** Thai Pepper plants having 2 problems - S. Florida - "pickinu" **

[David]

Someone Please help me!!

My Thai spicy pepper plants are having a bit of trouble here in S. Florida.

1.) A number of them have leaves which are getting a white swiriling line going through the leaf and then the leaf turns yellow and finally dies off. Not sure what this is nor how to cure it in a manner which will keep the peppers safe to eat (organic). Some dishwashing soap in water perhaps? Not sure if this is fungal though.

2.) We had a bit of cold weather this past week (over the nights) where the temperature dropped to the low 60's or 50's. One of the thai pepper plants leaves shriveled up and simply began falling off even though I gave it water. I am wondering if the plant can still come back and what the best way to get it back will be since the stem is still very green. Also, what products (if any) I should be using which will keep the future peppers safe to eat (organic). Not sure if this is fungal though. I sure hope it is not root rot as I do not know how to cure that organically. I do not think Subdue Max is safe to use on produce.

Below are some pictures. I greatly appreciate your help!

(Plant which shows leaves which have white swirling lines):

which shows leaves which shriveled up and dropped off; picture taken within 24 hours of this event): advise so I can save these plants. They are hard to find / buy with the heat value these have. = )

David

[Bill]

Here is a place to look at.

Your first image got me thinking about Magnesium or Potassium low levels.

Good Luck!

Bill

[Bill]

Another option.

Consider getting "Organic Plant Protection from Rodale Press and "Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening" same publisher .

Bill

[Steve]

That 2nd picture looks exactly like what would happen to a pepper plant if it had been kept too wet and the roots were rotting off. (adding more water to stop the wilting would be the natural thing to do, but it only makes it all worse) I have no way to know if you have been over watering. You can judge for yourself if that is a possibility.

Steve

[David]

What is the safest organic fungicide which might kill root rot (I assume Pithium / Phytothera) ? I don't want to ingest this stuff in the peppers later as most fungicides are not labeled for produce / edibals. I have a product called "Subdue Max" although I only use it on potted palm trees.

David

[David]

Hey Steve,

Again, I do have some Sudue Maxx (by Syngentia) which has an active ingredient of: mefenoxam

It seems that other products with the same active ingredient are recommended at:

Yet, I did not see any indications to use this on edible produce at: Do you think there is a major difference between Subdue Maxx and the others which use the same active ingredient such as:

Ultra Flourish (mefenoxam) or Ridomil Gold 4 EC (mefenoxam)

?

-David

[Steve]

If that was my plant and I really wanted to save it, I would un pot it and rinse the roots clean. Get a good look. If the roots are healthy, then I was wrong and something else is killing it. If the roots are rotted, as I suspect, I would cut off any dead stuff and repot it in fresh soiless mix and keep it moist but never wet. I suppose I might look over the fungicides that I own to see if one was labeled for edible plants AND for root rot. Lacking that, I don't think I would go to the store looking for one. If the roots are bad but still have some life in them, just changing to the new mix might do it. If every thing below ground is dead, there's not much hope. I never tried rooting a pepper cutting.

Steve

[Billy]

We have recently discussed chamomile tea, and cinnamon as fungicides. Don't know if it will work but it can't hurt. Copper sulfate would also be safe for the amount of soil that you are working with. It used to be used with grapes with no harm but raised hell with the yeast if it got into the fermentation tanks. I believe there is an other sulfate mixture that is safe but I can't remember the brand. You definitly don't want anything with heavy metals.

---------- MSDS Copper Sulfate

SECTION V. HEALTH AND HAZARD INFORMATION Swallowing Toxic orally in accordance with FHSLA regulations. Acute oral LD50 (male rats) = 472 mg/kg.

Skin Non-toxic. Skin irritation index is zero in accordance with FHSLA regulations.

Eyes Corrosive in accordance with FHSLA regulations. Eye irritation score: 24 hours = 41.67; 48 hours = corrosive

Inhalation Inhalation of dust may cause irritation to the upper respiration tract.

Carcinogenicity None as per NTP, OSHA, and IARC.