I would be interested in hearing the thoughts on this one. Same thing happened to 1 Reaper and 1 Black Naga. Both healthy and podding/flowering and 3 days later, browning stems, lost leaves, pods and flowers dropped and looks like death is coming. Only 2 that did this and in separate containers. Pulled naga and replaced it with a ghost that seems to be doing great so I dont think soil. I would be interested in hearing suggestions.

Thanks Sugi! I don't have much experience with over watering plants, certainly not pepper plants, but it seemed that could be it. Specially since both my Peri Peri plants seem unhappy in this way since I started watering a little heavily. My squashes and eggplants and tomatoes and even some peppers seem happier for it. But I think I have to watch and pull back the watering. And I have heard, that these peppers like to grow in very hot dry places.

Yes, I did notice the one or two yellowing leaves earlier on but I thought its just the way plants are, one or two leaves will yellow and fall off from time to time.

The soil underneath is actually very nice, I am proud of it. Dark, loamy and well draining. I removed weeds and tilled before I put the fabric down. Its just that the garden has become very weedy since I havn't gardened for a long while and I knew that if I just mulched the weed problem would have been overwhelming and I would not be able to grow anything period.

Do you know why something would die from one side?

Thanks,

K.

ronnyb123: Could over watering be your cause too?

Could be, but it probably is not. If it was I would have more plants dying since I water them all at once. I usually do not water everyday, but when it is hot, I give them a small dash, just enough to refresh them, not water in the whole pot for the roots. No bug problems, dirt problems that I know of. I did have a paprika that lost all it leaves and did the same thing, but that died in like 2 days after final fruiting. I just pulled it and chucked it dirt and all.

I believe it is the variety. 1 was a reaper which was still unstable and 1 was a black naga/jolokia which was unstable. It could be they were just weak plants and could not take the hot/cold/superhot/ weather we have. I have 4 more reapers doing great plant wise, no pods and 1 black naga/jolokia somewhere. Have to find it but digging through hundreds of plants is not fun. All other plants are great. This is why I grow a few extra.

Well, guess I just shot down that theory. My final Black naga/jolokia is doing well. Very full and bushy with tons of flowers. Thats my last bush, no more seeds. The Reapers are doing fine but still no pods.

Update: Pulled the half dead reaper and replaced it. Roots grew way down and very thick but not root bound. No grubs in the soil munching on roots, so maybe it was just its time. I seperated the pots to see if the same thing happens to the new plants. At least then you know it could be the soil.

Update?

Well I don't think it was over watering or only a watering issue. I held back watering and there has been very little rain. The plant(s) just continued on their original momentum even with less watering, the leaves just kind of dry out, go off color and die. The plants are essentially denuded now. I have cut off most of the dry stems. Little shoots that come out don't look so bad but eventually, soon, dry out and die. I had such hi hopes for these. Someone else where suggested herbicide drift. While it could be herbicides floating in, this affliction has hit my pepper plants only I think. My second bunch of pepper plants are quite removed and they too are showing something like this kind of decline. All my pepper plants are looking sick now. I am writing about this elsewhere. I will try some cal-mag. But I don't think that will do it. I am wondering if it some virus.

The new leaves are a little better

but they soon wither away:

What could this be???

I could just forget these plants as lost but not have to lose all my chili pepper plants next year.

k.