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Hardening off troubles

AZ-Mason

AZ-Mason

Ok, so I've recently been trying to harden off my plants, but I'm having some issues. If they spend anymore then 15 minutes in the sun, they wilt excessively. The leaves begin to shrivel up and the plants look dead. Then i take them back in the shade and a couple hours later they look fine. Should i just leave them in the shade? They get about ten minutes of sun where they're at and it hasn't been a problem. I live in the valley and it is over 100 degrees most of the day.
 
Yes keep them in the shade for a week or so and slowly move them in the sun for just 20 minutes . A few more minutes ever other days
 
I use varying degrees of shade cloth when I harden off starting with 70% for a week, then 40% for a week, then straight sunshine for as long as they will stand it....even if a few leaves burn they will recover....not saying it's right, just the way I do it and it works for me.....
 
juanitos said:
yeah shade is good, some people in really hot climates buy shade cloth to put over their plants.
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AlabamaJack said:
I use varying degrees of shade cloth when I harden off starting with 70% for a week, then 40% for a week, then straight sunshine for as long as they will stand it....even if a few leaves burn they will recover....not saying it's right, just the way I do it and it works for me.....
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Frankie Ruiz said:
keep them in the shade, sun seems way to hot to be in direct sun that early
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cregjoe said:
Yes keep them in the shade for a week or so and slowly move them in the sun for just 20 minutes . A few more minutes ever other days
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Thanks guys! I only have a couple plants so as long as they are ok where they are.
 
I see you are in AZ. What kind of lighting did you get you plants to this point under?
 
I put my plants next to the north side of the house to harden them off this year. They were getting about 4-5 hours of first morning light and full sun again in the late afternoon for about 3-4 hours. they did incur some leaf damage but it was inconsequential. After about a week in this staging area they were placed in a full sun grow area and are doing exceptionally well.
 
My plants were also raised under some fairly intense lighting which I do attribute to the short hardening off period.
 
My plants have been outside for three months and still wilt when it is over 90. Shade cloth is the only reason they are still growing
 
In extreme climates it is often the case that the leaves that grew indoors will never fully adjust to strong sun, that what you are trying to do is just get new leaves growing that were exposed to a small amount of sun so they can better tolerate it.  Put them out in the morning if you can as the sun isn't as strong as later in the day, and yes they should be kept in shade any time they start to droop excessively.  If any leaves get a permanent sunburn then keep the plant in shade till it recovers.
 
and one other thing....some may not agree with me, but remove the damaged leaf...the plants puts more energy to repairing damaged leaves than it does developing new ones...
 
that came from some research I read...I will try and find the article...
 
Peppers are not cactus, and all the 'hardening' on Earth won't help when the plant is exposed to summer in Hell Phoenix temperatures.  It's not just the leaves that are the limiting factor.  In direct sun, the root system and stem will not be able to transport water to the plant fast enough to prevent wilting.  Mid-day shade of some sort is necessary.
 
Direct AM sun is no problem - FWLIW, my plants can take about 3 hours of it before they start to stress.  An hour+ in the late afternoon is also fine.
 
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