Bell Pepper Plants Are Dropping Leaves

Grown for their mild, fleshy fruit, bell peppers are a favorite summertime crop in gardens across the United States. Most bell pepper plants experience pest infestations at one point or another, however they are seldom life-threatening. Dropped leaves can signal a variety of possible problems, but in most instances the problems are easy to correct and will not permanently damage the plant. Although prevention is the best course in maintaining healthy bell pepper plants, monitoring them for the first sign of dropped leaves increases the likelihood that they will survive any illness or infestation. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Cut away any dead, brown or wilted leaves. Rake the area beneath the bell pepper plants to remove affected leaves and any vegetable matter that may have accumulated.

2

Observe the area surrounding the pepper plants. Remove any encroaching bushes, weeds or dead foliage. Large, unkempt shrubs or weedy patches of ground harbor a variety of pests that will infest bell pepper plants and cause dropped leaves. Hornworms, flea beetles and especially whiteflies thrive in overgrown conditions near bell pepper plants, as do certain varieties of bacteria that cause bacterial leaf spot, one of the most common causes of dropped leaves in bell pepper plants.

3

Brush the undersides of the remaining leaves with a paintbrush or any other narrow, stiff-bristled brush. Brushing them removes insect pests and their eggs.

4

Examine the leaves for holes, unusual wrinkles or bright yellow spots since these offer clues to the source of the problem. Dropped leaves with small pinpricks indicate that flea beetles are present, whereas larger holes point toward hornworms. If the dropped leaves are yellow and wilted when they drop, aphids or whiteflies are the likely culprit. Dropped leaves that appear brown and dry with small yellow speckles are most likely infected with bacterial leaf spot.

5

Treat the insect infestations with insecticidal soap or a mild solution of 1 part dishwashing liquid to 10 parts water. Mix the solution in a spray bottle and mist the affected plants, making sure you spray the undersides of the leaves. Soap solution can also be applied as a preventive measure against future infestations. In addition, sprinkle a layer of diatomaceous earth beneath the plants.

6

Treat bacterial infections with a solution of 1 part neem oil to 5 parts water. Mix it in a spray bottle and apply it liberally to the plant, including the soil surrounding the base of the plant. To prevent future infections, supply the plants with adequately draining soil, proper spacing to encourage good air circulation and the minimal amount of water needed. Keep the area surrounding the plants free from leaf litter.