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Reaper problems

S

Steve7270

Hi All,
 
Was here earlier with reaper problems and some very good advice from a few.
 
Growing in soil, Western Australia average summer day temps around 28-38C
 
After recent problems with my reapers I started using Seasol Powerfeed with immediate positive results
 
I have been applying Powerfeed once a week for the passed five weeks and now things seem to have turned again to the negative:(
 
Not sure if it is too much nutrient and a lockout of something or maybe over watering (I water once a day)
 
Any idea's folks?
 

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Yes, there's some nutrient burn. You can see the leaf tips are brown.
Also, judging by the marginal and inter veinal chlorosis, there may be some nutrient uptake problems. Probably a result of overwatering or excess feed with some nutrients locking out others.
Here's your product analysis
The ratio of Ca to Mg is a little screwy. I think it should be closer to 5:1
I don't usually recommend spraying with epsom salt, but maybe it's time.
Either that or reduce the frequency of your powerfeedings, and stop watering every day see if that helps.
 
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I agree with post above. In your place, i would try to ariate the soil a bit, take a hoe with spikes and loosen up the soil, so more oxigen will be available to the roots. stop using fertilizers for a while and dont water them untill the soil is dry atleast 7-10 cm deep. Your plant will get back on its roots in notime.
 
Thanks guys for your educated opinions
 
I'll try less water and hold off on the powerfeeds,
also try Epsom Salt on one selected reaper and wait to see what happens
 
cheers
 
Thanks fella's 
 
Would you still agree with your initial diagnosis with the symptom's exhibited on this leaf?
A slightly healthy Carolina reaper close by. 
 

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Yellowing and black spots in a pattern between the leaf veins. Consistent with the Mg theory.
Spray the leaves with epsom. Be sure to get the under sides.
 
OK its been three weeks since application of epsom spray and no improvement at all !
still yellowing leaves that eventually fall off
 

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Did you reduce water/feed? Did you notice a difference in the one reaper you sprayed with epsom salt?
The first picture, there's still nutrient burn on the leaf tips, and it still shows Mg deficiency.
MgSO4 is meant to provide a quick supplemental dose to the leaves, but the source of the problem is still in the roots.
The fertilizer has a (22.5):1 ratio of Calcium to Magnesium. That's totally out of balance, and the Sodium content is also too high.
 
The label says this seasol stuff has a fishy odor. So, it must have some in there.
Oh it also says the pH is 9 to 9.9 that's unusual. Most fertilizers I find are usually acidifying.
 
Mr. West said:
Did you reduce water/feed? Did you notice a difference in the one reaper you sprayed with epsom salt?
The first picture, there's still nutrient burn on the leaf tips, and it still shows Mg deficiency.
MgSO4 is meant to provide a quick supplemental dose to the leaves, but the source of the problem is still in the roots.
The fertilizer has a (22.5):1 ratio of Calcium to Magnesium. That's totally out of balance, and the Sodium content is also too high.
Click to expand...
 
I did reduce the watering and the feeding. I actually sprayed the six reapers I have growing with epsom solution and did not notice any improvement on any.
Difficult to reduce watering though when day time temperatures are hitting 40C.
 
Can you please suggest a fertilizer you would use opposed to seasole products?
 
Calcium and Magnesium compete for uptake in the soil. Too much of one and you see a deficiency of the other. 
The easiest and safest way to fix this issue is to switch to a more balanced fert.
Plant can only take up supplemental amounts of nutrients through the leaves. They can't get all their required Mg this way.
You could try to correct the soil balance by using epsom salt as a soil drench, but I would discourage you from doing that. It's easy to overdo it and lockout Calcium (or other elements). This could result in new growth becoming deformed at the top of the plant. Making Calcium unavailable could also lead to blossom end rot if the plants are setting fruit. It's risky to try shifting the balance between them.
That's why it's important to choose a fertilizer with a good amount of both elements.
If you insist on using powerfeed, then my best advice is spray with epsom regularly or (if you're feeling ballsy) use a weak solution of epsom to water between feedings. Gauge the results as you go.
 
Hi Guys,
Its been around three weeks since last post.
I decided to try the Epsom drench on the reapers as nothing seems to be working.
Two and half weeks since the drench and still no improvement at all! 
Cane Dog did say first when I originally posted photo's that he thought it was potassium deficiency?
I've stopped powerfeeding and applied just compost to the base of the reapers and watering in daily as tempretures are in the high 30C
Got get back to basics as this is doing my head in.
 

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Steve7270 said:
Hi Guys,
Its been around three weeks since last post.
I decided to try the Epsom drench on the reapers as nothing seems to be working.
Two and half weeks since the drench and still no improvement at all! 
Cane Dog did say first when I originally posted photo's that he thought it was potassium deficiency?
I've stopped powerfeeding and applied just compost to the base of the reapers and watering in daily as tempretures are in the high 30C
Got get back to basics as this is doing my head in.
Click to expand...
 
Yep I would stop all nutrients
It will take a month or so for the soil life to come back again. You can add in a bit of seasol with each watering, this will help - although probably doesn't need to be done daily
 
Adding wood chips will help conserve water as well
 
Personally I would cut most of it down to get rid of most of the yellow - the yellow is never going to recover , only potentially sprout good growth out of all the forks but there are too many forks for it to deal with in its weak state which will really slow recovery down . Id probably give it some dolomite lime and urea at the same time as I gave it the chop.
 
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