Many home gardeners enjoy growing peppers. Whether it be bell peppers, other sweet peppers or chili peppers, growing your own pepper plants can not only be enjoyable but cost effective as well. But when pepper plant leaves turn yellow, this can leave gardeners scratching their heads. There are many things that can cause pepper leaves turning yellow. Let’s look at some possible reasons why your pepper plant leaves are yellow and how to fix yellow leaves on a pepper plant.
Causes of Pepper Leaves Turning Yellow
Pepper Plant Leaves are Yellow Due to a Lack of Water and Nutrients
One of the two most common reasons for yellow leaves on a pepper plant is either under watering or a lack of nutrients in the soil. In both of these cases, pepper plants will also be stunted and will commonly drop the pepper flowers or fruit.
If you think that this is the reason your pepper plant leaves are yellow, increase watering to your pepper plants and apply some balanced fertilizer.
Disease Can Cause Pepper Plants with Yellow Leaves
Another thing that can cause pepper plant leaves to turn yellow is disease. Disease like bacterial leaf spot, wilt and phytophthora blight can all cause yellow leaves on a pepper plant. Typically, these diseases will have some other effect on the pepper leaves, such as brown leaf spots in the case of bacterial leaf spot, or wilted leaves in the case of wilt and phytophthora blight.
Unfortunately, most diseases that affect peppers are untreatable and the plant must be discarded; you won’t be able to plant another nightshade vegetable in that location for a full year.
Yellow Leaves on a Pepper Plant Caused by Pests
Pests can also cause pepper plants with yellow leaves. Pests like mites, aphids and psyllids will suck on the plant and divert nutrients and water. This will cause the pepper plant leaves to turn yellow.
If you suspect that the yellow leaves on your pepper plant is caused by pests, treat the plant with an insecticide. Neem oil is a good choice, as it only kills harmful pests and does not affect people, animals and beneficial insects.
While pepper plants with yellow leaves are frustrating, they don’t need to be. Check your plants carefully and in no time at all, the yellow leaves on your pepper plant will be a thing of the past.