As one of the most prolific and attractive flowering vegetables, peppers require proper maintenance to produce their most stunning and tasty fruits. While most pepper varieties tolerate hot weather, midsummer heat can still be challenging.
However, if you’ve noticed that your pepper plants’ flowers have turned brown, it might be time to start looking into what’s wrong.
Pepper Plant Flowers Turning Brown
If you are wondering why your pepper plant flowers are turning brown, here are some things to consider. Listed below are other reasons why your pepper plant flowers may turn brown. You can also try one of these solutions to keep your pepper plants healthy and happy!
- Humidity Too Low or Too High
One of the main causes of the failure of pepper plant flowers is humidity levels. In a tropical environment, pepper plants require 35-70% humidity.
When the humidity level is too low, pollen cannot be properly deposited, which will cause the blossom to drop. On the other hand, if the humidity is too high, the blossom will also drop.
Humidity levels vary widely, depending on the variety. Inconsistent humidity levels can cause pepper flowers to drop and decrease the viability of pollen.
To avoid this problem, find the ideal temperature range for the type of pepper you are growing. Also, consider other environmental stressors that peppers experience.
Peppers are very sensitive to fluctuations in temperature. In addition to insufficient humidity, other factors may also affect the flower’s health. Most people ignore these factors and assume their pepper plants can handle a range of temperatures.
Make sure to monitor the humidity levels of your pepper plants because a low humidity level can reduce the viability of pollen.
- Blossom End Rot
Blossom end rot is another common cause of brown pepper plant flowers. This type of rot is caused by the pepper plant’s inability to absorb calcium from the soil. Fortunately, this problem can be remedied by a balanced watering schedule and applying fertilizer with calcium and magnesium.
A deficiency of calcium in the soil is the primary cause of bloom end rot, which causes a wilted fruit and a brown or orange color on the flower petals. The solution to this problem is to add calcium to the soil, as the pepper plant cannot absorb calcium from the air.
Overwatering can also exacerbate this problem. To correct this problem, add extra calcium to the soil and water the plant regularly.
- Extreme Temperatures
This is a natural reaction of the pepper plant. If your pepper plants have been turning brown, the problem may lie in the extreme temperatures. While the plant is ultimately at the mercy of nature, it is possible to take steps to prevent this from happening again.
While peppers can withstand high temperatures, they do not like to be exposed to prolonged high heat. They need moderate temperatures, which can be achieved by keeping the soil moist and adding organic matter.
Extreme heat or dry conditions will reduce the viability of the pollen, causing the flowers to drop.
Pepper plants grow best in a climate with temperatures between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat can cause pepper plants to drop their flowers and fail to set fruit.
However, this doesn’t necessarily mean you need to cut your pepper plants. A few weeks of cooler temperatures might help, as long as they don’t get too hot.
- Excessive Nitrogen
A common deficiency of nitrogen is the main cause of yellowing leaves on the pepper plant. The nutrient is required to grow and develop. If the plant lacks nitrogen, it will produce yellow leaves, starting from the bottom and moving upward.
The veins of the leaves stay green, but the flesh will turn yellow. You can treat this problem by applying fertilizer.
Fortunately, there are several ways to solve this problem. First, check the pH level of your soil. Pepper plants aren’t particularly sensitive to soil acidity but need more phosphorus. It should be at least seven percent acidic. If it’s too acidic, pepper plants won’t be able to absorb enough calcium from the soil.
- Pollination Problems
If your pepper plant suffers from flower-turning brown problems, you may lack the right nutrients or insect activity. This is often a result of insufficient airflow or fertilization. In such cases, you may need to be creative and try other methods to increase pollination.
For instance, you can choose colorful flowers for pepper plants so they will attract a variety of pollinating insects and increase their population.
When the flowers drop off prematurely, your plant cannot focus its energy on developing more fruit. It could be because there is too much nitrogen in the soil, the plant is suffering from too much humidity, or not enough airflow.
If you have a larger garden, you can attract bees and other insects to pollinate your plants. However, it is important to understand that there are no surefire methods to eliminate poor pollination.
- Insects and pests
Other possible causes of the flower turning brown on your pepper plant include insect and pest infestation. Aphids are pear-shaped, green, or brown insects that feed on the sap of young leaves and stems.
Their secretions produce a sooty mold on leaves and stems. While the root cause of pepper plant flowers turning brown may be unknown, there are ways to prevent this from happening again.
First, treat your pepper plant regularly for aphids. These insects will feed on the leaves and stems of your pepper plant and will also transmit a virus to weakened plants.
Try trapping aphids with ladybugs or plant pepper varieties resistant to aphids. If aphids do infest your plant, you can use insecticide and a yellow card to trap them.
- Calcium deficiency
A nutrient imbalance in your pepper plant could cause wilted, brown flowers. Water your pepper plants only when they are starting to wilt, and keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Calcium is also vital for pepper fruits, as it helps them resist diseases.
Look at the leaves and stems to check if your plant lacks calcium. Young leaves and tissues are the first to show signs of deficiency. They’ll appear smaller than normal and may have brown chlorotic spots spreading to the center.
The leaves may be crinkled and show dark veins, so you’ll want to check the leaf tissues for these symptoms.
- Overfertilizing
Overfertilizing your plant can cause spider mites to thrive in the soil. Pepper plants should be fertilized weekly with tomato feed or balanced fertilizer diluted to half strength.
Don’t let your pepper plant dry out; too much water can lead to dehydration and attract pests. Fortunately, pepper plants can tolerate sun damage, and if you follow these tips, your plants will flourish.
- Mosaic Virus
Another common problem affecting pepper plants is the mosaic virus. Infection with this virus causes the leaves to turn brown. The affected plants often exhibit stunting, vein clearing, and leaves that become leathery and stiff. They also produce fewer or no fruits.
It’s important to take care of these diseases early in the season. Fortunately, there are a few natural remedies for pepper plant wilt. One of the best ones is to spray the plants with a solution of pure neem oil and water.
Summing up:
You’re not alone if you’re worried about your pepper plant turning brown. Most gardeners struggle with this problem; the good news is that it’s not all that hard to prevent.
Following a few simple tips can prevent this from happening in the first place. You can follow the above mentioned tips to keep your pepper plant healthy and beautiful for years.