Peppers of any variety are demanding in terms of maintenance conditions, so they often get sick, especially in regions with a cold climate, low light and short summers. A pale bush, limp leaves and numerous light spots on the green part can be a sign of a serious disease that will threaten all plantings, not just an individual plant. Even in a heated greenhouse, young pepper seedlings or adult plants can die if the cause is not identified in time and measures are not taken.
Why do pepper leaves turn white?
There are several common reasons why light spots and spots begin to form on pepper leaves.
Bad light
This is a very common reason that may cause white spots to appear on the surface of the leaf blade. In order for seedlings to fully develop, their daylight hours should last about 14 hours.
Seeds are often sown in February and because of this, young plants lack natural light. Lack of sunlight has a negative effect on peppers. It stretches out, and its foliage begins to lighten.
Additional Information! If the plant does not have enough light, you can install additional electric lamps equipped with fluorescent lamps.
Wrong pick
Pepper seedlings do not like the development of their root system to be interfered with and therefore the shoots must initially be grown in soil, which is located in separate containers. An excellent option would be to use special peat tablets. In this case, the root system will have separate space for development and diving will not lead to the appearance of spots.
If the seedlings are grown in a common box, the roots will intertwine when planted tightly and because of this it will not be possible to remove the sprouts without damage. It is because of injuries that yellowish spots can form on the surface of the foliage.
Lack of nutrients in the soil is one of the causes of spots on leaves
Lack of nutrition
One of the main reasons why the leaves of pepper seedlings turn white is a lack of nutritional components. As plants grow and develop, the soil gradually begins to deplete. This negatively affects the appearance of the planted pepper.
It is necessary to ensure that there are always micronutrients in the soil. To do this, you need to regularly add fertilizing compounds to the soil.
Ways to fight diseases
After establishing the causes of the appearance of white spots on the leaf blades, treatment of the pepper bushes begins. The most effective treatments for infections are modern chemicals or biological agents.
The drug “Allirin B” is a fungicide of biological origin. It effectively eliminates the symptoms of the following diseases:
- Alternaria blight;
- late blight;
- septoria;
- cladosporiosis.
The product is produced in the form of tablets intended for dissolution in water. To prepare a working solution, it is enough to dissolve 1 dose in 5 liters of liquid. The resulting volume of solution is enough to spray pepper bushes over an area of 5 m². The preparation “Allirin B” is suitable for treating the soil before planting seeds for seedlings. They are also used to water the holes before transplanting young peppers to a permanent place or add them crushed in dry form. To prevent the development of diseases, “Allirin B” is used as a spray every 2 weeks. The minimum rest period between treatments is 7 days.
Bordeaux mixture, which destroys fungi and bacteria, is prepared independently. To do this, dissolve 250 g of quicklime and 100 g of copper sulfate in 7 liters of water. Then the liquid is filtered through a double layer of gauze and the pepper bushes are sprayed with it.
The product “Quadris SK” is used to treat bushes after replanting them in open beds or in a greenhouse. The drug in an amount of 300 g is dissolved in 5 liters of water. The prepared solution is sprayed on the bushes in calm weather in the morning or in the evening. Once on the leaves, the active substances penetrate the tissues and protect the plant from pathogens.
The drug “Trichodermin” is used to combat fungal infections on plants. It contains the soil fungus Trichoderma, which has a detrimental effect on pathogens. “Trichodermin” is used after transplanting the pepper to a permanent place. To prepare a working solution, dilute 1 g of the drug in 10 liters of water. The liquid is watered at the roots of the plants.
Basic mistakes
Novice gardeners make several common mistakes that cause white spots to appear on the leaves of pepper seedlings:
- Boarding too early. Peppers, like eggplants and tomatoes, are heat-loving plants and therefore need to be planted in consistently warm weather. If planted early, cold temperatures may cause spots to form on the surface of the foliage.
- Incorrect landing site. Some gardeners plant plants in areas with plenty of sunlight. However, more shaded areas are ideal for peppers, as too much sun can cause light spots to form.
- Incorrect watering. People growing peppers should carefully monitor soil moisture. It is necessary to water the plants on time so that the leaves do not begin to turn yellow prematurely.
Additional Information! If the plant is grown in a greenhouse, the air humidity inside must be controlled. It should be at the level of 70-80%.
Disease Prevention
To prevent infectious diseases, you need to remove weeds and dead plant remains in a timely manner. Before planting seeds, they need to be disinfected. It is necessary to periodically treat all garden equipment with disinfectant solutions.
When planting, it is necessary to maintain a distance between seedlings of at least 10 cm. This will provide a sufficient amount of light and air circulation, which will prevent the possible development of fungi.
The soil should be fertilized regularly, strictly following the instructions on the package. Weeds must be removed in a timely manner. Plants must be planted in a new place every year.
Since each species has a tendency to a certain disease, planting it in another area of the garden will help prevent many diseases. Any plants that have to be removed due to a viral or fungal infection should be burned to prevent spread.
Preventive actions
Hardening off peppers will help strengthen the plant
Special preventive measures will help to avoid the occurrence of many diseases and protect peppers from pests. To strengthen your immune system, you must do the following:
- Harden off young seedlings. This should be done several weeks before transplanting the pepper into open ground. Hardening will strengthen the plant and help it quickly get used to new conditions outside.
- Maintain crop rotation. You should not plant peppers in areas where other nightshades were previously grown. This can lead to various diseases.
