Bumps have appeared on pepper leaves: causes and treatment methods

Foliage is an indicator of a plant's health. If you notice blisters on your pepper plant, you should carefully examine the seedlings to determine the cause of the blisters. Correctly identifying the cause of the disease is the key to successful treatment. It's easy to distinguish between plant physiological problems and insect damage—inspect the foliage, and if the bumps remain motionless for a long time, it's most likely not a pest.

Bumps on leaves: what could it be?

Pepper seedlings are among the first to be sown. The exact timing depends on the variety and climate, but gardeners most often prepare pepper seeds as early as February. By March, succulent seedlings are sprouting vigorously on the windowsill. However, not everyone grows strong, healthy seedlings.

Causes of curling and pimples:

1. Violation of care rules.
2. Oedema.
3. Spider mite.
4. Scale insect.
5. Aphid.

It's important to understand the causes as quickly as possible. Otherwise, the seedlings will wither, and even if they survive, there's no hope for a bountiful harvest. There are many reasons why pimples appear on pepper leaves. Dangerous symptoms can be detected early, and efforts can be made to revive the plant.

Agricultural technology errors

Peppers require specific conditions, and if they aren't met, they can lead to problems or even death. Bumpy leaves on pepper seedlings can be caused by excess moisture and insufficient light. The leaves appear to "swell." Swelling can also be caused by:

1. Overcooling of roots.
2. A sharp change in temperature and light position.
3. Moving the plant to another location.
4. Lack of light in the greenhouse.
5. Excess moisture.
6. Lack of space for seedlings at the stage of growth under artificial lighting.

An imbalance between temperature, watering, and moisture levels prevents leaves from evaporating the required amount of moisture. This causes a buildup of fluid in the cells, resulting in swelling. This swelling expands, and pimples form on the underside of the leaf blade.

Oedema

It is not difficult to determine the pathological condition - capsular formations can be observed on both sides of the leaf, usually greenish in color, sometimes white tubercles may appear.

The disease often affects the base of the leaf blade near the root, but there are cases where the disease can spread throughout the entire plant. This is the most harmless possible cause of the blistering. Treatment is not required; to eliminate the symptoms, adjust the growing conditions of the seedlings:

1. Reduce watering.
2. Create a temperature of approximately 20C.
3. Normalize lighting.
4. Containers with seedlings should be equipped with drainage to allow water to drain away.
5. Create adequate ventilation of the air in the room.
6. Conduct soil acidity control.

Insect invasion

Pests typically attack young seedlings, and pimples on the leaves are a sign of a problem. It's important to determine the type of insect infesting the seedlings and choose the right pest control methods:

Spider mites attack almost any seedling in the garden. Once they land on a target plant, the parasite begins actively feeding and spinning a web, under which it lays eggs. These eggs soon hatch into larvae, nymphs, and adults, which are detrimental to peppers. The mites' microscopic punctures are tiny punctures, and as they increase in number, the foliage takes on a marbled appearance. If left untreated:

• the pimples will cover the plant completely;
• the leaves will be entangled in cobwebs;
• the pepper will slowly wither.

The difficulty in detecting spider mites is their small size—up to 0.4 mm. They can only be clearly seen with a magnifying glass. Treatment methods vary. Increased humidity for several days is an option. Water the seedlings thoroughly and cover them with a protective layer for three days. Monitor the process carefully to ensure no damage occurs. Store-bought products can also help. Follow the instructions. Always treat the foliage on both sides. Chemicals are effective against the parasite.

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• pimples;
• yellowish, brown or brownish plaques.

They feed on plant sap, absorbing it from the foliage and robbing it of beneficial micronutrients. As a result, the foliage turns yellow, dries out, and falls off, and young pepper seedlings die.

Aphids attack the foliage and stems of plants, sucking the sap, quickly reducing the seedlings to a deplorable state. Their presence is indicated by sticky streaks on petioles and stems, and a lumpy appearance on the underside of leaves. To eliminate the pest, first clean the affected areas of insects; a toothbrush is suitable for this. An excellent remedy is treatment with a solution of ammonia and water.

Greenhouse seedlings are more susceptible to aphid infestation, as greenhouses create favorable conditions for their growth. Pest control methods:

1. Soap solution. Add 5 grams of grated soap per liter of water. Apply the resulting solution to the leaves and stems.
2. Mix 2 liters of water, 20 g of liquid soap, and a few drops of ammonia. Treat the plant with the solution.
3. A solution of wood ash, 200 g per 1 liter of water. Let the mixture sit for 24 hours. For increased effectiveness, add a spoonful of liquid soap. Apply the solution in the morning for three days.
4. Pine needle infusion. Pour 300 g of pine needles into a liter of ice water and leave in a dark place for a week. Apply to the underside of the leaf and anywhere affected.

