Pepper Plants Not Flowering – Causes & Solutions
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If you hope to get fresh peppers off your plants, they’ll need to flower, first. There are several reasons your pepper plants may not be flowering. In this article, I’ll share the main reasons for pepper plants not flowering or fruiting and how you can fix them.
First, a quick overview of the life cycle of the pepper plant. Under ideal conditions, this is how a healthy pepper plant will grow over time:
- Seedling stage – Early growth and root development
- Growth stage – Branch production, leafy growth, and deep root expansion.
- Flowering stage – Flower production begins after the plant is established, typically 10-12 weeks after planting.
- Fruiting stage – Shortly after flowers form, the flowers will turn into peppers.
Once the fruiting stage is complete, the peppers are ready to pick and enjoy. Learn more about the pepper stages of growth.
Reasons For Pepper Plants Not Flowering
The main reason a pepper plant won’t flower is high temperature. However, there are a few other possible causes which I will cover in case temperature is not an issue.
High Temperatures
By far the most likely reason for pepper plants not flowering is excessive heat. While pepper plants do love warm temperatures, too much heat can be an issue. The ideal temperature for pepper plant growth is between 70-85°F. If temperatures exceed 90°F for an extended period, it can cause a delay in pepper plants flowering.
Perhaps just as important is the overnight temperature. If overnight temperatures stay above 70°F, this may also cause a lack of flowers and fruits. Check the weather to see if overnight temps are falling below this target, and if not, it may explain your plant’s lack of flowers.
Too Much Nitrogen
Excessive nitrogen can cause an abundance of leafy growth, at the expense of flowers. Try not to over-feed your peppers, especially when they are young and getting established outdoors. The smaller plants aren’t using as much nitrogen as they will when they are fully grown.
Be especially careful with liquid nutrients, or highly concentrated fertilizers. These are potent and make it very easy to over-feed. Follow manufacturers guidelines, or even consider reducing the amount of fertilizer by up to 50% to avoid over-feeding.
Not Enough Potassium
Once peppers begin flowering, potassium becomes vital for fruiting. If there is a deficiency in potassium, your plants may drop flowers or produce fewer flowers than normal. For in ground gardens, I suggest a soil test to understand how much of each nutrient is available. Then, apply additional amendments as required.
For potted plants, make sure to use a fertilizer with the right balance of nutrients. I suggest a ratio around 3-1-3 or similar for an all-season fertilizer. Or consider switching to a fertilizer with more potassium once the pepper plants are beginning to flower.
Humidity
While humid conditions won’t cause a lack of flowers, it may cause some flowers to fall off of the plant. This is due to poor pollination of the flowers from excessively humid or dry weather.
Pollen grains are delicate, dusty particles that are vital for flower fertilization. When it is too humid (above 70% RH), pollen may have difficulty releasing from the anthers. If it is too dry (below 40% RH), the pollen can actually dehydrate, interfering with pollination.
Humidity alone can’t explain a pepper plant not having any flowers. However, if you’re dealing with a plant that is not producing fruit, this could be to blame.
I hope this article helps you figure out why your peppers are not flowering. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of waiting until conditions improve. After that, your plants will naturally begin flowering when the time is right.
