I suspect bacterial leaf spot has infected my group of peppers. If this is the case it’s totally my fault and lesson learned. I saved seeds from last year from a Carolina reaper that only had a mild or light case of BLS. I sowed seeds end of January beginning of February along with many other varieties I got online, the reapers are the only seeds known to have the disease present. I pre-soaked the reaper seeds in a hydrogen peroxide mix for 5 hours before planting thinking that would be enough to keep the disease at bay. I now know I should have used a hot water treatment to kill bacterial inside the seed as well or to isolate the seedlings from the rest to prevent further spread. In any case as they have been sprouting and growing I’ve been bottom watering them all together in the same tray. (I know stupid idea but I thought I was disease free) well 7 weeks later and here I am with just about all 23 of my young plants showing these pale spots mostly on the underside that so closely resembles the start of the dreaded disease. Could be unrelated but also noticed curling/deformation in a few and discolored patches on the top side. I’ve treated them just yesterday with a weak 4ml concentrate/48oz water copper spray. Humidity remains 50-60% with temps at 72-77 during lights on and temps drops to about 64 with lights off and humidity might rise to 80% as I don’t run fans at night. Lights are viprapectra p600 100w running at 40% power about 20inches above canopy. That’s all the info I have along with pictures. If you guys think I can manage a good harvest from these please let me know before I trash them all and start over. Our plant out day (zone 7a) is usually the second week of may so I have time to start over if I need to. I’m stuck between trying to see how they develop and starting over fresh as I really rely on my pepper harvest for hot sauces over the year. Any help or suggestions is greatly appreciated and thank you all for putting up with my pepper anxiety 😂
by DDMaattDawg
23 Comments
Ill pour one out for the homies who didn’t make it
sure it’s not spider mites? Looks a bit uniform for leaf spot. If they’re goners anyway, probably doesn’t hurt to give them all a good rinse, underside of leaves included, and treat with safer soap a couple times a week and see how it goes. If it were mites, these could all be salvageable.
They don’t look that bad… sometimes my peppers look kinda shitty before I bring them outside, then they get nice and green again. I wouldn’t throw them away until the growth points stop looking nice.
Bacterial leaf spot is not genetic so saving seeds from a plant that had it would not cause the offspring to have it.
That said I don’t understand why you’d throw these away? They’re young enough and don’t look horrible you can trim them and they will be fine
All of those plants are healthy enough to do well.Â
Bacterial leaf spot and other communicable diseases are extremely uncommon indoors unless you’re lugging your plants in and outside, or using contaminated tools to break plant tissue. It’s much more likely to be a nutrient issue, which are 100% correctable. Don’t despair
Just grow them and don’t worry so much.
Wouldn’t throw them out.
At first glance I thought it was sunburn and water misting issues. (Like you misted the plants and the leaves got scalded from the light)
Im not an expert in diseases but those all look fine. Light spots can be nutrient deficiency. Curled edges and dark spots can be too much light.
That’s definitely not BLS. It’s a very mild case of nitrogen deficiency. You *could* fertilize more, but that’s not even necessary. It will sort itself out as soon as you pot them outside.
Most of those leaves wont be there in flowering imo. I’m definitely a little lazy before moving outdoors and turning not topping
Hard to say with seeing in person, doesn’t look like BLS looks more like oedema, maybe with the nutrient deficiencies . I could be wrong though. You could try a copper application  ?Â
Keep them, you’ll be fine.
Could this be the beginning of edema due to humidity and incorrect watering? I wouldn’t throw them out. Do you think plants in the wild have perfect leaves?
Spray the leaves off in the sink.
Give em a chance. I have seen light burn look like some of those too.
Lol
It’s light burn bro relax
If new leaves come in clean and green it’s not BLS. BLS will always come in on the new leaves within a few days.
I think what you need to do is start running your fan on low at night to keep that humidity down. Then your leaves should come in nice and pretty!
Good luck!
Yeah this is a wild post.
Put the damn things outside and rock n roll.
Just you thinking this is creating a growing problem for you.
My leaves looked like that when they had edema and I squeezed the bumps, soon after you could almost see through the tiny holes. Either way you’re still good to go as far as I can tell, not many plants exist unblemished in nature =)
I have 3 year old sugar rush that have spot. They are great producers. They seem to be my only trouble plants but also productive
Not sure what part of the planet you’re on but I’m sure people people in a local Facebook group would come pick them up ASAP