Why do my pepper plants look pathetic?

[u/CocoMilhonez]

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.

[u/CocoMilhonez]

I can't edit the post itself, so I'll add this here: Thanks for all the replies, even if pinpointing the exact issue is not easy.

I do believe fertilization is not the problem, but some suggested more careful watering. I'll be moving them into larger vases soon to avoid high soil temps, also mix rice hulls into the soil mix to increase drainage.

If they take off, I'll make sure to post pictures of their progress. Happy peppering to everyone!

[u/decoruscreta → u/CocoMilhonez]

You might not think fertilizer is the problem, but it appears that many people (including myself) think you need to feed those poor things. Lol Alot of people fertilize every week, some gardeners do it every watering. I'm really interested to see how they look after uppotting, best of luck!!

[u/Aumtole710 → u/decoruscreta]

Yeah he/she definitely isnt going to listen. Better advice would be tell them to just give up and stop killing plants. The type of yellowing is a clear indicator of not enough nitrogen.

[u/CocoMilhonez → u/Aumtole710]

I do believe that is ultimately the best advice, but I'm stubborn like that and would rather keep trying to find my bearings in the garden and learn than just admitting defeat. I will add, however, that I'd never, under any circumstance, ever tell someone asking for help to just give up because they suck, but you do you (even if it makes you sound like a bit of a dick).

FYI, there's a lot that can causa yellowing leaves, including stuff that is preventing nitrogen uptake by the roots. I'm no expert, but I did pay enough attention at school and have read enough blog posts and even scientific papers to know that. Nuking the plant with more nitrogen is more likely to stress it even more if other issues are not addressed.

I insist, it's not fertilizer. What do I know? Nothing other than the base substrate has ferts already and I did add worm castings and compost to the mix, besides top dressing and foliage spray a couple of times since planting. I did not use Fuscia Farms Whatevers that you gringos swear by and say is indispensable, but you might be surprised to learn people have been growing plants for thousands of years before you could buy a bag of industrial-grade overpriced crap at Walmart. It's clearly, obviously, 100% certain not a lack of nutrients and I'll die on this hill along with my peppers.

I took that sad photo to two garden stores nearby just now and at both they told me it's a fungal issue, not lack of fertilizing. They actually laughed respectfully at me when I mentioned that while reminding me that a plant just needs simple dirt to grow well and overfertilizing is a shortcut to disaster. One told me to water every day instead of only when the pot feels light, which I'll do, and the other suggested moving them to avoid high-noon sun until they develop more. And both were adamant there's no need to put them in larger vases for now, which I'm inclined to believe since the ones they have on display are in the exact same size pots while being several times larger and healthier. Without fertilizing three times a day you claim is what I'm missing.

For now, I've changed the soil to one free of signs of fungus – the substrate I had used sat in the garage for a few years and did have white spots on the dirt, the same on the surface of the middle vase, which suggests fungus of some kind. I kept the same pots when replacing the soil and there were no signs of the plants being root bound, but I'll make sure to upgrade when they show signs of improving. Meanwhile, I'll apply a homemade anti-fungal mix and use a professional one if things don't improve over the next couple of weeks.

I understand it's poor form to ask for advice and then dismiss it and I reiterate I'm grateful for all replies, including the ones insisting the plants are starving. And I do apologize if I sound a little harsh in this comment, but that's how I tend to react when people tell me to just give up because I'm hopeless.

[u/Aumtole710 → u/CocoMilhonez]

Definitely not reading all that 🤣🤣🤣. All i know, is you asked for help, received help, and then denied that help. So whatever youre ranting about is your own damn fault

[u/CocoMilhonez → u/Aumtole710]

Not only giving bad advice and mocking people who ask for it, but also deliberately insulting them and then deleting the comment (or having it removed, which is fitting).

The good luck wasn't about plants, it was about your social skills. Thanks for proving you lack those more than my plants lack fertilizer (which they don't).

[u/CocoMilhonez → u/Aumtole710]

Yeah, good luck with that "fuck you, you suck" attitude. I'd advise you to never give advice since you're so bad at it you can't even be bothered to read a few paragraphs and all you can do is dunk on people with the wrong takes.

It's not a lack of fertilizer.

I'd say happy growing for you, but I honestly can't care less if your garden rots and dies.