- Fertilize the soil regularly. It is necessary to periodically add fertilizer to the soil so that the soil is always saturated with the nutritional components that peppers need.
- Water in a timely manner. The soil should not be allowed to dry out.
How to organize proper pepper care
In this matter, a person is required to be systematic. If a novice gardener doesn’t know what to do, it’s worth starting with the smallest things.
What to feed
Pepper loves fertilizers of various origins. These can be mineral supplements, organic substances, and even products that a person deals with every day. What kind of fertilizer a bell pepper needs at a certain moment will be determined by its appearance.
Proper watering
Water the pepper once a day in the morning or evening. The main thing is not to carry out the procedure during the day under the scorching sun. The water should not be cold. When precipitation occurs, watering is stopped for a while.
Treatment methods
Boric acid is an effective remedy for combating many vegetable diseases
To get rid of yellowing, you need to figure out how to deal with yellowing foliage. There are several effective ways to help get rid of yellowness and white spots:
- Soda solution. To prepare a mixture for processing peppers, you need to add two tablespoons of soda to two liters of water. Then a spoonful of vegetable oil is added to the prepared mixture. The composition must be thoroughly mixed, after which it can be used to spray the bushes.
- Boric acid. This remedy is used immediately after the leaves turn yellow. It can also be used to treat peppers as a preventative measure to prevent the foliage from turning white in the future.
- Potassium nitrate. To prepare the solution, you need to add 10 grams of the substance to five liters of water. Peppers need to be treated with potassium nitrate for a week.
Discoloration of pepper foliage is a common problem faced by many gardeners. To solve it, you need to figure out why pepper leaves turn white and how to get rid of it.
Brown and brown spots on the leaves of peppers and eggplants
If brownish-brown spots appear on the leaves of peppers and eggplants in your garden, this usually indicates the presence of a disease or an “attack” of pests.
Alternaria blight
The first sign of the disease is dark brown spots on the leaves of peppers and eggplants. Then it spreads to the fruits: watery spots form on them. After rain, fluff is noticeable on the plants, which gradually turns into a dark coating.
Control measures
Spraying the plant with a solution of copper oxychloride (40 g per 10 l of water) or 1% Bordeaux mixture (100 g per 10 l of water) helps against Alternaria blight.
Bacterial spot
Initially, watery spots appear on the leaves, soon they darken, become brownish-brown with a yellow border, depressed. Convex longitudinal cankers of a yellowish-brown color form on the stems.
Control measures
When these signs appear, it is necessary to spray with a 1% solution of copper sulfate.
Brown spot
Brown spot is a common fungal disease of vegetable crops.
Brown, brown and even black spots can appear on the leaves of peppers, eggplants, potatoes and tomatoes in humid, warm weather.
Control measures
To destroy the fungus that causes the disease, treatment with biofungicides (Pseudobacterin-2 or Sporobacterin) is required, as well as regular ventilation of the greenhouse.
Using a drip irrigation system reduces the risk of developing the disease.
- A few ideas on how to make drip irrigation at your dacha with your own hands
A drip irrigation system can be purchased at the store. But making it with your own hands is not much more difficult and much more interesting, and sometimes much cheaper.
Bacterial cancer
Small ulcers appear on the leaves and shoots, which subsequently turn into light brown spots with a dark edge. Soon they grow and merge, the disease spreads to the fruits, and the plant withers.
Control measures
Bacterial cancer cannot be treated - all that remains is to remove and burn damaged plants, as well as neighboring ones, to prevent spread.
Verticillium wilt
Dry brown spots with a yellowish border form on the leaves; the stem of the plant is black when cut with brown vessels. Soon the leaves dry out completely.
Typically, the disease develops in years when there are sharp alternations of frost and heat.
Control measures
Affected plants are removed and burned.
Nematode
The nematode is an insidious, invisible pest that damages plant roots.
We see only signs of its vital activity: yellowish-brown spots form on the leaves, they themselves curl up at the edges, and the stems curl. If you dig up the affected plant, you will notice that the roots look like thin threads, and brown bulbs are visible on them.
Control measures
Unfortunately, it is too late to save the plant - it has died, and the nematode has already managed to do its “dark deeds”.
If you find a nematode at an early stage, you need to dig up the plants, clean the roots from the earthen clod and immerse them in hot (50-60°C) water for half an hour. A layer of soil 40 cm deep must be removed, replaced with a new one, thoroughly pour boiling water over the soil, and only then plant peppers and eggplants again.
Olive spot
Like other spots, this disease is of fungal origin.
Brown spots form on the upper side of the leaves; on the underside they are covered with an olive coating. If the disease starts, the leaves curl and fall off.
Control measures
It is necessary to combat olive blight with the help of fungicides (Agrolekar, Abiga-Pik). For prevention, you need to treat the seeds and soil before planting, and also regularly ventilate the greenhouse.
Late blight
Late blight is a common “scourge” that affects both vegetable and fruit crops, as well as ornamental crops. This fungal disease develops at high humidity. If you properly care for peppers and eggplants, late blight can most likely be avoided.
The disease manifests itself not only in the characteristic brownish spots on the leaves, but also in the darkening of the root collar, as well as lodging of seedlings. If late blight is started, the fungus gradually affects the fruits of the plants.
Control measures
To defeat the disease, it is necessary to treat the plants with a fungicide (Consento, Ordan, Previkur Energy), and also regularly ventilate the greenhouse.
