Growing chili peppers can be a bit of a labor of love during the seedling stage, even if they’re pretty low-maintenance once they get established. The tricky part? Pests absolutely love them, and young plants can be magnets for fungal issues.
Aphids and Other Sap-Suckers
One of the most common headaches for chili growers is aphids. These little guys love to pierce the leaves to get at that sweet plant sap. There are a few different types of “lice” that might crash your garden party, and they don’t just cause physical damage—they can also transmit fungi and bacteria through the bite marks they leave behind.
Common pests to watch for:
- Aphids (Greenfly/Blackfly)
- Scale insects
- Mealybugs
If you’re dealing with aphids or mealybugs, a simple soapy water spray usually does the trick. Also, keep an eye out for ant nests nearby. Ants actually “farm” aphids for their honeydew, carrying them onto your plants like tiny livestock. Often, if you take care of the ant problem, the aphids will disappear on their own. A pro tip? Plant some lavender nearby to help keep both ants and aphids at bay.
Scale insects are a bit tougher. They’re flat and stick to the stems like glue, which makes them pretty resistant to soapy sprays. Your best bet here is manual removal—just take a small wooden stick and gently scrape them off. If a specific branch is totally covered, it’s usually easier to just prune that section off.
Other Garden Pests
Aside from aphids, chilis are relatively hardy, but there are a few other critters to watch for. If your plants are in the ground, voles might occasionally snack on the roots. If you’re growing in pots, keep an eye out for grubs in the soil.
If you have chilis in a greenhouse, spider mites can sometimes move in. You’ll know you have them if you see very fine, dense webbing—much thicker and tighter than a regular spider web. These mites thrive in the hot, dry air that greenhouses are famous for.
The fix for spider mites is actually pretty simple: boost the humidity! Unlike tomatoes, which are super sensitive to blight, chilis don’t mind a little shower. Giving them a good misting or hosing them down can clear up the mites and prevent them from coming back.
Fusarium Wilt in Seedlings
There’s nothing more frustrating than seeing a healthy-looking seedling suddenly keel over and wilt for no apparent reason. This is usually caused by a fungus called Fusarium. The best way to prevent this is to watch your watering. Make sure you aren’t overdoing it and always use a drainage layer in your pots. Keeping the soil moist but not soggy is the secret to keeping those roots fungus-free!
