April 10, 2010 - Jalapeno Plant Update
About 2 weeks ago I blogged about coming home to find that the cat had attacked the poor pepper plant: the leaves were on the floor and one of his big branches -- the only one with a pepper -- was on the ground. A day later it was infested with spider mites. We're not sure how they got in because the plant had been kept indoors all winter. We think that they were waiting in the soil, and after it was traumatized they sensed the plant's vulnerability and attacked. We mixed dish soap and water and sprayed the plant outside, then left it out there, hoping the soapy water solution and cold evening temps would kill the mites.
Our recipe: using a 16 oz. spray bottle, we added 3 pumps of Dawn Direct Foam and filled the rest with water. It was very sudsy.
We sprayed the plant hard on top and underneath the leaves several times. It seems to have done the trick. We haven't seen signs of mites, and it's even producing a few blooms. I grew this little plant from seed. I watched him grow from a tiny spindly little stick to a pretty healthy plant that has survived caterpillars, a cat attack, and hopefully the mites. Hang in there Pepe!
I didn't know that jalapeno plants even got to that size.
ReplyDeleteI"m glad you were able to save it.. for I know it would have been a terrible disappointment to have lost it after the time and effort you put in growing it from a tiny little seed.
Good for you...experience is the best teacher!
I was hoping to keep this plant as a perennial? I've heard of some people in warmer climates having pepper plants year-round, so that's why we brought it inside over winter and gave lots of love and care. I hope it pulls through!
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