Why do pepper leaves curl and what to do?

Often, summer residents are faced with such a problem as rolling pepper leaves. This phenomenon can be caused by many different reasons. Let's consider them in our article.

Improper care is one of the most common reasons why cultivated plants have all sorts of problems, and this applies to both young plantings that grow on the windowsill and adults that are grown in the open field.

Often, it is the wrong watering regime that becomes the reason why the leaves of sweet peppers curl. Moreover, if there is not enough moisture, then the plant gradually begins to wither and wither, which quickly affects its appearance. At the same time, the foliage not only curls, but also dries along the edges - this is due to the fact that the culture cannot fully develop without a sufficient amount of water.

An excess of moisture can also be the reason why the bell pepper leaves roll inward, and the bottom turns out to be covered with pimples.... Usually it provokes a similar fungus, which actively develops in conditions of high humidity. As a rule, it affects all the leaves (both at the top and bottom), while they begin not only to curl up, but also to soften and darken.

Pepper foliage can also suffer from a lack of fertilizer, which the plant needs to maintain the condition of the leaves and build up the green mass. As a rule, when there is a lack of dressing, the greens of the pepper are curled up by the boat. In addition, the immunity of plantings also suffers, which makes them more vulnerable to diseases and attacks of harmful insects. This can be caused by a lack of potash or nitrogen fertilizers. To eliminate the problem, the plant must be fed, while for this it is recommended to use namely complex formulations, after all, the plant may not have enough other minerals.

However, you should not overdo it with fertilizers, because their excess can also harm the plant, for example: cause a burn of the roots or upset the balance of trace elements... As a rule, organic matter contains a large amount of nitrogen - it is its excess that causes problems with foliage. The oversaturation of the plant with this microelement is evidenced by excessively fleshy lower leaves and withered upper leaves.

Poor conditions also actively affect the plant, because of which its condition can deteriorate noticeably - this can be especially clearly seen after transplanting pepper into open ground. Improper growing conditions can not only provoke foliage problems, but also cause plants to grow poorly or not grow at all.

Poor conditions include regular drafts and low temperatures - because of them, not only the leaves, but also the entire plant can begin to deform. If we are talking about seedlings, then it is better not to leave them on the aisle or under open windows in order to avoid such problems. If we are talking about adult plants that are grown in the open field, then in this case it is recommended to cover them when the temperature falls.

Lack of light can also negatively affect the pepper, because of this, the process of photosynthesis is often disrupted. At the same time, the pepper foliage grows unevenly, and its veins begin to stretch out more actively than the leaf plate grows. Usually, such a problem affects only young leaves, and the old ones do not change in any way. This can only be corrected by providing the plant with sufficient sunlight.

Inappropriate soil is also one of the causes of problems with pepper foliage. As a rule, “inappropriate” is defined as land that is not fertile and is characterized by a low density. Growing in such soil, the pepper begins to wither, and its leaves twist and fall down. To eliminate this problem, special fertilizers must be applied to the soil.

Excessively dry air, which is usually accompanied by an increase in the temperature of the air masses, also negatively affects the pepper. At the same time, the leaves are often wrapped either in a boat or in a spiral.

All sorts of diseases and parasitic insects cause the most harm to plantings. If you do not deal with them in time, then the plant may ultimately simply die, depriving the summer resident of the harvest.

Let's start by looking at the most common diseases. Most often pepper affects powdery mildew... Because of it, pepper leaves curl and turn white, and the pepper itself weakens, which is why it ceases to fully bear fruit, since the fruits cannot ripen. This disease can be detected by whitish or serous spots on the underside of the leaf plate. Then they turn yellow and curl, and the plant itself dies. It is necessary to treat the disease at first with the use of fungicidal agents, such as, for example, "Speed" or "Fundazol".

