Spots on pepper plant leaves

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Please take a look at the last photo. I want to know what is happening to this plant? two leaves look like this on one of the plants. The new growth seems O.K., and the other plants are O.K as well.

Should I quarantine this plant from the rest of them just in case?

ALSO: These plants are mainly kept in doors because they cannot handle any direct sunlight. As soon as the sun comes out, they start panting! The leaves drupe, and if it's a really strong direct sun, the leaves curl. I have been slowly trying to expose them to sunlight to get them used to it. I also bring them out at night so they are exposed to wind. Let me add that they are approximately 5-6 weeks old. Is it normal for them to be that sensitive to the sun?? The hardiness zone where I am at is 9a-9b. I am in Argentina.

These pepper plants were grown from seed of peppers I bought at a produce market. The peppers resembled the chili Mexican variety. I am aware that these commercially grown peppers could be a hybrid and I may end up with something that is not edible.

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Comments (8)

habjolokia z 6b/7
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
It looks like slight sun burn. You are doing everything right, if you have a tree that you can place the peppers under so they get the protection of shade while allowing dappled sunlight they may respond to the hardening off process better. If you don't then only put them out in morning sun for an hour or two and gradually extend that time can you repot into bigger pots that would allow them to retain moisture better maybe solo cups with holes in the bottom. I think even if it's a hybrid you should be fine, I've grown red habaneros from the store and they did fine.
esox07 (4b) Wisconsin
8 years ago
It might not only be the sunlight but also temps. I don't know what temps you are dealing with where you are this time of year, but if it is significantly different than indoor temps, then that will stress them out as well.

Like Habjolokia says, start them out in shade, and if they are real sensitive, start them in full shade, like behind a wall or other solid structure. Do this for an hour or two a day to start, then after a few days, move them to where they get broken or dappled direct sun for a few days but not the whole day. Then increase time in broken sunlight to a full day and then move them to direct unfiltered sun for a couple hours a day for a couple days and eventually increase the time in full sun to a full day. But, like I said, if the temp changes are large, you have to make that transition slowly as well.

Good luck, they look great.
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jean001a
8 years ago
Sunburn typically causes large splotches of damaged (dry) tissue.
Fernando Martin
Original Author
8 years ago
Whatever it is, it only attacked 2 leaves in one plant out of 25 plants. The rest of my plants are completely healthy. I cut those leaves off and the plant seems to be fine. I will keep a close eye.
bio_pepper
8 years ago
Fernando, are you Portuguese??
If it is the leaf miner, it will pass from one leaf to the others, so, you did well to took them away
newmexmike
8 years ago
My first thought is leafminer--can we see the underside of a damaged leaf?
bio_pepper
8 years ago
Yes you can. But the problem, is that when you start to see one leaf damaged, the miner is already on other leaf.
Fernando Martin
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Sorry I've been so long to respond. I have been busy. Unfortunately I did not take pictures of the undersides, but from what I can remember, the damaged was on the other side as well. I did cut the leaves off, and non of the other leaves on the same plant or any of my plants have been affected. So maybe the leaf miners did not like something and dipped??

Also, I would like to report that the plants have been doing much better under sun light. I have been exposing them a few hours a day, and there is a huge improvement.

I am not Portuguese. I live in Argentina.