Chilli plants

[Maggiethecat]

Grew these chilli plants last year and they never fruited but kept them hoping they’d fruit this year.
They lost a lot of leaves, but I thought that was just because of the cold even though they’re inside.
They take up a lot of space indoors and I’m just wondering if they’re worth saving?

Personally, I would scrap these and go and get some young chilli plants for the GC to grow on this year (it's perhaps a little late now to grow from seed).

They don't look very healthy. I'd buy new seedlings and compost these ones.

They always drop a lot of leaves when overwintering. But is that an aphid infestation I see on them? See if you can kill that off, then I think I'd give them a chance.

Not sure if that is aphid infestation- I shook the plant and nothing flies off but I agree it looks they’ve been attacked.
I repotted them and the roots looked brown so think may have to cut my losses - such a waste of effort keeping them alive over winter.

Aphids won’t fly off. Most of them are wingless.

The crinkled leaves suggest aphids. The mottling and yellowness suggest red spider mite. Aphids would look like green blobs under the leaves, red spider mite like dust under the leaves and perhaps fine webbing in the leaf axils.

Either way, they’re not happy and would take a lot of tlc. So unless you have an emotional attachment, I would buy new.

There are fine yellow particles on the underside of leaves, probably eggs.
I’ll happily get rid of especially if likely to infect other stuff growing nearby.
Arghh!

Try giving them a 10 minute soap bath first - cover the potting soil with a plastic bag first, then stick them upside down in a bowl full of soapy water. If that doesn't work, discard.

If very small, could be red spider (which are yellowish brown)

It's not easy to overwinter chillis, I've found! You have to be ruthless and throw away any with any sign of infestation. I've had the best results by doing a soap spray (as above), pruning down to a few live branches and removing leaves, then another soap spray.

If you do manage it, you'll have a head start for the next year so you'll have an earlier crop.

I plant seeds in between Christmas and New Year.

Ok, 7 plants - binned 4 and kept 3.
gave them them soap bath to see what happens!

I hope that works for you - but they do look very unwell and I wonder if they also have a virus, transmitted to them via the aphids.

Here’s an update! Tried @GrumpyPanda method of inverting plant in bucket of soapy water.

This is what the 3 saved plants look like now! Lots of new healthy leaves.
Not sure if they will fruit this year but we’ll see!

They look good! I'd put money on them fruiting this year, and earlier than this year's plants. Well done! Just keep an eye open for any further infestations

@MistyMountainTop - I do hope so!
Bathing my chilli plants might become my new favourite hobby 😂

Update - plants have been doing well until now! Just noticed that some leaves have big brown patches. Pest or lack of nutrients?

Further update! It’s been a struggle but I have peppers!

The plants have been outside despite the cold miserable weather so not looking great and I’ve finally brought them inside.

Just chuffed that I persevered and they’ve fruited. Let’s see how they continue to get on!

Woo! Well done!

No-one answered in June but that was probably natural die back of older leaves.

Well done! Nice healthy looking plant! It’s not been ideal weather for them

@MistyMountainTop - hope you did put money on them fruiting this year!! Thanks to you and @GrumpyPanda for your rescue tips.

@MereDintofPandiculation - it hasn’t been ideal whether for anything this year but getting a few peppers has made me so happy. Gardening does really teach you to be hopeful!