Peppers not looking healthy

I've a dozen sweet peppers and chillis in my greenhouse. 2 each of 6 varieties. Until around a week ago they were all looking fine - they range between around 12 and 18 inches high, most are branching out and most have flower buds forming. None of the flowers have opened up yet although I would imagine they would before the week is up.

Around a week ago the new leaves started curling on one of my 'sweet bananas'. Looked like whitefly so I spray it and the plants around it. Seems to have got a little better, the plant doesn't look under threat. What is more worrying is that the leaves of around half or so of the plants don't look quite right. Small dark markings, often in little circles are appearing along with other discolouration. The plants still look okay, a bit of curling leaves but I just put that down to the change in weather or the fact that I potted them all up at the end of last week - moved from 5" pots to their final resting places - 8" pots. Not had to water since because of the gloomy weather so thought it may just be the shock of newer compost.

Any thoughts?

 

The wife grew lots of successful peppers a few years ago. If I remember right, the leaves went a bit iffy just when the plants were getting ready to produce fruit.

I do remember quite clearly that the lower leaves all fell off as the plants gained height. I seem to recall reading that this is normal but I could be wrong.

 

Check for spider mite. The ones i grew a few years ago were attacked on a regular basis by the little beggers.

 

"Last year was bad, hardly any fruit maturing"

My Demon Red didn't achieve anything until September, or perhaps later, and as you may remember I dried them - still got plenty.

I've got some other types too this year, which look like they will give bigger green pods through the Summer - but the Demon Reds look to be destined to a dried Autumn crop again

 

I've read that once peppers/chillis start flowering, you are supposed to spray the tops with warm water as it is supposed to promote the production of the fruit. Unfortunately none of the articles I saw that said this mentioned just how warm the water should be, how much you should spray it, or whether this action promotes fungal diseases.

 

My three chillies are in the conservatory and I have a mister sat there all the time at room temp. I tend to mist them every time in passing.
Not sure if this correct but on a hot day it sure gets hot out there.
Its my first year with chillies and they look healthy and are just producing flower buds at this time.
robert

 

I think its more the act of misting, than the temperature. Probably wise to use water at room / plant temperature, rather than freezing water out of the mains!, but other than that I don't think temperature matters.

 

Always water peppers in the morning as they dislike sitting in cold damp compost overnight. Use water with the chill taken off it, I add a little boiling water to the watering can.
Hope this helps

 

Well Gren,
I have a good few sweet peppers and hot chillies, all of which are in flower except for my Habanero and Scotch Bonnet (they only have buds).... one sweet pepper has developed fruit about 2 weeks ago, I have a single pepper which is about 1/3 normal size (still green, though it will hopefully develop to yellow) and a few tiny ones growing from the centre of the other flowers. If it's any help, the one that developed fruit early looked very sickly once it first flowered, the leaves drooped and curled, but I gave it a good drink with a bit of feed and it perked right up.
As mentioned, the conditions aren't helping us chilli and pepper growers at the moment. It's been cool and dark, so my plants haven't been watered in 4 or 5 days now, the compost is still pretty damp. Fingers crossed for some full sun, and I hope you don't have any beasties or nasties growing amongst your plants.... but yeah, this weather isn't helping.