Helen Norman
Curling leaves is a relatively common plant problem thats usually not fatal topepper plants.
Also, consider if anything has recently changed in your garden.
Underwatered pepper plants usually look droopy, and their leaves may turn brown and crispy.
Credit:Helen Norman
If overwatering is to blame, let the soil dry out and water less in the future.
Dont forget to check that container-grown peppers are growing inpots with drainage holes.
Pepper leaves curl up when they are heat-stressed as a defensive mechanism to conserve water.
Credit:Scott Little
Scott Little
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These pests cause leaves to curl and distort in shape or produce a stippling pattern on plant leaves.
They may leave a sticky honeydew residue on infested plants.
Nutrient Deficiency
Peppers are heavy feeders that need lots of nutrients like calcium to grow.
Irregular watering practices can make deficiencies even worse.
Solution:Before planting peppers,amend the soil with compost, aged manure, or a slow-release fertilizer.
Since plant diseases are difficult to treat, these problems should only be suspected after ruling out environmental factors.
Solution:Unfortunately, plants with bacterial and viral issues usually cannot be saved.
Soil solarization, mulching, and choosing disease-resistant varieties can help you avoid pepper diseases in the future.
Sometimes, pepper plants come into contact with weed killers when wind blows the chemicals over onto them.
Peppers can also be exposed to herbicides if you use soil, mulch, or compost contaminated with herbicides.
Pepper leaves exposed to herbicides may curl and twist dramatically, or the whole plant may wilt and wither.
Always purchase soil amendments and mulch from reliable suppliers.
Plant Edema
Plant edema is a less common pepper plant problem that primarily affects indoor plants.
Edema is not contagious; damaged plants usually bounce back quickly when conditions improve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pepper leaf curl might go away on its own depending on the cause.
Heat stress usually resolves as soon as temperatures cool off.
However, you’ll need to take a more active approach with pest, disease, and nutrient issues.
Then any unsightly curled or damagedleaves can be pruned away.
