Chili plants are widely cultivated around the world for their culinary uses. Their scientific name is Capsicum annuum or Capsicum frutescens, and they are native to southern North America and northern South America. These plants are cultivated in warm climates and common cultivars include jalapeno, cayenne, serrano and Thai chili peppers. While chili plants are drought-tolerant, they are also prone to problems and diseases which may cause them to die unless you take the necessary measures to revive them.
How to save a dying chili plant
Remove the dead leaves.
If your chili plant has damaged or dead leaves, prune them off. This will encourage the growth of new leaves and help revive the plants. It will also divert the plants’ energy away from maintaining withered foliage.
Re-pot the plants.
Your chili plants could be dying because their root systems are too crowded in their current containers. Transplant them into larger pots, using fresh soil and general-purpose compost to revive them.
Feed the plants.
Chili plants can die if they do not get their required nutrients from the soil. Feed your plants with a fertilizer that compensates for any nutrient deficiencies in their soil. Some plant growers recommend a seaweed-based fertilizer for best results; they claim that leaves become shiny and green after only a few days.
Reasons your chili plants are wilting and dying
1. Your plants are not getting enough water.
Potted chili plants tend to dry out faster, especially during hot weather, so they require frequent watering. Check the soil’s moisture by pushing your finger one or two inches into the soil. If the soil is dry, you water the plants. You can also add mulch over the top of the soil to protect it from the sun and help it retain moisture.
2. It could be due to too much sun exposure.
Chili plants tend to wilt in the middle of summer despite having moist soil. If this happens only during the middle of the day, the culprit is likely too much hot sun or high temperatures.
Most often, 95% of the water absorbed by plants is lost through transpiration. The hot sun increases the rate of transpiration and the roots may not be able to absorb water fast to keep up with this. The plants then suffer a net loss of water and become wilted despite the wet soil.
To fix this, move the plants to a partially shaded area or use a shade cloth to protect them from the harsh rays of the sun.
3. It could be due to too much water.
Chili plants could also die from too much water, or overwatering. Their roots need oxygen to survive, and if the soil is always soggy or waterlogged, oxygen cannot reach them and they will die and rot. While minor root rot does not cause great damage, if it goes unresolved it could kill the entire plant.
See to it that the soil is well-draining and not constantly soggy. If the soil is heavy clay, add compost to increase its content of well-draining organic matter. Water only when the top inch of soil is dry, especially for mature plants.
While chili plants are vulnerable to overwatering, young seedlings are more likely to die from damping off than from root rot. Damping off is a disease that attacks seedlings’ roots and the base of the stem, causing them to flop over and die.
4. It could be due to transplant shock.
Another reason your chili plants are wilting or dying could be that they have not fully adjusted after being transplanted. This can happen when you take the plants outdoors after starting them off as indoor plants. They will go through a period of adjustment as they settle into their new location. It will also happen if they have to adapt to any other changes in living conditions, or if the roots are damaged when they are transplanted.
You can minimize transplant shock with the following measures:
- Be gentle when transplanting so that the roots are not damaged.
- Water the plants well so that the wet soil can settle around the roots after transplanting.
- Stay away from heavy fertilizers as they could stress the plant.
If you take your chili plants outside after growing them indoors, they may wilt due to the sun or fall over due to wind. Ideally, you need to harden them off, or gradually increase their exposure to the outdoors. Leave them outside for a few hours each day during the morning or late afternoon, when the sun is not too strong. Gradually increase the time they spend outside before bringing them back indoors.
After a while, the plants will develop sturdier stems and the leaves will gradually adapt to the bright sun. The hardening off period may last five to seven days, although some people recommend up to 14 days. Only after this period should you transplant or transfer your plants.
5. It could be due to fertilizer burn.
Too much fertilizer could kill or burn the roots, and could eventually kill the entire plant. Nitrogen toxicity or salt buildup can badly damage your plants. To fix the issue, water the plants heavily to wash away any nitrogen or salt buildup, although this may not entirely solve the problem.
Nevertheless, the plants can still be revived if any roots are still alive. This works better for potted plants, since you can continue flushing the soil with water many times and allow it to drain from the containers.
6. It could be due to diseases or pests.
Pests like aphids could damage your chili plants since they suck the juice from plant tissue. This results in wilting and the plants may eventually die, especially if aggravated by hot or dry weather conditions.
Diseases like root rot could also affect the plants, as could fungal infections like Fusarium and Verticillium wilt. Common signs include yellowing and wilting leaves, and the lower leaves also tend to curl.
To treat pest infestation, spray insecticidal soap or neem oil onto the plants. For fungal diseases, use a fungicidal spray and apply the crop rotation method by avoiding replanting in the same spot for at least three years. Discard the potting mix at the end of the season if you are growing your chili plants in containers, and wash out the containers with a bleach solution.
Conclusion
Chili plants are perennials that are widely cultivated for their culinary uses. They are drought-resistant, but are also prone to problems and diseases and may eventually die if not treated promptly. You can save your dying chili plants by pruning off the dead leaves to encourage new growth, re-potting the dying plants in a fresh, well-draining potting mix, and making sure the pots have drainage holes to avoid stagnant water.
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