New chilli plant is wilting and shriveling

Question

I bought a chilli plant and left it indoors by the window in its original pot. It's had two waterings since I bought it, spread about a week apart. I cannot remember exactly when the problems started, but some days after I brought it home it started to wilt, and the leaves started to dry and shrivel along with some of the peppers. I've cleaned up a lot of shriveled leaves that have dropped off by themselves.

When I first noticed the wilting, I picked most of the matured chillis in case it was suffocating (it had a lot of chilli clusters), and I removed the shrivelled leaves. No improvement. I hope I didn't shock it more with the plucking.

I live in cold, rainy London and my windows are not double glazed. Perhaps it was the recent cold front that shocked it? I watered it once after the wilting and that did not help. I'm hesitant to water it again in case the problem is fungus (but no white stuff on the soil that I can see). I've since moved it to my kitchen counter away from the cold window sill. No improvement still after a day in the warmth.

It still has some baby leaves, under-developed chillis, and several matured chillis. I think I can save it but not sure the next safe step. Any thoughts?

Answer 1

Your pepper plant is perhaps what we might term "quite mature and tired". It has reacted to the move to your home as any old established creature might do, by showing some pain and discomfort, being quite unused to the new conditions. However such specimens can be rejuvenated without too much trouble. It wants to be warm (above freezing is ok but warmer than that if possible) and have light. Don't expect too much of it until next spring when you could renew it by removing the plant from the pot, cutting off the bottom half of the root ball and removing all the old soil from the remainder. Trim back any dead roots and cut back the top growth by half. Replant in fresh soil and give it light as the days get warmer. It will thank you.