Why pepper leaves turn yellow: causes, remedies

Content:

The article describes in detail why the leaves of the pepper turn yellow: the causes of the problem, how to fix it.

Pepper does not feel very comfortable in the middle lane, preferring a warmer and more humid climate, but will that stop us? Summer residents are putting a lot of effort into growing seedlings, setting up greenhouses, trying in every possible way to create conditions for the peppers in which they will grow well. And everything seems to be fine, but at some point suddenly the leaves of the bushes turn yellow - agronomists call it "chlorosis". Let's try to figure out why this happens, how chlorosis can be prevented, and how to help plants if the leaves have already turned yellow.

Why do pepper leaves turn yellow: yellow leaves of seedlings

In our latitudes, peppers are always grown through seedlings, since otherwise it is simply impossible to get a harvest. Seedlings are transplanted into a greenhouse or open ground at the age of 1.5-2 months, by this time a lot of time and effort have been spent, therefore it is extremely unpleasant if the foliage suddenly begins to turn yellow.

If the seedlings turn yellow before planting in the ground, then one of the reasons may be improper watering. Yes, both sweet and hot peppers are very fond of moisture, but this does not mean that it is necessary to turn the soil into a swamp. With excess moisture, bacteria are activated, due to which root rot develops, and then chlorosis develops. It always starts with the lower leaves, in about 3-4 days they become less elastic, change green to light green and then turn yellow.

Damage to the root system can be another cause of yellow foliage, so be very careful when loosening the soil.

Lack of nitrogen can also cause chlorosis. Usually, the soil has enough essential elements and nutrients for the entire period of growing seedlings. But sometimes it happens that the pepper rapidly grows foliage, using all the nitrogen for this, and then begins to turn yellow, since there is no longer enough nutrition.

When the time for transplanting comes, the seedlings reach the age when the lower leaves turn yellow simply because the time has come and this is a natural process, there is no need to worry.

After transplanting to a permanent place, the development of chlorosis is also possible. The root system, after being free from cramped containers, begins to actively grow. Sometimes at this moment the aerial part does not have enough nutrition, and the foliage turns yellow.

And the last reason for chlorosis is the adaptation period after transplanting seedlings to a permanent place, especially if it is not a greenhouse, but an open ground. Changes in weather, wind, temperatures below +15 degrees - all this can also lead to yellowing of the leaves.

What if your seedlings have yellow leaves? First of all, set up watering - the earth should be able to dry out, it is not necessary to water it daily. Do not use cold tap water, firstly, because of bleach, and secondly, cold water is often perceived by plants as frost. Ideally, it should be watered with rain or melt water, I understand that this is difficult, therefore at least settled and warm.

When planting seedlings, make sure that there is a good drainage layer in the containers. Drain excess water from the pan constantly. But if you still find rot on the roots, pour the peppers with potassium permanganate or add Fitosporin to the soil.

If the roots are healthy and the foliage turns yellow, try feeding the peppers with nitrogen, perhaps this is due to a lack of it. In this case, it is better to carry out foliar feeding (spray the plants) with complex fertilizer, carefully calculate the dosage, it is important for us to cure the seedlings, and not to accelerate their growth.

The drug Epin has a positive effect on seedlings, increasing their immunity. It can be used the day before transplanting seedlings into the ground, this will help to significantly simplify the adaptation period.

Why do the leaves of peppers turn yellow in a greenhouse

In the greenhouse, we create the most comfortable conditions for the growth of pepper, so even if the leaves turn yellow there, this is a direct signal that the plant is bad.

One of the first causes of chlorosis in a greenhouse is insufficiently fertilized soil. Often, peppers, tomatoes and eggplants grow in the same greenhouse - they all belong to the nightshade family, everyone needs the same nutrients, so the soil in the greenhouse is quickly depleted. If the leaves turn yellow in all plants, this signals a lack of potassium or nitrogen in the soil. If the lower leaves turn yellow, there is not enough nitrogen. If all the foliage turns yellow, except for the veins and spots appear on the fruits, this indicates a lack of potassium. I will add that the lack of phosphorus is manifested not by yellowness, but by darkening of the leaves, they turn purple.

Sunburn of the leaves can be the cause of yellowness. In this case, they will also turn white, and then become almost transparent.

