How to prevent blooming peppers
If pepper seedlings have bloomed, it is necessary to suspend the growth of the bushes. Otherwise, they will not be able to take root in the new planting site, but the nutrients for the formation of ovaries, which will lead to loss of yield.
Preventing Pepper Seedling Blossom
Causes
Usually, the situation when pepper seedlings bloom occurs when growing early-maturing varieties. Especially if they are planted earlier than February 20 in the southern regions or earlier than March 1 in the northern ones.
Other reasons due to which a vegetable crop blooms:
- The air temperature in the room where the pepper is grown exceeds 25 ° C - this is a common occurrence if planting is carried out at home, and the bushes are on the windowsill. If the sun's rays hit the glass directly on the plants, then it will grow faster. Especially if the first true leaves have already appeared on the seedlings.
- The introduction of drugs that stimulate growth, until the time of transplanting the bushes into the main soil.
- Watering more than 3 times a week - so the plant will bloom a month after planting, the sprouts will stretch out and become thin.
- Soil oversaturated with fertilizers. This is especially true of phosphorus fertilizers, which are responsible for plant growth.
Effects
Growing peppers at home on a windowsill, you need to know that if pepper seedlings have bloomed, this problem should be urgently eliminated. The consequences of inaction can negatively affect the harvest.
The consequences of the early appearance of flowers on seedlings:
- the formation of fewer ovaries;
- lack of flowering bushes after transplanting;
- do not take root in a new place.
But the worst result is a lack of harvest. This may be due to the fact that when the pepper blooms, all of its energy is spent on the formation of new shoots and flower buds.
There is often not enough space for growth, because at the time of early flowering, picking has not yet been carried out. As a result, the roots may begin to intertwine, and the plant will simply fade even before transplanting into the ground. Due to a poor root system, the bush will not be able to root. Later, you will no longer have the strength to form one more flowers and ovaries. And for the fruit, there will be no nutrients at all.
Another option is to decrease the yield when the weight of one pepper rises by 1.5 times. The fruits will lose their juiciness, meatiness and delicate flavor. Some may dry out. Their immunity will decrease, and the risk of contracting diseases or pests will increase.
Ways to fight
The first flowers must be pinched
The following measures should be taken:
- Remove the first flowers, that is, those that formed and bloomed the very first. Pinching is carried out with the help of a pruner or the flowers are cut off by hand. This is done carefully so as not to harm the entire plant.
- If the plant not only blooms, but the process of forming peppercorns has already begun, they are also removed. The ovary itself is not touched, only the fruit is removed.
- They change the temperature regime in the room. It is necessary to reduce the daytime temperature to 18-20 ° C, and the nighttime temperature to 13-15 ° C. To do this, you need to often ventilate the room at home. But remember that you cannot put pots with a plant in a draft, because it can fade and perish.
- Remove seedlings from the sunny side.For a week, it is better to place it on a windowsill, which is not exposed to the sun's rays. The lack of sunlight perfectly inhibits the growth of pepper seedlings.
- Reduce the number of watering by 2 times. That is, they should be held no more than 2 times a week.
- Stop fertilizing. It is better not to apply this procedure to young sprouts at all. Completely remove fertilizing based on phosphate-free preparations.
- Make a pick. Sometimes the root system forms quickly and has nowhere to grow, so the bush begins to grow upward. Transplant the sprouts into separate pots, preferably peat pots.
But there is an exception to the rule - if one bush is chosen to receive seeds, then flowers should not be removed from it. You need to act according to the first principle - just transplant the plant into the ground in the form that it will reach before planting. Cover the seedlings with lutrasil and add a hydrogel to the ground, which retains moisture.
Prophylaxis
It is enough to adhere to the basic rules for planting pepper. Initially, a variety is selected in accordance with the characteristics of the climate of the region. For the southern regions it is better to choose early and mid-ripening varieties, for the northern ones - mid- and late-ripening ones. You should first find out when to plant seeds and transplant seedlings in open ground of a certain variety.
Do not forget about the quality of the soil. It should be rich in nutrients. It is better to choose soft soils. The worst option is acidic ground where the plant can wither. If there is no other choice, liming is imperative.
It is important to pay attention to the temperature regime. Only before the first leaves appear, the temperature of 23-25 ° C should be observed at home. After this period, it is imperative to reduce to a maximum of 20 ° C. For this, the room is often ventilated or pots with sprouts are transferred to the corridor, cellar, pantry.
Recommendations
- Maintain humidity at 70-80%.
- Plant seeds at least 3 cm apart. But it is better to immediately plant them in different pots.
- Water no more than 2 times a week. Navigate by the condition of the soil.
- Quench before planting. Thanks to this, the plant will not fade, but will be able to normally take root in a new planting site. To do this, pots with sprouts are taken out into the street for 2-3 hours, and then back to the house for 5-7 hours. Gradually, the time spent on the street increases.
- Dive in time. Especially if 10-15 bushes grow in one container. The picking time is determined by the state of the plant - if 2 real leaves appear, they are transplanted into separate, large containers.
The soil in which the plants will be planted is disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate or boric acid. The landing pattern is 30 * 30 cm.
Conclusion
If the pepper seedlings bloomed early at home, you need to urgently remove the first flowers. If there are many of them, remove those that are at the top of the bush. You can also change the temperature regime, reduce the amount of watering, remove top dressing, etc.