About Grey Mould in Chilli Plants

Grey Mould is the more common name for the fungal infection Botrytis cinerea. It can effect many different varieties of plant including chillies, tomatoes, soft fruits, curcurbits, salad and many varieties of ornamental plant. Grey Mould is a particular problem with plants grown under glass where conditions can be humid. The spores for Grey Mould are always in the air but it generally only attacks plants when under stress or through wounds in the stem. It can sometimes enter the plant but have no visible signs until the fruit starts to ripen, sugar content rises and the pods then go to a brown mush.

Symptoms of Grey Mould in Chilli Plants

1. Fuzzy, grey, mould growths on any part of the chilli plant including stems, leaves, buds, flowers or fruit. This can be in spots or across the whole plant.
2. Look out for tiny black seed-like structures in the infected part of the chilli plant.
3. Chilli pods can go soft and brown instead of ripening.
4. In severe infections, buds and flowers and indeed the whole plant can quickly shrivel and die.

Cure for Grey Mould in Chilli Plants

There are no fungicides on the general market approved for Grey Mould. In fact the only thing to do with a plant with grey mould is to remove it from the greenhouse to stop the spread of the infection.

Prevention of Grey Mould in Chilli Plants

Prevention is the only real way to deal with Grey Mould in Chilli Plants. This is all about humidity and hygiene.
1. Remove dead and dying leaves, buds and flowers from your chillies immediately and do not leave dead plant material lying around.
2. Keep chilli greenhouses well ventilated so that they do not get too humid.
3. Do not overwater chilli plants or leave water in greenhouses.
4. Do not try to cram too many chilli plants into your greenhouse as this will reduce ventilation, increase humidity and ease the spread of fungal infections and disease.

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