Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Inspect the undersides of leaves.
- Check the bottom of the fruits.
- Look for signs of water splashing on leaves.
Likely causes
Bacterial spot
Most likelyHow to tell: Small, dark, water soaked spots appear on leaves and fruit.
What to do: Remove and destroy affected leaves immediately. Avoid overhead watering to keep the foliage dry.
Blossom end rot
PossibleHow to tell: A dark, sunken spot appears specifically on the bottom of the fruit.
What to do: Ensure consistent watering to help the plant absorb calcium. You can add a calcium supplement to the soil if the problem persists.
Find out what's wrong with your bell pepper
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
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When to worry
If the spots are spreading rapidly to the fruit, it can ruin your harvest. Small isolated spots are manageable.
Stopping it coming back
Water at the base of the plant only and ensure good airflow between plants.
Bell Pepper: spots? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your bell pepper and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Can I eat peppers with blossom end rot?
- Yes, you can cut off the affected part and eat the rest. It is not a disease that affects humans.
- Is bacterial spot contagious?
- Yes, it spreads easily through water droplets. Keep infected plants away from healthy ones.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Bell Pepper
- Why is my chili pepper plant drooping?
- What are these bugs on my chili pepper plant?
- Why are my bell pepper leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my chili pepper plant not flowering?
- Why is my chili pepper plant getting so leggy?
- Why are my chili pepper leaves curling?
- Why are my chili pepper leaves getting brown tips?
- Why is my chili pepper plant dropping leaves?
- Why is my bell pepper plant wilting and showing root rot?
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.