Pepper Plants Help--Yellowing Leaves

[Peaches Lee]

I started my pepper plants in January and they were looking amazing. But last week I noticed they were yellowing and dropping their leaves. I'm new to using grow lights so I'm not sure if that has anything to do with it, or if it's from overwatering. I keep my grow lights on 24/7. Should I turn them off at night? They were initially started in a Jiffy peat pod and then transplanted (they remained in the pod) to the larger container using an organic starting mix (containing alfalfa). Any thoughts?

This plant has lost the most leaves, although it does look better now that its gone through a "drought"

You can see the yellow veining in the left leaf.

 

[Sally PB]

It could be from overwatering.

Also, I'd turn the grow light off for 8-10 hours, at night. Plants need darkness too.

 

[GardenBlooms22]

I agree with @Sally PB on the grow lights. I aim to keep mine on for 12 hours a day.

As far as the yellowing leaves, it sounds like it is due to under-watering and/or malnutrition (see screenshot below). Do you ever use fertilizers on your pepper plants?

The tips I'm giving are based solely upon research, as I myself am no expert in this field.

 

[Peaches Lee]

I have not put any fertilizer in them as they are still in smaller starter pots. Is that something that is usually done?

 

[GardenBlooms22]

I have not put any fertilizer in them as they are still in smaller starter pots. Is that something that is usually done?

I've read that some people start fertilizing at 1-3 weeks of the seeds sprouting. I'm not an expert here, so I would suggest looking it up online and doing further research.

 

[GardenBlooms22]

I think your plant looks great otherwise.

 

[NC_Quail]

I agree with others, plants of that size need some kind of nutrients. Seed starting mixes often do not have any fertilizer or organic compost in them since seedlings don’t need these. However, once the plant gets bigger, that’s when it needs those nutrients.

Personally, this doesn’t look like overwatering to me, since it’s just one part of the leaf. Keep an eye on it though.

 

[Chris2018]

I would recommend feeding a good fertilizer and running your lights 12 hours on 12 hours off.

Yellowing of leave could mean a number of things. Overwatering, underwater, too many hours of light, nutritional definition/s (example a definition of nitrogen, potassium, iron, magnesium, sulfur and copper can cause yellowing of leaves) also over or underwatering and too much light can cause nutritional definition.

 

[Peaches Lee]

Thank you everyone! Where would I find fertilizer?

I do wonder if it was too much light. One of the plants ended up with a blue/purple "burn" on the leaf. The lights are blue.

 

[Chris2018]

Thank you everyone! Where would I find fertilizer?

I do wonder if it was too much light. One of the plants ended up with a blue/purple "burn" on the leaf. The lights are blue.

It depends if your growing organic or not.
Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot garden centers carry some fertilizers. Amazon is a decent place to get fertilizers.