Infestation

• One common problem for jalapeno peppers, whether grown in the ground or a container, is infestation. Although the pepper itself is often too acidic to provide good food for insects, plant eaters such as aphids, spider mites and nematodes feed on pepper plants, destroying their leaves before they have a chance to grow fruit. While aphids will eat leaves directly, mites will eat at the leaf joints, cutting the leaf off from the plant at its base. This causes a drying-out and curling of the leaves while the rest of the plant remains green. Nematodes will infest the root system, destroying the plant's ability to take nutrients or moisture. These problems can be solved by maintaining well-drained soil and occasional spraying with pesticides.
  
  

Infection

• Soil-borne infections such as root rot and fungus can also cause problems for the jalapeno. Fungus will show itself as black spots on the leaves or powdery growths anywhere on the plant. Root rot is only evident when dead leaves begin to appear and the stem cannot hold its own weight. Both root rot and fungus involve pruning off the dead or infected parts of the plant. This ensures the jalapeno plant's energy is not being leeched by mold or sickness. Changing the soil often usually prevents soil-borne infections.
  
  

Malnutrition

• Malnutrition is a common problem in plants such as the jalapeno. This happens when the plant is not properly fertilized, but also if the plant is not given enough space to grow. Jalapenos must be between 18 and 24 inches apart and require 3 to 5 gallons of soil to grow properly. This allows a solid root system to form and reserves enough soil to provide proper amounts of nutrition. Sunlight for six to eight hours per day is also necessary to the growth of jalapeno plants; too little and the plant won't have enough energy to bear fruit, too much and the leaves will burn, causing the plant to die.
  
  

Temperature

• Jalapeno plants are particularly susceptible to temperature and can fail to bloom even after healthy growth all season if the temperature is not correct. Jalapenos will stand the best chance if they are kept in temperatures between 80 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and above 75 degrees Fahrenheit in the evening.