Can someone tell me what's wrong with these chilli plants?

[rhyswales]

As you can see the leaves are curling in like crinkled? It seems to be happening to quite a few of them. Should I be concerned? They were planted in GroSure seed potting compost if that makes any help? Grown indoors under grow lights around 14 hours a day.

[Valleyman]

Have you recently re-potted them from a seed tray or taken them out of a heated propagator?

The reason I ask is because i had this happen before when i potted them on from a seedling mix into multi-purpose. They did this for about two sets of leaves and then seemed to sort themselves out. I always assumed it was the change in nutrients, or the sudden change in temperature as they were removed from heated propagator and didn't like the cold. Will be interesting to hear others views on this.

[rhyswales]

No, they were re-potted on 20th January

[Scarlet]

I've found that some leaves pucker as they first come out occasionally on chillies - and looking at the rest of the plant it looks healthy so I wouldn't be too worried.
Curling of leaves can be a sign of bugs - check the underside of the leaves closely, just in case.
As Valleyman had said the change of nutrients can be the cause ( lack of calcium, maybe) but I would wait and see how it pans out before doing anything drastic and trying to fix it.

[rhyswales]

Have you recently re-potted them from a seed tray or taken them out of a heated propagator?

The reason I ask is because i had this happen before when i potted them on from a seedling mix into multi-purpose. They did this for about two sets of leaves and then seemed to sort themselves out. I always assumed it was the change in nutrients, or the sudden change in temperature as they were removed from heated propagator and didn't like the cold. Will be interesting to hear others views on this.

Many thanks valley, no used the same soil as starting seedlings and re-potting, re-potted a few weeks back so I don't think it's the cold. I usually let them germinate in heated proporgator, soon as they emerge put them into their own pots.

Scarlet thanks for the reply, just had a quick look on the underside of the leaves, nothing to the naked eye that I could see. Nutrient deficiency sound like the most likely culprit but as you said I'll leave it a few days see how they get on and rectify the problem of it still persists.

Out of curiosity, what's the best course of action if it is a calcium deficiency?

[roitelet]

I would have thought that it is tiny, tiny aphids. They always go for the soft growth first.

[chilli_grower]

I think I know what this is.

Rhys - Take a very close look underneath the curling leaves. Are there lots of tiny looking dots there? Possibly a white colour?

If so, your plants have a condition called 'EDEMA', which is basically caused by over watering.

[TrysHard]

Edema yellow or white dots almost like a spots, common greenhouse grown pelargoniums with to much humidity or so my Mum use to say.

The OP problem looks more like a temperature change issue

[rhyswales]

So I had a look under the leaves, nothing under them that I could see. I took a picture to show you, the temperature has remained the same for around 3 weeks since I re-potted them. Could be over watering, but I'm not sure, I only water once every few days? Should I re-pot them or leave them?

[Alison]

I wouldn't worry about them, they look basically healthy and will be better kept stable, warm and reasonably dry for now. Just make sure they get plenty of light and avoid too big a temperature variation.

[chilli_grower]

I agree with Alison.

THey generally look fine.

But one big mistake I usually make is over watering, even know I am fully aware that I should not do it!!

[Gema13]

Leaves curl in to save water when the heat is too high and or humidity. To solve move the light higher, remove leaves and place a dish of water with the plants under the light.

[rhyswales]

Okay so decided to have a good look, noticed the leaves are curling on just the jalapeno plants and no others. The first picture is the jalapenos, the second is some apaches and cayennes. Wierd thing is that I have grown them all under exact same conditions, same compost, same light hours, same temps and same watering schedule.

Planted 5 Jalapenos all 5 are curling, planted about 15 others chillies all different varietys not one curling, hmmm.

[Scarlet]

They look healthy enough so I wouldn't be too worried. Though they look very dry, ( I know you keep chillies on the dry side) but it could be your watering regime. Are you watering from the bottom?

[rhyswales]

They look healthy enough so I wouldn't be too worried. Though they look very dry, ( I know you keep chillies on the dry side) but it could be your watering regime. Are you watering from the bottom?

They look dry on top of the soil but that's because of the lights, they actually aint that dry below the surface.