Problem with Moruga! Mixed answers!

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

Hi all, I bought a Trinidad Moruga Scorpion at my local farmers market from a friend of a friend. It was doing real well and then the leaves started to turn yellow, it started getting these little holes or burn looking spots, and just stopped growing altogether! I have been trying to research more and more and just finding different answers for what sounds like the same thing, I have even seen pictures on some of the posts and it looks the same in a lot of them I saw. It has about 5 peppers that were growing and they were a bright green, then they started getting like a brown color on the top of all of the peppers, now they are started turning back to green. So far, I have seen advice saying to treat with lime if the ph is low (which I tested with a cheapo digital tester from ebay and I am getting 6-7 with the occational 5.5) or epsom salt to raise the magnesium without raising the ph, I have also saw someone getting told that they over watered it (it was raining here in Illinois like crazy for a bit, I started taking the plants in and watering them myself). Honestly I am lost and don't know which way to go, I just don't want to add something in and make it worse, and I can't afford to get any ph testers from menards or anything until 2 weeks from now. Any help would be appreciated and thank you in advance for any help.

Featured Answer

bmelz

11 years ago

I am having similar issue with a couple of my pepper plants that are in pots. I have chalked it up to three possibilities.

1. too much water. I am in South Western Ontario (Canada) and we have also had record rainfall for June, July hasn't been much better. Typically (from what I've read) super hots like it dry. I don't think my plants have had a chance to actually dry out once since they were outside in April.

2. Lack of nutrition. I potted all of mine with 5-1-1 mix. With all the rain we've had, I think it's possible that any nutrients have washed out, as a result the plant is potentially starved. Since the plants were already soaked, I decided to give them a water soluble tomato fertilizer yesterday. I think it's just a standard 20-20-20. I'm hoping to come home tonight from work and see some sort of results. If you are using Mircacle Grow or some other store bought garden/potting mix, there's a good chance that you aren't underfed and most most likely not suffering nutrient deficiency.

3. fungus/bacteria. This would probably be worst case scenario. I have a couple other plants that I suspect have a leaf fungus or bacteria. I have trimmed back all affected leaves and hope it doesn't return. Based on what I've read though, if you have the leaf bacteria/fungus, the plant is doomed and should be ripped out.

The last two days have been fully sunny here, so I'm hoping the soil has had a chance to dry out a bit. Also, since the plants are obviously stressed, I have moved them close to the wall of my house so they are only getting a few hours of direct sunlight in the late afternoon.

I will be home in an hour or two and will report back / let you know if my small shot of fertilizer has helped the plants improve any.

Good luck and please post any other information or results you find.

Disclaimer: I am in no way a professional and have only been gardening myself for a couple of years. I just wanted to try and help out by getting some discussion going to maybe prompt some alternative ideas. I apologize if I have given any misinformation and I welcome all constructive criticism.

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Comments (9)

Boone (Zone 5a)
Original Author
11 years ago
Here are some pictures of what I am dealing with so anyone could get a better idea.
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Boone (Zone 5a)
Original Author
11 years ago
I suppose i could try letting it dry out a little more than I have been, I was told to use epsom salt to help it and tried that out today so i am gonna see if that will help at all, just watered it a little to get that into the soil. i am trying to not use any fertilizer from stores, I have put some coffee grounds in there, I would be using compost but it is out of the question to have a compost pile where I am living at now.
SoCarRob (Zone 7)
11 years ago
Lack of nitrogen from too much water. The picture of the base of the plant is a GOOD thing! It's going woody, a sign of a mature plant!
Boone (Zone 5a) thanked SoCarRob (Zone 7)
Boone (Zone 5a)
Original Author
11 years ago
Yay! well I will look up some more ways to put nitrogen back in, the coffee grounds seemed like they helped a little but not for long.
Boone (Zone 5a)
Original Author
11 years ago
And I dunno how to message you there rob, but I have some pepper seeds if you wanted some.
Boone (Zone 5a)
Original Author
11 years ago
And wouldn't mind chatting with you and asking a couple questions about saving my seeds.
SoCarRob (Zone 7)
11 years ago
As for saving seeds, wait until the pods are ripe, then remove them and place them in a single layer on a paper plate or napkin for 2 weeks to dry. After that put them in an airtight container in a cool dry place. I just like to help where I can. :)
Boone (Zone 5a) thanked SoCarRob (Zone 7)
centexan254 zone 8 Temple, Tx
11 years ago
For container growing it is advised to use a water soluble fertilizer. Organics in a container require more trouble, and expense than it is worth for most. Miracle Grow all purpose works just fine, and will not harm the fruit you eat.

Mix it to half strength, and use it when you water. Nothing you do or use will show results in one or two days. It takes close to a week for things to show.

If that were my plant here is what I would do.

Do not water until it is needed. The plant will look wilted in the morning. If so then keep the leaves dry, and water the medium slowly until water comes out the drain. Wait a couple of minutes then repeat.

Then leave it alone, and let it recover.