| What's killing my chili peppers? Being apartment-bound, I grow my chilis in containers on the back step. I water them every day, but avoid overwatering, and have radically thinned them out to avoid overcrowding, but still, the leaves curl up and turn brown, the blooms drop off, and what pods there are are deformed, stunted, and usually rot before I can harvest them. |
| Peppers in pots should never be watered every day. Water thouroughly once or twice a week when the soil feels dry to the touch. I suspect that watering every day has caused root rot. You can check by pulling up a plant and checking to see if the roots are rotted. If you find rot, I suggest you buy new plants and start over again. Sterilize containers before using again. In the heat of summer your plants may require more water than suggested above. Work your finger into the soil and if it feels dry to the touch water the plants. Fertilize once a month with a liquid complete fetilizer. Peters or Miracle Grow do very well, but there are other brands. Follow directions on container. |
