Peppers bring color to the garden and spice to the kitchen. They aren’t as easy to grow as tomatoes, but they need the same conditions and some of the same pests and diseases. Peppers are heat-loving vegetables that do not tolerate frost. They should be started from seed indoors early in spring.
Peppers will do well in your garden if you give them a little extra care, full sun, enough water, and good soil. For gardeners new and experienced, peppers can be a challenging crop to grow.
Most peppers grow slowly, and sometimes it seems like they’re not growing at all! This article talks about the main reasons your peppers aren’t growing and how to fix the problem, from seed to harvest.
You meticulously started your pepper seeds indoors, lovingly cared for the seedlings, and transplanted them to the garden. But now those juvenile pepper plants seem stuck in time, refusing to size up. So what gives? Let’s explore the 11 most common reasons pepper seedlings fail to thrive and how to get them back on track for vigorous growth.
1. Soil is Too Cold
Pepper seeds need warm soil to germinate and seedlings want heat to grow quickly. The ideal temperature range is 75-85°F. If soil stays chilly, germination suffers and plants stall out.
Fix:
Use a seedling heat mat or grow lights to gently warm the soil and air around your baby pepper plants Aim for 75-85°F to ignite growth
2. Not Enough Sunlight
Peppers originate in tropical regions and require a lot of bright light. At least 6-12 hours of direct sun daily keeps most varieties growing steadily. With insufficient sunlight, growth lags.
Fix:
Supplement with grow lights and rotate plants frequently so all sides get evenly illuminated. Or find a sunnier spot indoors or out to nurture your seedlings.
3. Underwatering
Letting seedlings totally dry out stalls growth in its tracks. Pepper seeds need consistently moist soil to sprout. After germination, avoid drastic moisture fluctuations
Fix:
Water seedlings when the top inch of soil dries out. Use a spray bottle to keep soil moist but not soggy during germination.
4. Overwatering
Too much moisture suffocates roots and promotes fungal issues. Soggy soil causes seedling leaves to yellow and fall off. Check that drainage holes are not clogged.
Fix:
Allow the soil surface to dry before watering again. Improve drainage by mixing in perlite or vermiculite.
5. Low Humidity
Peppers hail from tropical zones where humidity runs high. Arid indoor air saps seedling vigor. Leaves may brown, wilt, or drop off entirely.
Fix:
Boost humidity around seedlings. Group plants together, use a humidifier, or cover with plastic to contain moisture.
6. Irregular Temperatures
Temperature swings greater than 20°F stress small seedlings. Chilly nights paired with hot days or blasting heat cause uneven growth.
Fix:
Try to keep temps steady. Move plants off cold windowsills at night. Provide shade on hot days.
7. Poor Light Quality
While full spectrum light keeps seedlings stocky, low quality light results in leggy, weak growth. Insufficient blue light is a common cause.
Fix:
Use grow lights or supplement daylight with LEDs tuned specifically for seedling growth.
8. Lack of Air Circulation
Stagnant air encourages fungal disease and weak, stretchy seedlings. Peppers thrive on gentle air movement.
Fix:
Use small fans to circulate air around seedlings. Gently brush plants daily with your hand to stimulate growth.
9. Root Disturbance
Pepper seedlings establish delicate root systems early on. Any disruptions such as transplanting too early or repotting roughly puts the brakes on growth.
Fix:
Avoid transplanting until seedlings have at least 2 sets of true leaves. Handle root balls gently when repotting.
10. Nitrogen Deficiency
Peppers are heavy nitrogen feeders. Without ample nitrogen, plants experience stunted growth and yellowing older leaves.
Fix:
Use a balanced fertilizer at half strength. Mix in worm castings or compost for organic nitrogen sources.
11. Diseases & Pests
Problems like damping off, mildew, and pests introduce stresses that slow down plants. Watch for signs of disease or bugs.
Fix:
Isolate sick plants immediately. Improve air flow and spray with organic anti-fungals. Control pests with non-toxic methods.
With the right care, environment, and troubleshooting, your lackadaisical pepper seedlings should perk up in no time! Pay close attention to their needs in the early weeks and you’ll reap big rewards later when they mature into bumper crops.
Too Hot for the Fruit to Set
Peppers are similar to tomatoes in that extreme heat causes the blossoms to abort rather than set fruit. Generally, temperatures over 85 degrees fahrenheit inhibit fruit set. The first way to fix this is to just be patient!.
Even though it’s hard, very hot weather usually goes away on its own, and the pepper plants will start to bear fruit again when the weather is better.
If you live in a hot climate, plant your peppers so that they get sun in the morning but shade through the hottest parts of the afternoon. Shade cloth is also an option, but can be cumbersome and expensive.
Air Temperatures are Too Cold
Peppers are native to tropical climates. When the air gets too cold, they don’t feel good, and when it freezes or gets close to freezing, they get hurt or die. Even if nights are above freezing, but consistently cold, pepper plants will not grow quickly.
What can you do to deal with cold weather? First, don’t plant peppers outside until there is no longer a chance of frost and the nights are consistently in the 50s. If it gets very cold at night after you plant your pepper plants, keep an eye on the temperature and cover them with a frost blanket.
Use bare soil or black plastic mulches to help raise the temperature around the plants at night instead of straw or light-colored mulches that reflect the sun’s rays and keep the heat out. These materials can soak up heat during the day and release it at night.
Why Are My Plants Not Growing? Stunted Pepper Plants – Pepper Geek
FAQ
Why are my pepper seedlings growing so slowly?
How long do peppers take to grow from seedling?
Why are my pepper plants aren’t growing?
Why are my pepper plants not growing?
Cold soil temperatures can be one of the reasons why peppers won’t grow, black plastic mulch is recommended. Peppers thrive in the heat, and that includes warm soil temperatures. After transplanting, cold soil temperatures may be to blame for your pepper plants failing to grow. What can you do about cold soils?
Why are my pepper seeds not sprouting?
One common reason for seeds not sprouting is if the temperature is too cold. Peppers need more heat to germinate than other seeds you may be starting, like lettuce, broccoli, and tomatoes. The optimal soil temperature for pepper seed germination is 75-85 degrees F, which is probably warmer than your home naturally is!
Why is my hot pepper plant rotting?
If it was too cold for the seed when planted (especially if the pepper seedlings experienced frost), it may rot or produce too weak of a plant to thrive. How is your soil? Hot pepper plants not growing successfully may be in highly acidic soil.
What should I do if my pepper plant won’t grow?
For plants that are beginning to produce flowers and fruits, we recommend switching to a phosphorus-rich fertilizer and reducing nitrogen. This encourages the plant to stop growing new leaves and focus on producing peppers. Other symptoms of nutrient issues: