Are leaves to big for Carolina Reaper or is it normal?
Are leaves to big for Carolina Reaper or is it normal?
by planetinyourbum
14 Comments
rexy8577
I don’t think that’s a reaper plant…
Federal_Oil7518
Super hots will get very large leaves like that if they are under artificial (or low) lighting for too long. The plant is just adapting to its environment. If you plan to put that plant outside, you need to REALLY take your time and harden it off properly. The leaves will become more “normal” sized if you move the plant outside.
Main-Touch9617
Hand for scale?
I mean, what’s wrong with banana for scale? 🍌
dr_nerdface
how sure are you that this is a pepper plant?
Throwaway737378991
Given how leggy it is, it’s likely due to insufficient light causing the large floppy leaves as the plant is trying to absorb as much light as possible. Larger leaf surface area = more potential light absorption per leaf. Shade avoidance response.
Sometimes large leaves are due to high amounts of fertilizer or genetics but in those instances the plant would be much more compact.
speadskater
Carolina reapers generally have larger leaves.
wretched_beasties
Not enough light. If you’re in zone 5 or further south I’d chop that thing down to like the 3rd node and put it outside in 8+ hours of sun.
zigaliciousone
Mine has some of the biggest leaves of any of my plants but not as big as yours. Good news it is a pepper plant of SOME kind, hopefully it is what you expect it to be
Opposite-Rice8725
Looks fine to me, harvest, and eat them
joleif
Mine looks very different but I believe the people before me are likely correct in that insufficient light may do this.
It certainly looks like a pepper and I don’t think reapers are that much more expensive that it would make sense to send you something else
Astral_Peppers
I may disagree with people here about the light issue. In my experience I have not seen plants react to little light with big leaves. All of my huge leaf plants ive chopped up to freak genetics and hitting all the right needs/conditions. Only reasons i back this up is because they were all outside and I never moved them. Those plants usually have giant stems/branches and my plant last year that embodied this was 6 and half ft tall and produced like crazy(so sad it didnt survive the winter).
My big leaf plant this year is another random variety and just took off when i placed it outside. Im actually pretty upset I only put it into a 10 gallon instead of a 15 or bigger.
BuyingDaily
My reapers in my raised beds always have massive leaves as well. On the 5 generation from seeds. I thought it was normal.
thejustducky1
Hot peppers are meant for hot hot heat and all-day sun. If your windowsill there isn’t providing that environment, it’s a goldfish living in a tiny fishbowl.
14 Comments
I don’t think that’s a reaper plant…
Super hots will get very large leaves like that if they are under artificial (or low) lighting for too long. The plant is just adapting to its environment. If you plan to put that plant outside, you need to REALLY take your time and harden it off properly. The leaves will become more “normal” sized if you move the plant outside.
Hand for scale?
I mean, what’s wrong with banana for scale? 🍌
how sure are you that this is a pepper plant?
Given how leggy it is, it’s likely due to insufficient light causing the large floppy leaves as the plant is trying to absorb as much light as possible. Larger leaf surface area = more potential light absorption per leaf. Shade avoidance response.
Sometimes large leaves are due to high amounts of fertilizer or genetics but in those instances the plant would be much more compact.
Carolina reapers generally have larger leaves.
Not enough light. If you’re in zone 5 or further south I’d chop that thing down to like the 3rd node and put it outside in 8+ hours of sun.
Mine has some of the biggest leaves of any of my plants but not as big as yours. Good news it is a pepper plant of SOME kind, hopefully it is what you expect it to be
Looks fine to me, harvest, and eat them
Mine looks very different but I believe the people before me are likely correct in that insufficient light may do this.
It certainly looks like a pepper and I don’t think reapers are that much more expensive that it would make sense to send you something else
I may disagree with people here about the light issue. In my experience I have not seen plants react to little light with big leaves. All of my huge leaf plants ive chopped up to freak genetics and hitting all the right needs/conditions. Only reasons i back this up is because they were all outside and I never moved them. Those plants usually have giant stems/branches and my plant last year that embodied this was 6 and half ft tall and produced like crazy(so sad it didnt survive the winter).
My big leaf plant this year is another random variety and just took off when i placed it outside. Im actually pretty upset I only put it into a 10 gallon instead of a 15 or bigger.
My reapers in my raised beds always have massive leaves as well. On the 5 generation from seeds. I thought it was normal.
Hot peppers are meant for hot hot heat and all-day sun. If your windowsill there isn’t providing that environment, it’s a goldfish living in a tiny fishbowl.
😅