OK here's the deal...
I ordered 7 hot pepper plants and 5 tomato plants from Cross Country Nurseries and they arrived the week before last in great condition. Because I knew that there was a cold snap coming, I decided to plant my pepper plants into pots and wait a couple of weeks before planting them in the ground. One night last week it got so cold that my plants were wilted and shocked the next morning. I knew it was going to be just as cold the next two nights, so I brought them inside at night and returned them outside during the day, just for the two nights. The plants recovered just fine and had no more problems at this point. However, as soon as it started heating up outside my plants started wilting during the daytime - BAD! I moved them to a shady area and notice that they do better, but at this point, a week later, they are still drooping and wilting during the afternoon heat. As soon as it starts cooling off in the evening, they bounce right back and look great. They continue to grow, even.
Keep in mind - All of these pepper plants are hot pepper plants, but they are all different kinds. They are ALL doing this except for the chiltepin plant, which was wilting but now seems to be recovering greatly! The White Habanero is doing the worst, but still growing and looks great at night.
Also Keep in mind - I planted some of these plants in plastic pots and some in clay pots. I also used 3 different types of potting soil - some are in ACE brand potting soil, some in MIRACLE GRO potting soil, and some in MIRACLE GRO ORCHID MIX. No matter which pots I used or which soil, they are all having the same effect.
Also, I have several sweet and decorative pepper plants that I grew from seed and they are not having this problem. But they were never exposed to the cold, either.
Can anyone tell me how this happened? And more importantly - How do I get these plants healthy again and ready to plant in the garden by this weekend?
Please Help!
I ordered 7 hot pepper plants and 5 tomato plants from Cross Country Nurseries and they arrived the week before last in great condition. Because I knew that there was a cold snap coming, I decided to plant my pepper plants into pots and wait a couple of weeks before planting them in the ground. One night last week it got so cold that my plants were wilted and shocked the next morning. I knew it was going to be just as cold the next two nights, so I brought them inside at night and returned them outside during the day, just for the two nights. The plants recovered just fine and had no more problems at this point. However, as soon as it started heating up outside my plants started wilting during the daytime - BAD! I moved them to a shady area and notice that they do better, but at this point, a week later, they are still drooping and wilting during the afternoon heat. As soon as it starts cooling off in the evening, they bounce right back and look great. They continue to grow, even.
Keep in mind - All of these pepper plants are hot pepper plants, but they are all different kinds. They are ALL doing this except for the chiltepin plant, which was wilting but now seems to be recovering greatly! The White Habanero is doing the worst, but still growing and looks great at night.
Also Keep in mind - I planted some of these plants in plastic pots and some in clay pots. I also used 3 different types of potting soil - some are in ACE brand potting soil, some in MIRACLE GRO potting soil, and some in MIRACLE GRO ORCHID MIX. No matter which pots I used or which soil, they are all having the same effect.
Also, I have several sweet and decorative pepper plants that I grew from seed and they are not having this problem. But they were never exposed to the cold, either.
Can anyone tell me how this happened? And more importantly - How do I get these plants healthy again and ready to plant in the garden by this weekend?
Please Help!
