Why Pepper Seedlings Drop Lower Leaves: Overwatering and Poor Drainage

The Symptoms

Three 4-month-old bell peppers in a 3.5-inch pot: healthy green top growth, but all leaves below 6 inches have fallen off—petioles browned and shriveled. New top leaves are small and curled. Watered when soil “looks dry”; fed Miracle-Gro once or twice.

Diagnosis: Waterlogged Roots

Peppers in small pots with dense soil (often high-clay garden soil) suffer from poor drainage and overwatering. The soil surface looks dry while the root zone stays soggy, suffocating roots and blocking nutrient uptake.

Corrective Steps

1. Repot into a well-draining mix: 1 part compost, 1 part peat moss or coconut coir, 1 part perlite or coarse sand.
2. Water only when the top inch is dry—lift the pot to gauge weight.
3. Apply a balanced granular fertilizer (12-12-12) once to jump-start recovery.
4. Ensure the pot has drainage holes and never sits in a saucer of water.

Long-Term Soil Health

Amend garden soil with compost, aged manure, shredded leaves, and peat moss to improve tilth and drainage for future in-ground plantings.

Recommended Gardening Books

Square Foot Gardening (Bartholomew), Lasagna Gardening (Lanza), Rodale’s All-New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening, and others listed in the original answer.