Stunted Pepper Plants? The Most Common Reasons, According to Chile Growers

​Having ​stunted pepper plants is extremely frustrating. It’s like your chillies start growing at a snail’s pace or even stop altogether.

This is a common problem.

It’s probably why it’s the number one question I get asked about too.

stunted pepper plants

Pepper Plants Not Growing

This issue happens a lot with pepper seedlings after they germinate. Likewise, you might also experience no growth after transplanting them outside.

So how do you fix stunted pepper plants?

To give you the best possible information, I asked ​other ​gardeners ​to share their advice. I thought you would find it helpful to know what they do when pepper plants aren’t growing. ​

Similarly, I thought it would be helpful to read a variety of responses to get different perspectives on this situation. More importantly, you’ll also get suggested fixes.

Stalled Pepper Plant Solutions

There can be a few reasons, some of the most common are: Low temperatures can cause slow growth, peppers are tropical plants, and will grow at their full potential when kept above 80F.​

​Lack of nutrition can often be the case, especially when growing in starts, as store bought potting soil is sterile and doesn’t tend to contain much of any nutrients.​

If growing in starts as well, they can become rootbound quite quickly, which will stunt your plant, using larger pots and transplanting earlier will solve that one pretty quickly!

​– Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company

» Related – Fertilizing Pepper Plants: This Is What You Need to Grow Lots of Chillies


Patience is required. As long as they have light and are kept moist, they will grow.

Peppers don’t like to go in cold soil. Planting too early results in slower growth. Peppers that go in cold soil become stunted. I don’t plant until June myself. I have a snapping turtle in my pond and when she trudges up the hill to lay her eggs, I know the soil is warm enough to plant. I usually see her the first week of June. The plants that go into the ground then out produce anything planted in early May.

​– ​The Chile Woman

» Related: When to Start Pepper Seeds Indoors


All of our seeds are started under lights and on heating mats. We use the old style bulbs which give off heat, not the newer bulbs. When lights are on for 16 hours a day, soil temps are 80-90, when lights are off for 8 hours soil temps drop to the 70s. We cover with a plastic film until germination but remove every day for an hour or so to allow fresh air in.

We have never had plants not grow after germination! We keep them under lights for 3 weeks, although they come off of the mats after 10 days or as soon as all seeds have sprouted. Lights are within inches of the plants.

If we are having germination issues, we may crank up the heating mats and/or lower the lights closer to the plants. Heat = growth.

After the plants have the first 2 sets of leaves, the cotyledons, and we see the true leaf starting to push out, we begin a weak fish emulsion feeding. We use a very dilute seaweed solution from day one.

Plants will stunt if they are being kept too wet or too cold. Allow the soil surface to dry before more moisture is added. Roots grow looking for moisture. If they are soaking in it, they don’t grow.

So our best guess is that the plants just need more heat. Especially at night. And when big enough, food.

Wishing everyone a bountiful season, your friends at ChilePlants.

​Cross Country Nurseries

» Related – Germinating Pepper Seeds: Tricks to Get Them to Sprout


​​There are a lot of factors that can cause a pepper plant to fail to thrive. Here are my top 3:
1: overwatering
2: insufficient lighting
3: ambient temperatures are too cold.

​​Jeff C. @ Hot Pepper Growing Society Facebook group

» Related: Watering Pepper Plants in Pots (+Bottom Watering Printout)


​My Answers

​In my experience, ​stunted pepper plants are usually due to inappropriate water levels, temperature issues and not enough nutrition. Plants can also stop growing if moved outside without being hardened off first.

To clarify, I often give a weak feeding of fish emulsion after the first set of true leaves. (Here’s a feeding schedule for hot peppers. It also includes when to start feeding peppers.) ​

Likewise, you ​should also check the pH level of your soil ​for the correct range, (​about 5.8 to 6.8). A proper pH helps plants successfully uptake nutrients.

» Related: How to Care for Pepper Seedlings after Seeds Sprout

Will Stunted Pepper Plants Recover?

The good news is yes, they definitely can! Make the changes mentioned in this post, and then give your plants a few weeks to recover.

​Many thanks to the contributors of this article!

Need help keeping your pepper plants healthy?

Learn to treat pests, vitamin deficiencies and other common pepper plant problems with this illustrated ebook. It’ll help you take action before things get out of hand!

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AUTHOR

Jenny is the creator of Grow Hot Peppers. She is a self-taught gardener and has been growing peppers and a plethora of veggies for over 10 years. When she’s not writing or gardening, she loves eating spicy foods, hiking, and going to the ocean.

1 thought on “Stunted Pepper Plants? The Most Common Reasons, According to Chile Growers”

  1. I think shock also effect during the time of transplant.thevreason being the roots are slightly damaged since we donot use seedling tray,we sow our seeds outdoor.from my experience,it takes a month for a pepper plant to be fully green and we waste time for the fruit to be plucked.

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