Jalapeno pepper plant issues wilting

6 years ago

One of may Jalapeno pepper plants is not looking great. I have grown this exact same plant in the same spot for years, fertilize good. No other plants are having issues. Lots of other pepper plants. It looks like the leaves are wilting, like they do when it is really hot and sunny. However when pic was taken it 9am sunny but not to hot. It seemed odd just that plant looks wilted. Leaves also appear somewhat yellow. I tossed some 10-10-20 fertilizer down about a week ago.

Pics make it hard to tell but plant simply does not look good. No sign of any other issues (bugs, etc). Plant seemed to be doing okay - not great (other then leaves that seemed a little more yellow then normal) until today. The fact that it produced a half dozen or more small healthy looking peppers makes me think everything is, or was ok.

It looks worse (more wilted) in person

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Comments (10)

Don V Zone 5-6 Cleveland OH
Original Author
6 years ago
Also it rained yesterday morning and the day before.
User
6 years ago
There could be pathogens in the soil. Your plant may be a victim of planting in the same place.
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Don V Zone 5-6 Cleveland OH
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
That did occur to me. I planted pepper plants in that exact spot for years. Last 2 years (maybe more) Japs in the exact same spot. All did fine but.........
daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
6 years ago
Are these peppers close to your problematic blueberries? Phytophthora root rot attacks peppers as well. Again, moist soil is the issue. That being said, Phytophthora root rot causes rapid decline and death of peppers. You maybe aren't seeing that. Then again, verticillium wilt, which attacks peppers, can also attack blueberries.
CA Kate z9
6 years ago
Needs more water? Peppers are not drought tolerant.
Don V Zone 5-6 Cleveland OH
Original Author
6 years ago
Nowhere near blueberries lots of other pepper plants nearby that are doing great. Raised bed. Also definitely do not need water. I have grown enough peppers to know even if 3 times as long passed it would be ok. Keep in mind it was less then 24 hours since rain. I would not mind so much but this is one of only 2 jap's I grew and the closest one to producing soon. I love them!
daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
6 years ago
Actually, peppers are formally considered draught tolerant. In particular they really don't like a lot of water. They do their best with moisture retentive soil, however.
Don V Zone 5-6 Cleveland OH
Original Author
6 years ago
It died quickly. I have 2 other plants doing great. It was really odd. Everything around it is doing fine. It was and I grew it from seeds starting indoors (along with 20 other pepper plants) this one was the only to die and it was doing fine for 6 weeks.
Don V Zone 5-6 Cleveland OH
Original Author
6 years ago
In other words it came on suddenly with no other signs.
daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Well, again, Phytophthora root rot kills quick. Pull the plant and inspect the roots. Symptoms listed here

http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/r604100211.html

Fungal infections are pretty random. You can have healthy plants next to diseased ones. The soil, however, is infected. Crop rotation with non-susceptible plants (peppers and squash are especially susceptible) is recommended.

See also

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/phytophthora-crown-rot-on-cucurbits-and-peppers-requires-aggressive-approach

and especially the management sheet for peppers linked to there.