So l have a serrano pepper plant growing in a container (got it from the nursery). It was getting full sun (8 hours a day) and was doing fine. I pruned it since it was developing its first flower. I noticed that since I pruned it, it's been very sensitive to the heat, if I put it in direct sunlight, it wilts very quickly so l have to move it to the shade and then it goes back to normal. I'm concerned because it may not be getting enough direct sun? but also I don't want to put it through all that heat stress.
Is this because I recently pruned it, that it's healing from that so it needs time to recover? Is it okay if I leave it in the shade for now? Or does this indicate that something else may be wrong?
(pictures show it wilting from the heat and then being okay in the shade)
by No-Significance8034
14 Comments
I would agree with you saying it needs time to recover. It’s ok to shade it but just move it back and forth if you are home. It will work it’s way back – be careful to not over water as it’s already stressed a bit from pruning. Good luck sir
I have some ghost and reaper plants that I’m having the same problem with. I’ve been trying to harden them to the sun, but they still can’t take more than like an hour at most. While I go to work I usually just leave them in the shade and they’ve been doing fine still, so maybe just move them back and forth until it can handle the sun full time again I reckon.
Or add a shade cloth over it, it will still get sun, but not full sun, yea that pruning is still iffy, some say yes, some say they tried one pruned, the other not, they say not much difference between the two, pruning slows down the growth, while the others go on growing and producing,
Put it in a place when the sun hits it only about 4 hours per day. if you have to water them everyday, then they are getting too much sun. Mine get morning sun on the north side of my patio cover. As the sun gets overhead, the patio cover blocks the sun. I only water when they start to wilt and they only do that about every 3-4 days.
Usually, a plant will bounce back quickly after you water it. I believe what’s happening is you’re watering it, the excess water drains, it’s hot as hell outside so the remaining water dries quickly, and the plant droops again.
Here’s what I would do…
1. You’re not utilizing all the space in that container. Carefully pick the plant up from underneath, ensuring not to break the roots.
2. Add more soil to the container; enough so that there’s only about an inch or less of empty space at the top.
3. Mulch the crap out of that empty space. I like using grass clippings because they’re free and work great. If you don’t have grass clippings, you can use cut up leaves, undyed natural mulch, or I even read that banana peels can be piled up on top of soil and used as an insulator.
The key is you need more soil so the plant has more water available for longer. The mulch keeps the water in the container during especially hot days. This will prevent your plant from wilting quickly.
No sun after 2 pm
If that were mine and I gave a damn, I would put it in a bigger pot.
I’m in zone 9B which is hitting 100’ish today, shade cloth or partial shade is a must for my peppers
Not hardened off enough yet. The roots will begin growing a lot faster to resist the heat. Move it out of the sun when it starts to wilt and it will gradually resist wilting more and more to the point it can be full sun so long as it’s properly watered. I’ve found deep watering in the morning before it gets hot helps plants to resist wilting a bit more effectively than watering at the end of the day.
Theyll do that in the heat. Theyll look a lot more wilted if they need water. The plant is doing what its supposed to do. Sometimes the potted plants soil gets really hot. If you worry about that, you can shade them during peak sun. Ive used sunshades mid summer and they seem to like it.
I water my plants everyday at the same time. Consistency helps prevent blossom end rot and wilt from the heat.
I live in SC 8a and it’s in the 90s everyday. My containers don’t wilt like that. I also mulch with leaves.
Less sun and try to avoid over-watering.
It’s been hot as hell by me and mine are doing the same, not as dramatic as your but still drooping a bit. Move them under a shade cloth, I use 40%, keep them hydrated and you’ll be all good
Looks dehydrated