How to treat Cayenne Chili plant with white spots?

MissWiggle

Hello,

I have this lovely chili plant my nan got me. I noticed some of the leaves have these funny white spots on them...

They seem okay for now but my nan is super worried it's gonna get worse and the plant will die.

Is there a safe spray to use?

Or is it something that isn't gonna get worse?

I'm not really much of a gardener but it would save me an earful if you could let me know.

JacobZ

Hi @MissWiggle ,

From the photos, I suspect the white spots are most likely damage caused by insects.

I'd give the plant a really thorough inspection for insects, paying particular attention to the undersides of the leaves and along the stems. Look for any tiny insects, eggs, webbing, black specks or sticky residue that might indicate pest activity.

At this stage, I wouldn't be overly concerned or start applying pesticides until we have a better idea of what is causing the spots.

Maintaining good plant health is always going to be a good idea when experiencing issues, so in the meantime, have a read through https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/garden/planting-and-growing/growing-chilli-plant-care-guide for some tips on how to care for your chillis.

If you find anything indicating insects, please take a close-up photo and let us know what you see. We can then help identify the culprit and recommend an appropriate treatment.

Jacob