Gray rot also often affects pepper, provoking deformation of the foliage and the appearance on the stem of wet brownish specks, which eventually become serous. Usually this disease is activated at high humidity and temperature. It is worth considering that it makes no sense to fight gray mold. Plants that are already sick must be destroyed, and the rest must be treated with special means to avoid a new outbreak of the disease.

Phytophthora Is another dangerous disease that causes deformation of the foliage, as well as the appearance of brown streaks and specks on it. Sick parts, as a rule, begin to rot, and if it is hot outside, then these parts begin to mummify and then fall off. It is necessary to treat this disease in the early stages with the help of fungicidal agents - for this, such a drug as "Fitosporin" is perfect.

Note that not all diseases of cultivated plants are treatable. So, it will be pointless to fight viral diseases. If the plant has been infected with a virus, then it is best to destroy it so that the disease does not spread to healthy plantings. It should be said that viruses in the soil, as a rule, do not live, and therefore, having eliminated a diseased plant, a new one can be grown in its place.

Insects also cause great harm to plantings. Among them, the most common spider mite... This is a small parasite that can cause great harm to the pepper bush, simply by feeding on its juices. It is quite difficult to notice the parasite - due to its size - it looks like a small dot that moves along the stem. Moreover, note that the pest most often affects those plants that are watered incorrectly.

If the bushes are struck by this insect, then its leaves will turn yellow, curl and fall off, on them it will also be possible to see a cobweb, which is also found on the stem part.

Another parasite that causes foliar problems is aphid... It is in many ways similar to a spider mite: it is also a small insect, which, as a rule, has a light, green or black color and feeds on the juices and cells of the plant. In the process, this small parasite secretes a special sweet substance that ants love very much, which is why they often protect aphids, and anthills can often be found near its place of residence. The same sweet substance harms the plant, as it can cause fungus to develop.

It is not difficult to identify this parasite: on the back side of the leaf plates, you can notice a large accumulation of aphids, and necrotic spots form on the leaves themselves, they begin to curl, and the plant itself bears worse fruit, gives deformed fruits.

You can fight spider mites and aphids in different ways. Many summer residents resort to the help of folk remedies, because they are non-toxic, inexpensive, easy to prepare and, moreover, do not harm the environment. Among these, onion and garlic infusions, as well as dandelion infusions, stand out. Treatments with such means are carried out, as a rule, several times until the complete disappearance of the parasite.

In this case, it would be best to immediately use special industrial tools that can be purchased at any store for summer residents. Such drugs are highly effective, but their big drawback is toxicity, which is why it is not worth treating plants with them during flowering and fruiting. In addition, when using such formulations, it is recommended to strictly observe safety rules and use personal protective equipment so as not to harm yourself and your health.

Among industrial drugs, are especially popular Aktellik, Fufanon, Fitoverm and Akarin. Before using them, we recommend that you carefully read the instructions that are located on the back of the package. Please note that you should not neglect the dosage of chemicals, because this can only harm the plant.

Preventive measures help prevent problems from occurring or get rid of them in the early stages of their development. So, first you need to regularly and carefully examine the pepper bushes in order to notice the occurrence of parasites or diseases in time.

Plants also need to provide high-quality care, which includes: regular application of the necessary dressings, periodic preventive treatments with special and folk remedies, as well as correct and timely watering. The importance of quality care cannot be underestimated, because the plant's immunity depends on it, which helps it withstand attacks from insects or diseases.

Do not forget about cleaning weeds.... They are often the carriers of harmful insects, and sometimes fungal spores.

If you grow peppers in a greenhouse environment, remember to ventilate the greenhouse. This must be done regularly, because it is at high humidity and temperature that the fungus develops especially actively.

Be sure to remove old foliage from the site by burning.It is under it that parasitic insects, their larvae and fungal spores often hide. There they will spend the winter and, after waiting for favorable conditions for themselves, will activate again, after which they will begin to precipitate young plants.

Pay attention to the disinfection of garden accessories, because it is often with their help that the disease is transferred from diseased plants to healthy ones.