Pepper plants come in a huge variety of shapes, colors, and sizes, but one thing they have in common is their sensitive nature!
If you’ve been growing these plants long enough, you probably know that their leaves are sensitive to any issue. They’ll discolor, curl, and drop when the conditions aren’t in their favor.
But why is your pepper plant dropping leaves?
The causes could range from overwatering and pests to nutrient deficiency and excessive use of fertilizers. Pepper plants are generally sensitive to weather changes, and the roots don’t respond well to nutrient deficiency in the soil.
4 Reasons for Pepper Plant Leaves Falling Off
Your pepper plants could be dropping their leaves because of overwatering, underwatering, nutrient deficiency, or a pest infestation. Here’s a roundup of all possible reasons and how to fix them:
1- Faulty Watering Schedule
Pepper plants are sensitive to changes in the water schedule, so both underwatering and overwatering can cause the leaves to wilt and eventually fall off.
You may notice the leaves drooping a bit and decide to give them a water boost, but it’s actually normal for the leaves to do so in the heat of the day. So, overwatering them will cause root rot, which will eventually cause the leaves to fall off.
Likewise, if you don’t give the plant enough water, you may unknowingly cause drought conditions, which has the same consequences as overwatering.
2- Nutrient Deficiency
All plants need a minimum amount of nitrogen in the soil to grow, and all of them show signs of stress when there’s not enough nitrogen, pepper plants included.
If your pepper plants aren’t getting enough nitrogen, their leaves will start yellowing before wilting and eventually falling off.
Since the plant tends to move the nitrogen around to different parts, the yellowing will start at the base of the plant. It’ll keep moving up if you don’t treat the problem using a nitrogen fertilizer.
It’s worth noting that nitrogen isn’t the only nutrient that may be deficient in your plant. It may also be craving magnesium, potassium, calcium, or sulfur.
These deficiencies are more common in pot-grown plants, though.
3- Bad Growth Conditions
Like all plants, pepper plants need specific growth conditions to thrive. They need to grow in a sunny location, and their soil should have solid drainage because the roots will rot if the soil retains water.
The same goes for the temperature, which shouldn’t fall below 60 degrees F. If it does, the plant will get stressed out and start dropping leaves.
Make sure to always grow the plant in the sunniest area of your garden because it’ll also be the warmest. These plants aren’t fans of the cold weather, so they may be stressed out because the temperatures are dropping.
4- A Pest Infestation
Pepper plants are prone to a lot of pests. They often get infested with aphids, spider mites, and thrips. They may also suffer from whiteflies or fungus gnats.
If your plant is infested by aphids, chances are, they’re sucking all the nutrients from the leaves, leaving them droopy.
They’ll eventually fall off due to the lack of nutrients, and if you don’t treat the pest infestation, the plant may die after a while.
The good news is, most pest infestations are treatable using the correct insecticidal soap. You can also remove the pests by spraying the plant with water.
If it’s not a pest infestation, your plant may be suffering from a fungal infection. It’ll cause the plant’s leaves to yellow and shrivel before falling off.
If the leaves aren’t yellowing, but they have black and brown spots on top of them, it’s more likely a bacterial infection. To fix this, you’ll need to remove the infected plant to keep the infection from spreading to the rest of the garden.
Pepper Plant Diseases That May Cause the Leaves to Drop
Aside from pest infestations and nutrient deficiencies, pepper plants may also suffer from a number of diseases. Here are the most common ones:
Verticillium Wilt
Verticillium wilt is a common fungal disease that often starts in the roots and grows upwards in the plant.
It’s common in pepper plants and vegetables that grow in the Southeastern US.
It targets the vascular tissues of the plant, keeping it from transferring water. So, the water doesn’t reach the leaves, causing them to wilt and eventually fall off.
This disease often starts on one side of the plant before moving on to the other, so you’ll be able to recognize it early on.
Its symptoms include yellowing leaves and discoloration of the inner tissues of the stems. If the disease is too far in, the plant will fully collapse.
Bacterial Leaf Spot
Bacterial leaf spot is a common disease that hits plants in rainy and humid areas because the bacteria thrive in moist conditions.
It’s an infectious disease that can get spread through the soil or the seeds, so you’ll want to be careful of cross-contamination.
Its symptoms include raised spots on the peppers and brown spots on the leaves. Some leaves will also develop yellow spots and drop early.
To treat this disease, you’ll need to remove the infected parts and use a natural fungicide. The condition is bacterial, but fungicides can help prevent the disease from spreading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my pepper plant dropping flowers?
Your pepper plant is probably dropping flowers due to a lack of nutrition, a faulty watering schedule, or bad growth conditions.
If you’re sure that you’re providing it with all the nutrients it needs, it may be suffering from a bacterial condition or a pest infestation. In both cases, the leaves will be wilting or will have brown spots.
Can a pepper plant survive without leaves?
It depends on your definition of survival. The plant will probably stay alive, but it’ll stop growing peppers.
Even if it stays alive for a while, the plant will likely fully collapse if you don’t treat the underlying cause.
Final Thoughts
Pepper plants drop their leaves due to stress and diseases.
They may be overwatered or underwatered, but if that’s not the case, it may be a bacterial condition or a pest infestation.
You’ll probably notice the issue early on because the leaves will start drooping or wilting before falling off. In that case, start looking for the cause and start treatment immediately.
Most issues are reversible if you notice them early enough. If the cause is a bacterial or fungal infection, your best course of action is to remove the infected parts to protect the rest.
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.