As unlikely as this may sound, chillies drowning is a really common occurrence. Most growers that have grown for a few seasons will testify that watering and getting the watering right is a skill all on its own. Chillies hate nothing more than soggy soil. Soggy soils are a real killer for chilli plants. This may also be due to plants growing in clay based soils that hold water. Dense or compacted soils that have poor drainage or pots that have insufficient drainage can and will be the perfect environment for plants to die. What makes drowning plants even more problematic is that the real issue lies under the soil, invisible to the eye. The top of the soil may look perfectly good, but under the soil, roots sit in water logged soil.

Add to this the added complexity that a drowning chilli plant will show the same symptoms as a under watered plant - drooping leaves. Most growers will see drooping leaves and presume the plant needs water. Adding more water to a already water logged situation is usually the final nail in the coffin!

The best advice is to ensure soil condition is optimal for drainage and aeration. Avoid dense, compacted over saturated soils. Regulate and control your watering. If a plant has drooping leaves, check the soil first with the index finger. If the soil is dry, your drooping leaves are most likely due to the plant needing watering. If the soil is moist, hold off on the watering. The drooping leaves are most likely due to the plant being water logged.

Also, if you are growing in pots. Ensure the base of your pot has sufficient drainage holes that are large enough to allow water to run off freely. Raise pots off the ground with spacers.

If you are growing in the soil, it is adviseable to raise your plants off the ground in raised mounds or beds. In South Africa we are subjected to tropical thunderstorms in the summer grow period. These kind of deluges cause water to pool, which is an absolute no no for chillies. Best practice is to raise the plants off the ground level so excess water can run off and roots can sit higher than any pooling water.

Dank, wet compacted soils with poor aeration are also great places for pathogens to breed, bringing about disease in plants. Loamy, rich, well draing soils are key to happy plants.