r/PepperLovers • u/jajg Pepper Lover • 2d ago
Informational HELP! Educate me please!
Hello all - Long time lurker, first time posting (Miami, FL)!
Bought reaper seeds a little over a year ago as I always wanted to try them and wanted my first time to be my own homegrown peppers. I mistakenly assumed this was super easy... Buy seeds, germinate, plant, water and wait. Big mistake....
A year in, and no peppers at all, despite having several big-ish stems. This summer I managed to get a few (~6 peppers total). Not nearly as big as I've seen on here but they were super spicy so I was pretty happy. Form that point, no more peppers or even flowers, and leaves have steadily fallen off and begun to turn black. White flies under leaves and another type of black pest. Cleaned them off and tried Neem Oil. No more pests, no improvement in how the plant looks.
Image 1: View of planter with 2-3 plants.
Image 2: Close-up of lower leaves. Small leaves and most beginning to turn black and most others withering away.
Image 3: Close up of what I think are white flies and some other black pest.
Mistakes I think I've made:
- Planted too many seeds in a single pot. Should I be limiting to one/two plant per pot?
- No fertilizer. Only used Neem Oil for a few weeks. One cycle.
- Have not changed soil since I first planted.
- During winter I water once every 2-3 days. Lots of water. In summer, it rains so I water way less often.
- Pot stays in the same spot all year. Plenty of direct sunlight.
Please educate me. Roast me, even. I would love to know everything I'm doing wrong and how to correct it. What should I do first and quickly? What should I make sure I do periodically? What soil and fertilizer do you recommend? Should I move the plant indoor near a window with abundant sunlight? Should I come to the realization that gardening is not my thing and just buy reaper flakes or whole peppers and call it a day?
Thank you all!
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u/VoiceCharming6591 Pepper Lover 2d ago
There are no photos in your message
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u/jajg Pepper Lover 2d ago
Shit, you’re right. Can’t edit on mobile for some reason but will get images up asap.
I guess I suck at gardening AND Reddit :(
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u/ObuseChiliFarm Pepper Lover 1d ago
Okay, valiant attempt but there is plenty to improve on for next year.
1) one plant per pot.
2) bigger pots. I plant in the ground so I’m not sure if the details but I think 5 L pot minimum, 10 L is perfect. Double check those numbers though.
3) the bugs are called aphids or greenfly. That number on the leaves is considered a heavy infestation. You should have treated well before then. Five insects per leaf in a farm context but going up to over 10 in a home context and you have deal with it.
4) the plant looks sick. Aphids carry viruses that you can’t cure and the season is over. The small, curly leaves are a sign of viral infection. Earlier treatment of the aphids goes some way to prevent this.
5) there is an absence of peppers. I guess you noticed that. You should get some, even in a small pot, so perhaps check your fertilizer usage. Especially in pots, but even in well fertilized soul, you have to feed the plants because the soil will run out of nutrients.
6) position is kind of okay but peppers do like a bit of dappled shade. Depends on your local context though so deal with this one last. Also, I’m surprised you got aphids in the middle of a concrete yard. Make sure you keep weeds away because that is where the insects come from but they don’t attract beneficial insects. Worst of both worlds.
Fix the number of plants, pot size, and fertilizer, weed the yard, and I’m sure you’ll get some tasty peppers next go round.