Pepper stem size?

jahwarrior1423 · February 10, 2015

I have a jalapeño plant that the stem is thinner at the base than the rest of the plant. What causes this?

I am using FF ocean forest and FF nutrients and following their feeding schedule.

JamesL · February 10, 2015

Look at some pictures of "damping off" and see if you have a match.

jmsieglaff · February 10, 2015

How old are the plants? Put another way, how many leaves to they have? To me it sounds like damping off of a young seedling. It is a fungal disease that will likely kill the plant. The fungal spores are often found in non-sterile soil mixes. Pictures are often worth a thousand words.

jahwarrior1423 · February 10, 2015

Can't figure out how to post a picture. My plant seems to be healthy (right now at least)...has 7 leaves plus new growth coming in.

Can I repair the plant?

jmsieglaff · February 10, 2015

If the base of the stem looks kind of like this it is likely damping off. http://s3.amazonaws.com/plantvillage...jpg?1369923639

I don't think the plant can be salvaged--and I know that is certainly true most of the time.

Starting plants in sterile, soil less seed starting mix is the key preventative measure you can make. You'll want to sow more seeds if you do not have extra plants.

jahwarrior1423 · February 10, 2015

It does not look like the picture. Imaging the stem tapering thinner to the base. It isn't a big difference in size but it's noticeable.

heirloomtomaguy · February 10, 2015

If it does not look like the above post of damping off it may be that pepper plants tend to be more "woody" than their tomato counterparts. By woody i mean the main stem and main branches will look more like developed branches on a tree. Its really tough to say without some photos though.

jahwarrior1423 · February 10, 2015

Tried posting a picture but the picture is too large. Don't know how to edit the photo to allow it to post.

jmsieglaff · February 10, 2015

Take your picture open it in paint and choose resize and make it small, resave and upload.

jahwarrior1423 · February 10, 2015

Here is a picture...

jmsieglaff · February 10, 2015

To my eye, I don't see anything wrong with the plant. If others see something I'm sure they will jump in. Are the other plants similar or just this one (with the apparent thinner stem)? One good practice is to let the soil dry out some before watering, don't keep the soil water logged.

jahwarrior1423 · February 10, 2015

The only one showing this kind of stem. I have a couple others that are showing some kind of issue...

jahwarrior1423 · February 10, 2015

I just started growing...first time growing a variety of peppers, though. So I am still learning...

jmsieglaff · February 10, 2015

I'm not sure if it is the lighting of the picture, but the bottom leafs look a bit yellowed. My first guess when I see that is too much water. Are they yellow-ish?

jahwarrior1423 · February 10, 2015

The bottom 2 are a bit yellowish...

February 10, 2015	#1
jahwarrior1423 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Benson, Arizona Posts: 37	Pepper stem size? I have a jalapeño plant that the stem is thinner at the base than the rest of the plant. What causes this? I am using FF ocean forest and FF nutrients and following their feeding schedule.

February 10, 2015	#7
heirloomtomaguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: glendora ca Posts: 2,560	If it does not look like the above post of damping off it may be that pepper plants tend to be more "woody" than their tomato counterparts. By woody i mean the main stem and main branches will look more like developed branches on a tree. Its really tough to say without some photos though. __________________ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

February 10, 2015	#2
JamesL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 1,992	Look at some pictures of "damping off" and see if you have a match.

February 10, 2015	#3
jmsieglaff Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Southern WI Posts: 2,742	How old are the plants? Put another way, how many leaves to they have? To me it sounds like damping off of a young seedling. It is a fungal disease that will likely kill the plant. The fungal spores are often found in non-sterile soil mixes. Pictures are often worth a thousand words.