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I'm trying to grow a pepper plant in a pot indoors. The tips of the leaves are turning black. too much water? or not enough? I have minimal experience with growing plants indoors. | |||
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The leaves are the first to tell us that something is not kosher. The black (or brown) leaf tips can be attributed to one or many things we are doing to the plant: over--or underwatering; too much sun...or heat, through a window glass; too much fertilizer; watering with a high degree of salts; not enough humidity; locating the plant in drafts--as from a window, door being constantly opened and/or near a heat ventilator. The care given most of what's mentioned are easily fixed....but I suspect you are watering too much. At this time of season there isn't much need since the plants are not growing; the sun's intensity is at its lowest (December 21) and wont get much stronger until about mid February. The finger test is a good way to tell when a plant needs watering. If you can feel any kind of dampness, let it go another couple days, then test again. Don't let your plant sit in the drainage for longer than 10 - 15 minutes. At the window, turn the plant every other day to ensure all parts get what sun there is but watch how close it is to the window glass. Oh...just in case you are on a soft-water system, be sure to use a tap off the system...usually one you water your lawn or outside plants with. | ||||
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I thought I once heard pepper plants had some black in their leaves? Not sure ~ never grew one. "Those that throw mud, lose ground!" :>) | ||||
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Muddy, you are correct...some pepper plants do have black in their leaves.........however, if only the leaf tips are turning black, my guess is overwatering. SSTR - let the plant dry out - if you get worried about the dry heat in your house, mist the plant to simulate humidity. You can tell when the plant needs more water, the leaves will start drooping, just like they do outdoors. ve | ||||
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Great advice from ve. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I've decided to quit my job, drop out of society, and wear live animals as hats." | ||||
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Most commonly a plants leaf tips can darken (turn brown or black) because of too little soil moisture, however, too much soil moisture can also cause that because plants need air in the soil to be able to uptake needed moisture. A too wet soil is about the same as a too dry soil. Both soil conditions also will limit nutrient uptake and that can express itself as leaf tip "burn" or darkening. Then, too, is the growing medium fertile enough? Or maybe it has a too rich fertilizer mix which can also cause leaf tips to "burn". Sorry that there is no simple answer, but those are all places for you to look. The sign of a good gardener is not a green thumb, it is brown knees. | ||||
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Not sure, since you didn't say, whether or not you dug this pepper plant up, started it from seed or it's one you purchased (small). Last year I didn't dig mine up, I pulled them out by hand and put the 3 with the most roots in pots in my garden house over the winter. During that time, they lost all their leaves and soon started growing new ones. I'm sure the cause of mine was both root loss and the transplant shock plus changing their enviroment drastically. Just thought you might want to know my experience. I replanted those 3 last spring and they supplied me with peppers all summer/fall. They are in the compost now & I'll start with new plants this coming spring. "The soil is the source of life, creativity, culture and real independence." David Ben-Gurion | ||||
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