Vesper
Full Member
Posts: 46
Joined: Sat Dec 26, 2009 7:53 pm
Location: Zone 5

Black Pearl Seedlings Leaves turning Purple, is this normal?

I sprouted some ornamental pepper seeds from seed. They are the Black Pearl species (Capsicum annuum). I'm growing them under fluorescent lights, with a mixture of one warm and one cool light. Recently, the leaves on the seedlings have started turning a very deep purplish color. Heres a pic.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/17398687@N02/4333835426/
Now I know that the Black Pearl species' leaves eventually do turn a deep blackish color seen here https://www.usna.usda.gov/Research/BlackPearl.html
But I'm wondering if the color on my seedlings is normal, or is it a phosphorous deficiency?
Here is a pic of the light set up
https://www.flickr.com/photos/17398687@N02/4333093987/
The lights are set on a timer for 12 hours on, 12 hours off. Is the height ok? I know that fluorescent lights need to be pretty close to the plant because the light emitted scatters pretty quickly.
So should I apply some fertilizer, or raise up the lights, or just leave the plants alone?

serial_killer
Senior Member
Posts: 122
Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:47 am
Location: Ohio

I'd change the lights to 18 on 6 off, keep them as low as you can, I mean lower than that, like within an inch of the plants. Do you know that at 2" from the bulb there is only 1/4 the light as there is at 1" away and at 3 inches there is only 1/9 the light as 1"? Its called the inverse Square law.

What are the temps during night and day? Cool ambient air, or watering with cold water can cause the dark color, but then again I don't know anything about those peppers, maybe its normal. I have purple basil and its been dark purple since day 1

DanaRae
Full Member
Posts: 15
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2010 3:05 pm
Location: sunny florida

Its ok that kinds leaves turn that color nothing wrong I am growing them too thats just the color they are:)

Vesper
Full Member
Posts: 46
Joined: Sat Dec 26, 2009 7:53 pm
Location: Zone 5

thank you both!



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