It looks like there may be some sort of root damage or root infection. However, I'm still learning myself and interested to hear what others with more experience say and/or would do to save it...

Could a pollinating bee have perhaps mixed jalapeno pollen with this plant? &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Cross pollination can ONLY affect the seeds of the cross pollinated flower./pod . The plants (fruits and foliage) does not look like either Habanero or scotch bonnet. I think you are right. They look more like Jalapeno and serrano to me. Have you been also germinating any of those ? Seysonn

This year I grew plants from seeds from the plants above, a day one other. Here are the plant at about 12 weeks. The first row, first two on the left are an Aji Dulce. Back row, first two are from the same pepper, Third one over, both in the front row, and in the back row have pods shaped like little lanterns, and a decidedly different habit from the other two. Can they be chinenses? Last one is from a third variety, also labled "scotch bonnet". Here is a picture of "the lantern shaped" scotch bonnet.

The way I save all my seeds from fruit such as peppers, tomatoes, etc. is quite simple and not at all scientific. LOL! I usually collect seeds from food I'm eating such as salads or sandwiches. So I just tear a paper napkin in half and write the fruit type, where I got it and the date near the top edge. Then I flip the napkin over and write the same information on the bottom edge. Then I flip it back to the first side and picking up some seeds with a spoon place them on the paper then spread them out up near where I wrote the data. Then I fold up the napkin and allow it to dry while I finish my meal. (Now the note from the back side is visible on the top side.) Here are some seeds I saved from an eggplant from the grocery store: When I get home, I put the folded napkin on a window sill to fully dry. When it does, I stick it into a cleaned out 16 ounce plastic yogurt tub marked with the year I collected the seeds. I have several such tubs going back 5 or 6 years. When winter starts to fade, I pry open the napkins and put the seeds into sterile seed starter that is in pairs of small 3 ounce white plastic cups that I buy in bags of 150 for a couple dollars. These are sold as disposable bathroom drinking cups in my local Kroger grocery store. I heat the tip of a cheap Phillips screw driver and melt a hole in the bottom middle of half of the cups. The sterile seed starter goes in these cups. The cups without a hole are where I put the water. This way the seeds, new roots and tender shoots are evenly bottom fed. I use a black Sharpie pen to write the seed information, date I started them etc. on the white plastic. Here is a pair of cups where the seed starter has just started to absorb some of the water from the bottom one: Once the seeds have spouted, the stem grown and real leaves get going, I transfer the plant to pairs of 8 ounce beverage cups that I have prepared in the same manner but with those I use potting soil or Mel's Mix instead of sterile seed starter. When those plants get going I transfer them again to pairs of 16 ounce beverage cups prepared in the same manner. For final containers I decapitate 2 liter plastic soft drink bottles then burn a hole in the bottom of them for drainage. Or the plants are now ready for the garden. Here are various peppers that are happily growing in the manner that I have described: As I said, my method of collecting seeds to grow is not at all scientific but it is fast, simple, cheap and works. Terry Thomas Brookhaven Gardens Brookhaven (Atlanta), Georgia USA Skype: AtlantaTerry