When pepper seedlings are diseased, pimples are visible and the leaves curl – this is the first sign of a possible problem.

Causes of swelling

Edema (sweet pepper leaf edema) is a physiological swelling, not a disease. It's not caused by infection. A cellular problem occurs, whereby moisture absorbed by the root system isn't absorbed into the foliage cells and accumulates there, causing pimples. Sometimes even professionals can't understand why previously healthy seedlings are now withering due to the development of pimples. Edema is caused by:

1. Over-watering of the soil.
2. Overcooling of the rhizome.
3. The air in the room where the boxes with seedlings are kept is too humid and cold.
4. Temperature fluctuations due to the transfer of seedlings to another location.
5. Lack of light.
6. Dense planting of seedlings.

The reasons why pepper seedlings develop pimples are clear, but it's important to understand the detailed symptoms of edema. The most common symptom is the formation of small capsules that cover both sides of the leaf. They are usually greenish, but can also be whitish. If the spots spread across the entire leaf blade, the leaves will soon fall off. Treatment is simple. Treatment involves proper care of the seedlings and normalizing the peppers' nutritional status.

Control measures to eliminate pimples

If you've overlooked pests and aphid colonies or, even more alarming, thrips have appeared on young plants, it's important to take immediate action. It's up to the gardener to decide whether to go to the market for insecticides or to use folk remedies such as soap, ash, and bitter, aromatic herbal infusions. However, before making a decision, carefully examine the seedlings and assess the extent of the infestation and the number of pests. If the infestation is minor, the problem may be rectified using folk remedies.

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Chemicals

When gardeners don't have time to make their own home remedies or are too lazy to rinse leaves with soapy water, it's best to buy chemicals. Here are some excellent recommendations for the following chemicals:

1. Vertimek.
2. Akarin.
3. Fitoverm.
4. Sunmite.

A one-time treatment isn't enough here either—the seedlings need to be disinfected at least 2–3 times, 7 days apart. The listed chemicals are effective not only against aphids, but also against thrips and spider mites.

It's best to treat seedlings in the morning. If you don't follow this time, the pepper foliage will develop not only pimples but also sunburn (as shown in the photo).

Traditional methods

Folk remedies help combat the parasites that cause blistering on peppers. Dissolve 20 grams of soap shavings in room-temperature water and add a couple of tablespoons of ash. After the mixture has settled, spray the foliage of the seedlings on both sides or dust with a spray bottle. This will partially reduce the number of parasites on the pepper foliage.

To consolidate the effect, apply the solution again after a few days. Some gardeners add a little ammonia instead of ash. Ammonia solution:

• fights parasites on foliage;
• serves as a good preventative measure, repelling pests from healthy pepper seedlings.

Protecting plants from spider mites is even simpler. Water the seedlings thoroughly and immediately cover them with a polyethylene film. The increased humidity will kill the pests.

Prevention

Numerous problems can be avoided during the growing season for young peppers by treating the seeds before planting. Seeds are typically disinfected with potassium permanganate—it's the most cost-effective and readily available solution for growing strong seedlings. Potassium permanganate is readily available in every gardener's medicine cabinet, or it's inexpensive and easy to purchase. Just 2-3 crystals and the water turns a delicate pink.

Pepper seeds should be soaked in the solution for 15 minutes. After draining the manganese solution, rinse the seeds in warm water and dry slightly. The treated seeds are ready to be placed in the soil. Besides manganese, effective seed dressings include:

1. Ash.
2. Baktofit.
3. Albite.

When using pepper treatments, follow the instructions on the packaging. Add one teaspoon of ash to 0.5 liters of water—this solution is used to disinfect the planting material.

To prevent blisters on the foliage after transplanting into open ground, hardening off pepper seedlings should only be done once the leaves have become stronger. Otherwise, the plant will die. Hardening off instructions:

1. Temperature conditions: 10-12C.
2. The first 2-3 times, the seedlings are taken outside for a maximum of 2-3 hours. Then, the time is increased by 60 minutes each time. Finally, they are left outside overnight.
3. Place the seedlings not in the sun, but in a shady place.

Knowing the possible causes of curled pepper leaves and the appearance of pimples on them and applying the suggested measures, you can save seedlings and grow strong seedlings.

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Responsible care of peppers and creating the right conditions for their growth are the key to a bountiful harvest in the future. Therefore, it's important not to neglect the necessary care measures. Furthermore, it's important to respond promptly if any blisters or other defects appear on the pepper foliage.