Diseased chilli leaves?

[Des10]

Hello all!

Can you please identify what happened to my chilli leves? They are all turning yellow. They have been overwintered indoors and I've put them outdoors this Easter and a couple of days in the outdoor greenhouse as well.

Could it be a virus?

Many thanks!

D

[Shadylane]

Not sure what that is, but did you leave them out overnight or just in the day? Also when did you last pot them on ie how old is the compost they're sitting in?

[Two_Sheds]

I've put them outdoors this Easter

Did you harden them off gradually, or just plonk (sorry, can't think of a better word) them from the warm cosy indoors to the breezy cold outdoors?

[Des10]

Did you harden them off gradually, or just plonk (sorry, can't think of a better word) them from the warm cosy indoors to the breezy cold outdoors?

Thanks for the reply and no they were not hardened gradually. However it was hotter outside than inside (fairly cold kitchen).

Shadylane - They were left outside for three days from good friday, so an average temperature of 24 during the day and then in the greenshouse overnight. But they have been in the same compost from last year.

[Two_Sheds]

They really do need to be hardened off gradually over 7-10 days. It's not just temp to think about, it's the lashing that a breeze will give them. If conditions are too harsh, too quick, they will go into shock, turn up their toes and die.

How cold is your gh at night? Mine's a min of 10c, I wouldn't put chillies at less than that

[taff]

I expect they want a bit of food then

[ginger ninger]

My chillies started to drop there leaves...I potted them on and there starting to put new growth on. Try potting them on into fresh compost, when ya think about it...it's like you having the same cloths on week in week out and not washing them. Ya get to feel a bit stale after a while. I don't think the temperature change would have helped much ether.

[Two_Sheds]

If a plant is hungry it usually loses the lower leaves first: they turn completely yellow and drop off. These chilli leaves are all going at the same time

[Shadylane]

Yeah mine didn't look like that when they were ready for a pick me up, they just went yellow and started to drop off. Whereabouts are you Des? If you're anywhere up north then it's still way too cold to be leaving chillies out. Even on the warmer days we've been getting temps as low as 3 or 4 in our better-not-blowaway. But anyway, I would definitely pot them in some fresh compost and bring them in at night until the temps warm up and they start to cheer up a bit.

[Des10]

Thanks for your replies.

I've put the chillis back inside and will repot them this week end. Hope new leaves grow back strong and healthy

[Rabidbun]

Magnesium deficiency perhaps (dose of Epsom salts should help if it is)? Seems quite sudden though.

[chilliking]

sounds like shock from not hardening off gradually enough.

another very common cause of yellow leaves on chilli plants is over/under watering. have you changed the watering regime?