Pepper Paradox

[Tabasco]

Greetings

These pepper plants are within 2 feet of each other.

The photo is "stitched" so you can see them side by side.

One is completely thriving, the next looks stressed, the next is chewed a bit, but bearing!

Any thoughts on what the deal is?

[rainbowgardener]

Very nice how you stitched the photos together! The two struggling ones both look pretty chewed. At a guess I would say slugs, which are the main thing that chew up my peppers. You won't see them unless you come out with a flashlight late at night. If it is slugs, putting diatomaceous earth on and around your plants is a good treatment, but it has to be re-done after rain.

[Tabasco]

I'm always trying to find whatever is doing the chewing, never see anything.
I use diatom around my house foundation to knock down the palmetto bugs. It leaves a bug graveyard.
I'll definitely put some in the beds.

Thanks

[Tabasco]

Put down rings of diatom.
Also put in my first edition drip system in this bed...

[applestar]

I can't be sure -- the area is not in focus -- but I think I see aphids in the new growths of the center plant.

[Tabasco]

This one?

[Tabasco]

Oh you mean the original stitched photo, let's see.

[Tabasco]

Cropped it...

[imafan26]

Applestar is right, I see them too. The curling and puckering of the leaves are typical of sucking insect damage.