Pepper Plant Transplant Shock Peppers can be shocked if you don't acclimate them to the outdoors first before transplanting outside after starting them indoors. We like to harden off seedlings over a series of days first to get them used to the strong sunlight and breezes.
The plant had a well developed root system and therefore shocked when it was moved. The plant has been well watered but still is droopy due to root damage. This plant will recover in 2-3 days.
Pepper plants usually require a little extra care than many other types of plants when transplanting them to the garden. They are more sensitive to the transplanting shock. Hardening the plant enables it to withstand the planting shock.
By far the most common reason for pepper plants wilting is a lack of water. When plants become dry, the first sign will often be drooping leaves. This is especially noticeable in pepper plants. The reason leaves wilt when a plant is dry is simply a lack of available water within the plant.
While plants can recover from transplant shock, it is still a stressful event for them. Although they have the ability to adapt and regain their health, the initial period following transplantation can be challenging.
The transplant shock is “shocking” to any plant. Expect them to recover in 2–4 weeks. Be careful to not fertilize or overwater during this time as the roots need to recover.
When daytime temperatures move into the 80s, water newly transplanted plants every other day. Once the air temperature hits the 90-degree mark, check the plants morning and evening, looking for wilted leaves as an indicator of dryness. Initially, a daily watering will be needed for small plants.
Use a well-drained growing medium in the cells, and take care not to overwater the seedlings; wait until the soil is dry before watering again. Water once or twice a week with a fertilizer solution diluted to 100 ppm.
Overwatering is like that overbearing friend who doesn't know when to leave. It smothers your pepper plant, causing its leaves to droop. They're so full of water, they curl in on themselves, looking like they've been hitting the gym too hard.
If they've lost their crispness and you want them for salads, you can slice them up and try a 10 minute ice bath in a bowl. You can also pickle the peppers, even in their limp state.
Follow these 6 Easy Steps to Transplant your Pepper Plants:
Place the plant into the soil and completely cover the root ball moving a fair amount of the new soil over the old. Water the plants and be sure to get the water onto the base of the stem so that the rockwool and root balls do not dry out in the new soil.
Choose a location in your garden where you have not grown tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplants and tomatillos for the past three or four years. Space pepper plants 18 inches apart, in rows 30 to 36 inches apart.
Handle the roots gingerly and place into hole about 1" above the established root line so that more of the plant is underground than when in pots. Peppers will grow additional roots from the stem that is now underground. This will "anchor" the plant better and it will grow stockier.
Symptoms of Transplant Shock
The plant may appear limp and droopy. Leaf yellowing: The leaves may turn yellow or even brown, especially at the edges or tips. This can be a sign of nutrient deficiency or reduced water uptake. Leaf drop: The plant may shed leaves as a response to the stress.
If you have recently transplanted or brought your pepper seedlings outdoors and put them in full sun, their leaves may turn white. Leaves turning white on pepper plants is usually caused by sunscald – which is quite common with seedlings that have been recently put outside.
Do pepper plants need a lot of water? Peppers actually like to dry out a bit between watering. That said, during the longest hottest days of summer, especially in pots, that may be every day. With cooler weather and during the spring and fall you may only need to water them every 2-3 days.
Symptoms and Signs of Over-Fertilization
Yellowing and wilting of lower leaves. Browning leaf tips and margins. Browned or blackened limp roots.
Peppers require consistently moist soil for optimal growth. The soil should be kept damp but not waterlogged to prevent root rot and other issues. A general rule of thumb is to water deeply once or twice a week, though this can vary based on weather conditions and soil type.
Plants do best when watered deeply about three times a week, factoring in the rain. If the plants are seedlings, water them twice a day until established.
Be patient: If you treat your tree well, the tree should recover from shock and establish itself. It can take up to 3 years for a tree with transplant shock to fully recover.
Make sure soil in a new pot is damp already, and water again after transplanting. If you're moving to a new spot in the yard, fill the new hole 3/4 full with water before setting the plant in. Let the water soak in around the plant a bit, pack the soil in, and water again.
While cloudy conditions are best for transplanting, it is also acceptable to plant in late afternoon or early evening, when temperatures are cooler and the sun is less intense.