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Need help making my habs healthy

C

chemengineer

So, my habanero plant has been growing pretty well, but over the last few weeks it has developed yellowing leaves with some necrosis at the tips, along with some brown spots on the leaves. Additionally, the peppers on the plant look a bit undersized. I've been watering about 1-2 times a week and have been using a small amount tomato fertilizer (3-4-6) every 3 weeks, with only two applications made. 
 
From what I've read, I'm kind of leaning towards Mg deficiency, but I wanted to get a few more opinions before I go out and buy Epsom salt or CalMag.
 
Pics are below and any advice/diagnosis is appreciated.
 
http://imgur.com/Psz2tDi
http://imgur.com/hqNpR6r
http://imgur.com/escaeid
http://imgur.com/wWq9Lrp
http://imgur.com/ccbEgEy
 
     I'm with Jamison. It sounds like you may be a little light on the ferts. And combined with a small root ball, that might be causing nutrient deficiencies.
 
CraigJS said:
If you don't mind, what size are the pots you're using? Are they 3,5,7 gallon? Thanks, Craig
Click to expand...
 
 
     I use mostly 5 gallon buckets and a few larger pots - up to about 10 or 12 gallons. Larger pots definitely allow plants to become larger and more productive, to an extent. I'm sure there's a point of diminishing returns, but I have yet to find it!  :D
     Check out post #76 in my glog, there's a pic of most of my containers all lined up. The one on the right is my largest. And the 7 pot that lives in it is probably my largest and most productive plant.     http://thehotpepper.com/topic/44657-dash-2-2014-youre-doing-it-wrong/page-4
 
Some possibilities:
 
1)  Pot too small
2)  Soil too compacted
3)  Soil not rich enough and/or not enough fertilizer
4)  Leaves getting wet, spreading disease (black spots in 1st pic).
5)  Not enough sun
 
Thanks guys. I transplanted the plant to a bigger pot, added some fertilizer, and sprayed the leaves with Epsom salt. I'll try to post an update next week to see how things worked out.
 
I found that if I watered peppers too often the roots did not go far as they didn't have too . and my plants were not as healthy as I'd like .  I mulch mine with black plastic  and let them  get sort of dry and then really soak them , at the end of the season see how big your rootballs get ..I don't fertilize other than compost at the begining of the season . My soil ia pretty rich with 30 years of manure ,compost and dolomitic limestone  [and every 5-6 years a dusting of wood ash ..it does have heavy metals , so go light ].
 
Yea, they look a bit hungry IMO.
 
Miracle Grow to the rescue!  ;)
1/3 ~ 1/2 teaspoon of Magic Blue Crystals per gallon for the next few watering will alleviate most nutrient deficiencies.
(Calcium and magnesium are about all MG lacks.  Add a pinch of epsom salt if you like.)
 
Going to freeze tonight and only a few Habanero plants to pull and hang , The  pantry full of sauce and  it's time to bid the tender plants goodbye for another season . but the first .seed catalog should be here in another month ! 
 
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