Sometimes harmful insects such as spider mites can cause chlorosis in the greenhouse. These tiny pests suck the sap out of the leaves by building cobwebs on the back of the leaf plate. On the front side, yellow spots appear, which dry quickly. If you do not start fighting the pest in a timely manner, the plant may die completely. However, I do not recommend that you use insecticides, it is better to first try to cope with the problem using folk or biological methods. If you spot the spider mite early enough, and the plants are not severely affected, it will be enough to wipe the leaves with alcohol on each side.

If the pest colony is already quite extensive, then try making a potion of tobacco dust with the addition of laundry soap (in spray solutions, soap is used to better "stick" the solution to the foliage).

For sunburns, you can use the drug Epin, which we talked about above. In case of a lack of potassium or nitrogen, apply a complex mineral fertilizer, for example, Agrovit - one granule for each pepper bush will be enough.

Why do pepper seedlings turn yellow leaves in the open field

All the same factors are relevant here as in the greenhouse, but weather conditions can also be added to them. Pepper is very thermophilic, and the weather in the middle lane is capricious and unpredictable, summer can be cold and rainy, hot and rainy, hot and dry - we are ready for any option, but it is difficult for plants to adapt.

Pepper foliage can turn yellow in hot weather due to lack of moisture, in this case, you just need to increase the frequency of watering.

But if the summer is too rainy, then you need to take care of the drainage of water, as the roots of the peppers can begin to rot. This can also happen with proper watering, but with low night temperatures.

At temperatures below +12 degrees, the pepper simply stops growing, the activity of the root system stops and in this case the foliage will turn yellow from lack of nutrition.

In comfortable weather conditions, chlorosis can be caused by a lack of a specific element. With a lack of iron, yellowness appears in the center of the leaves, gradually spreading to the entire plate. Large, irregularly shaped spots will indicate a lack of manganese.And yellowness, along with deformation of the leaves, indicates a lack of calcium. In this case, growth stops and the foliage falls off.

If we talk about pests, you should beware of wireworms or scoops, they gnaw the roots of peppers, the plant turns yellow and dies.

To avoid problems, observe the irrigation regime, carefully monitor the condition of the soil, avoiding stagnant water. If the weather changes and it gets cold at night, cover the plantings with geotextiles, this will help protect the peppers.

In case of a lack of nutrients, feed using organic (infusion of mullein or bird droppings) or mineral fertilizers (Nitroammofoska, iron vitriol, Agrovit). Eggshells ground in a coffee grinder will help replenish the calcium content in the soil.

Preventive measures

If possible, then any problem is better prevented. So if you are determined to grow a pepper crop despite the difficulties and climatic conditions, then adhere to some rules that will help you with this.

Keep in mind that pepper does not tolerate transplanting very well, so it is better to immediately grow it in separate containers so that the roots do not get confused with each other, and the plant is subject to minimal stress.

It is very difficult to cure root rot, so everything must be done to prevent this disease. Water in moderation and water with warm water, make sure that moisture does not stagnate in the pan - this is for seedlings. Install drip irrigation in a permanent place, this will be the ideal solution to the problem. The root system of the pepper is shallow, drip irrigation will be sufficient to maintain the moisture of the upper soil layer.

Avoid temperature fluctuations. I understand that you do not control the weather, but it is within your power to cover the plants in a timely manner. At temperatures below +12 degrees, the peppers die, the most comfortable temperature for them is + 22 ... + 25 degrees.

Avoid watering plants in direct sunlight, as this can cause sunburn.

Apply fertilizers on time, in this case the peppers will always have enough essential nutrients.

If you grow peppers in a greenhouse, carry out preventive treatment and disinfection before the start of the season to avoid spider mite damage to the plants. Maintain air humidity in the greenhouse around 60%, for peppers this will be a very comfortable environment, and spider mites, on the contrary, prefer dry air.

Sweet and hot peppers are more capricious crops than the usual carrots, beets, and zucchini. But despite this, most gardeners successfully grow them in their summer cottages, avoiding in the process many of the problems described in this article. The secret of a rich harvest is in proper crop care. Take care of the health of your plants and be sure they will thank you.

Why do pepper leaves turn yellow?