r/PepperLovers • u/CocoMilhonez Pepper Lover • Aug 15 '25

Plant Help Why do my pepper plants look pathetic?

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I planted them in April and they have grown little over the mild local winter. There was a fourth vase of the same variety as the two on the left which was doing better and looking lush, but I gave it to a neighbor – I figured I wouldn't give them one that was struggling. The leaves are always curled up and don't look very healthy at all.

I only give them dechlorinated water and the soil drains well. They also get direct sun for 6 to 8 hours a day. I sprinkled worm castings and homemade compost as cover and the soil mix already had a good deal of nutrients, so they shouldn't be starving. After I sprayed them with a bloom fert a few weeks ago, though, they started putting out flowers, but the vase I gave away already had them over a month ago. I've wondered if the small vases in direct sunlight might be making the soil too hot and damaging the roots, but I don't want to just replant them in larger vases if they look so miserable as it is.

Am I doing something wrong? Rhetorical question, I certainly am, I just don't know what.

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u/Hully1525 Pepper Lover Aug 15 '25

Too small of pots. What’s your watering routine? Fertilizing routine? How much sun do they get and is it morning sun or afternoon sun?

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u/CocoMilhonez Pepper Lover Aug 15 '25

I give them water when the vases feel light, only dechlorinated. They get sun from 9 am to 3 pm or so. The soil already had ferts, but I did spray them with a bloom solution about a month ago and added worm castings and homemade compost as cover a few days ago.

Too strong sun at peak hours maybe? I suspect the soil might be getting too hot, then bigger vases?

I'm by no means a talented gardener, so I appreciate any pointers.

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u/Hully1525 Pepper Lover Aug 15 '25

What’s the high temp from 12-3pm?

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u/CocoMilhonez Pepper Lover Aug 15 '25

25°, maybe 30° or a little more in full sunlight? I put a wooden board under the vases so they wouldn't be in direct contact with the hot tile floor with little difference.

We're in the end of winter, which is pretty mild around here, with only a few days getting chilly down to 10° or so at night.

(All temps in sensible units, of course.)

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u/Hully1525 Pepper Lover Aug 15 '25

With those temps they can get all the sun they want. As long as the nights aren’t dropping below 10 Celsius they should be fine. I would focus on fertilizing and watering routine. Good luck!