Below is a list of some common pests and diseases that affect chilli peppers
Aphids
Look for colonies of greenfly on the soft shoot tips of plants or on leaves. They suck sap and excrete sticky honeydew, encouraging the growth of black sooty moulds.
Aphids remedy
Use your finger and thumb to squash aphid colonies or use biological control in the greenhouse.
Whitefly
Small white flies suck sap and excrete sticky ‘honeydew’ over the plant, encouraging the growth of sooty mould.
Whitefly remedy
Use biological control or sticky traps in the greenhouse.
Grey mould
A usually grey, fuzzy fungal growth which can begin as pale or discoloured patches. Grey mould ( botrytis) is a common disease especially in damp or humid conditions. Spores enter plants via damaged tissue, wounds or open flowers. Mould can also damage ripening fruit such as strawberries. Black resting spores survive over winter.
Grey mould remedy
Remove damaged plant parts before they can become infected. Cut out infected areas into healthy tissue and clear up infected debris. In greenhouses, reduce humidity by ventilating and avoid overcrowding of young plants and seedlings.
Glasshouse red spider or two-spotted mite
Leaves become mottled, pale and covered in webbing, on which the mites can be clearly seen; leaves also drop prematurely.
Glasshouse red spider or two spotted-mite remedy
They thrive in hot, dry conditions, so mist plants regularly. Use biological control in the greenhouse.