my plants look like after they spend a couple nights outside in October/November where the temps get down below freezing. But I dont think that is your problem.

    I would guess it is a moisture issue.
    What have your temps been like?
    How much direct sun are they getting during the day?
    What size pots are you using?
    What kind of soil are you using?
    Are there drain holes in the bottom of the containers?
    Do you have any plants in the ground that are doing better?

    Bruce

  • 14 years ago

    Agreed with Bruce and the original poster, that does look like lack of water. Since you say they are getting enough water the only thing I can think of us is that they are overfertilized and are suffering fertilizer burn (too many chemical salts in the soil to allow the roots to use the moisture that is in the soil). You didn't recently give them a big shot of fertilizer by any chance?

  • 14 years ago

    Thanks to Bruce and Don for the quick response. I did recently add some fertilizer but only about 1/2 tablespoon of dry pellets.
    I live in Taiwan and the plants are in large (12" diameter) pots with a mix of potting soil and some "garden" soil from a friend. It has been very hot here for the past week, temperatures in the mid to high 90s but I thought peppers like heat. Sun light is a big problem, I live in an area with a lot of tall buildings and only get about 30 - 45 minutes of direct sun everyday, I am getting plenty of indirect sun though.
    If they survive, (2 habaneros already died) I will cut back on the fertilizer.

  • 14 years ago

    Peppers like heat but probably mid-80's or lower is better than mid-90s. Usually your kind of heat would be associated more with blossom-drop than with wilting when give adequate water. Most of the fruits seem full-sized and are just waiting to ripen, so no need for fertilizer -- if excess fertilizer might be the problem then flush your pots with lots of water and let the excess water drain away -- with the temperatures you are having your pots should dry out within a day or so. But first think back and make sure that you didn't just let the pots dry out too much and that is what caused the wilting damage -- at mid 90's things can dry out pretty quickly.

    I don't see your lack of direct sunshine as any problem as you clearly got a good fruit set on those plants.

  • 14 years ago

    I know what the issue it 100% so listen close ;)

    Your mix does NOT have enough porosity. You think it is dry so you water more and more but the the issue it the soil, you can't use top soil in a container. Well, you can it will just wilt everyday when it is hot at mid day. I know from experience.

    These cayenne are in native soil from the ground. Right now they are full of peppers and growing strong, but everytime it is noon and the sun is on them they wilt no matter how much water they have, they will wilt. Now my other cayenne in the soilless mix are like bushes and they NEVER wilt unless not watered.

    I noticed this with every plant I put into a heavy soil mix, mid-day they wilt no matter how much water.

    {{gwi:2553}}

  • 14 years ago

    Mastergardener seems to have zeroed in on your problem. There are many, many threads dealing with container soils for peppers. Just do a search. You would probably be well off to replant your peppers asap with some good well draining soil. They look like they were really nice plants at one time.
    Bruce

  • 14 years ago

    Yea that could be the problem, but now that I look at it is that plant in full sun and hot? From the op's pic is looks like it is not in sun which could be another problem. I know I said in my last post i know the issue 100%, but don't take my word for it lol.
    You can grow in pots with heavy top soil, it is not ideal but it works!!


    Those two plants are well on the way!! I think I found my new soil mix lol. ;)

    {{gwi:2554}}

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