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Some leaf curling on Malawi birdseye. Any suggestions?

B

Bumfred

Hi!
 
I'm growing a variety of peppers and most of them seem healthy. But the malawi birds eyes have som leaf curl that affects the new leaves. They also have som very discrete yellow spotting. They are in fairly nutrient rich soil and perlite mix and growing under a 2x54 W T5 fixture + sunlight. Any ideas? 
 
 
 

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Chilidude said:
How close those lights are and also what fertilizers do you use?
 
One issue would be maybe overwatering.
Click to expand...
 
Hey!
 
The lights are about 15-20 cm / 6-8" above them now depending on what plant I measure from. Recently raised the lights slightly. Currently don't use any extra fertilizer, I potted them in these pots about 3 weeks ago and the soil is pretty nutrient dense. I'm planning on using some "Chilli Focus" 3-1-4 liquid fertilizer later.
 
I was also thinking about overwatering but I bottom water them a little less than once a week when the top soil has been dry for a couple of days and the pot feels really light. 
 
All the C. chinense cultivars looks pretty good using the exact same setup.
 
You said you use bottom to water the chilis in the soil mixture, next time try watering them from the top as there just might be some salt build up that needs to be washed away by top watering them.
 
Edmick said:
My guess would be mites
Click to expand...
 
Hey! That would suck...
 
It would be kind of strange though, since the only plants affected are the 3 birds eyes. Everything else looks fine. Are those more sensitive?
 
Find a 30x loupe and check the chilis with it, if you cant find anything that moves it is not mites that causes your issue.
 
I'll try and find a loupe. It's still growing really quite fast, just kept one of them and repotted it to see what happens. I'd think mites would make some more damage though? Curled leaves grow really way otherwise. Updated picture:
 
https://i.imgur.com/KdX3CZ5.jpg
 
 
 
Bumfred said:
I'll try and find a loupe. It's still growing really quite fast, just kept one of them and repotted it to see what happens. I'd think mites would make some more damage though? Curled leaves grow really way otherwise. Updated picture:
 
https://i.imgur.com/KdX3CZ5.jpg
 
 
Click to expand...
 
What about air moisture in the surrounding growing area, could it be too low for the chilis. What do you have below the chilis, some kind of warmer that they dont like perhaps?
 
Hmm, yeah there's a heater under the windowsill. I might try and turn that off. There's also some cool air coming from the window since it's about -15 C here now. Really not much I can do about that though. Setup looks like this .The other ones droop a bit when the sun sets and the T5s are the only light on them. 
 
https://i.imgur.com/JBfKRSw.jpg
 
 
 
Bumfred said:
Hmm, yeah there's a heater under the windowsill. I might try and turn that off. There's also some cool air coming from the window since it's about -15 C here now. Really not much I can do about that though. Setup looks like this .The other ones droop a bit when the sun sets and the T5s are the only light on them. 
 
https://i.imgur.com/JBfKRSw.jpg
 
 
Click to expand...
 

Now i know why they look like that, the combined heat from below and the cold coming from the window will create a super combo that most chilis dont like at all.
 
I think you dont even need to use anymore of that t5 growing light as the light coming from the window alone should be enough to provide all the light for the chilis and late winter/early spring is already starting and the sun will start to shine very short time at first but it is still there.
 
Dont need to turn the heater all the way off, but maybe you could turn it down to 17-19c at max.
 
If they somehow grow too long/big, you can always top the chilis to make them  grow more bushier.
 
Hey dudes! Some updates on the leaf curl! I've topped alot of my peppers including the curled birds eye. Temp is more even since I've turned the radiator off. T5s are still on them to prolong the days. The birdseye is growing and bushing like crazy but STILL there's leaf curl, although not as much. Time to buy CalMag or something?
 
https://imgur.com/rG5IRzD
 
I had the same problem a week ago on my Aji Pineapple but the leaves were also light green. I used BioWorm to make a foliar spray and after few days the curl disappear and leaves got healthier. In my opinion it was a Calcium and Nitrogen deficiency in my case.
In your case I believe it is a Calcium deficiency as well.
 
stankar said:
I had the same problem a week ago on my Aji Pineapple but the leaves were also light green. I used BioWorm to make a foliar spray and after few days the curl disappear and leaves got healthier. In my opinion it was a Calcium and Nitrogen deficiency in my case.
In your case I believe it is a Calcium deficiency as well.
Click to expand...
 
 
Hey! Sounds good, can you make a foliar spray out of ordinary CalMag or do you have to have a special solution? How much did you dilute your spray? 
 
Bumfred said:
 
 
Hey! Sounds good, can you make a foliar spray out of ordinary CalMag or do you have to have a special solution? How much did you dilute your spray? 
Click to expand...
I believe CalMag can be used as a foliar spray because generally that's the best way how to supply Calcium and Magnesium nutrients. You should see results within 2 days or so, it's really quick. Try to do not over fertilize and they should be good ;)
 
Hey! Some new updates! 
 
Added small amounts of CalMag to the water and bottomfed the plant a couple of times. Tried the foliar spray but got some light burns. Anyway, the new foliage is looking WAY better. The old leaves are still wrinkly, which supports the calcium defiency idea I guess. It also gets alot more natural sunlight as of now. 
 
Pic (older wrinkly leaf clearly visible under the new fresh ones):
 
https://i.imgur.com/XXXcRJy.jpg
 
 
 
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