Plant guide:ðŦ Bell Pepper
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Nutrients
Yellowing Leaves From Nutrient Deficiency in Bell Pepper
Commonly affects: Capsicum annuum, Grossum Group (Bell Pepper)
Leaves yellow, sometimes starting with older growth and sometimes between the veins, distinct from simple watering-related yellowing.
Potential Causes
- 1Nitrogen deficiency causing overall pale yellowing, particularly on older leaves, since the plant moves nitrogen to newer growth first
- 2Magnesium deficiency causing yellowing between leaf veins while the veins themselves stay green
- 3Depleted soil or container mix that hasn't been fed adequately for a heavy-feeding fruiting plant
Solution Steps
- 1Feed with a balanced fertiliser regularly through the growing season, since bell peppers are relatively heavy feeders once fruiting begins
- 2Apply Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) as a supplement if interveinal yellowing specifically is present
- 3Rule out watering issues first, since these are an equally common cause of yellowing
- 4Refresh container potting mix at the start of each season, since it depletes faster than garden soil
Prevention Tip
The yellowing pattern helps identify the cause â overall pale older leaves point to nitrogen deficiency, while green veins with yellow tissue between them point to magnesium.
