did you buy plants or seeds? Where did you get them? The only reference to "Chile Red" that I can find when I google is a reference to Anaheim chiles. Your pic does look like an anaheim atleast in size of chile. They are long large peppers that turn red when ripened. kendra

Hi Marianne, The plants do look like they are starving and thirsty don't they? But here is the thing there is plenty moisture and nutrients in the soil and I have been giving them fertilizer just like my other pepper plants and watering them the same. But the leaves are dry and crisp and showing deficiencies. I think that the roots are hurting from over watering and cannot absorb water or nutrients. It is something particular to this variety of peppers I think as two plants in two widely separated parts of the garden are doing exactly the same, drying out and dying when well fed and watered while all the other peppers are doing well on the same regimen. I wish I knew what to do. How can I even feed them if I can't even water them? I am losing too many plants. My partner caught 4 raccoons and two opossums and had them removed. But last night an animal or animals came again and broke the top off (no leaves left, just a few inches of lower stem) of two pepper plants and 2/3s of the branches of another plant. It broke off peppers from other plants and mauled them but did not eat any greens or peppers. And this is after it had all the food and water I put out. There is at least one animal left. The mind of this animal befuddles me. In general animal do not walk around destroying their food source or damaging plants without a clear intention. Its messed up! And very smart, it can cleanly break off branches and tops of plants like it has fingers and pruners but for no understandable reason.....Its depressing. I have no problem with having animals in my yard or them taking some of the food I am growing but this animal is a crazy, violent, lunatic that just destroys. Do I sound pathetic? Thanks K.

Hi Everyone, I appreciate the input. So apparently I wasn't paying enough attention to the weather--we had another heat wave and the plants are heavily wilting in the afternoons. It's hard for me to say if the leaf damage is the result of the heat or the small bug--I'm guessing it's the heat. I'm going to keep watching this and see how things develop. I also looked up our County Extension office and might head over there as well. Thanks again!

esox07 (4b) Wisconsin I'm not sure yet, It was my first time planting smth. Now its still cold outside, I'll watch as they grow and the weather, and part will be planted in a greenhouse. I plan to leave some in the apartment on the balcony just to see how it will grow inside, or in case some will die in a greenhouse.