[GreyScales]

I've been fighting to save this Anaheim chilli against red spider mites all winter. Typically I'd hose it to knock the little * off, then spray it with organic pesticide and see if they came back (they always did...). I put its appearance down to it being attacked by these little pests, but now I'm wondering if it's something more serious?

Some of the leaves have been getting pale, droopy and soft, following by drying up. Is this tobacco mosaic virus? If so I think the double whammy of spider mites and TMV may just tip this plant into the bin :/ Which would be a shame, because it's full of flowers and got small fruit over the winter.

[Lardman]

If it wasn't for picture 2 Id say it just needs some TLC.  If you're options are bin it or do something drastic, Id remove some of the larger more damaged leaves they're not helping the plant anyway, give it a foliar feed and a blast of epsom salts.

Can you isolate the plant in an area of high humidity (big bag) for a bit? It will inhibit the spider mite a bit and give the plant a chance to recover from both the mite and the treatment.

[GreyScales]

Think I've got a big transparent bag somewhere I could use, haven't got any Epsom salts in right now. There is a south facing windowsill, could bag it up and put it there.

Though if it has got a disease like TMV, it's whether it can be saved.

[Lardman]

Any sort of virus like that it's bin time as it's not worth the hassle and risk to other plants. To me the plant just looks really stressed it could well be the continual treatment causing the problem.

[Totty]

I rehomed a decent sized lemon tree. Leaves were just the same as your chillie and was covered in spider mite, I wiped each leAf with a soap solution to be rid of the mite, and mist it at every watering. The mite has gone, new leaves are coming now, the old ones won't recover, but the plant will.

Totty

[Armleywhite]

I might be wrong, but it looks like potassium deficiency.  Before you down owt more serious, just try a good old dose of Epsom salts?  Here's a link that shows same discolouration you have.

http://www.ipni.net/ppiweb/gindia.nsf/$webindex/article=ED1C113465256F090064CEA0F77DD5B9!opendocument

From the site

http://www.ipni.net/ppiweb/gindia.nsf/$webindex/article=4FA6A70106256E40005841E5564E75FB!opendocument

[JayG]

Agree with Lardman that one pic looks like 'classic' magnesium deficiency, the other something considerably more worrying.

I'd err on the side of safety and separate it from the other plants, water with Epsom salts, and keep misted to try to win the battle with red spider mite. Need to wash your hands and any tools before touching other plants too.

[GreyScales]

Epsom salts and a new anti pest treatment are in the mail.

I'd like to be able to isolate it, but space is so limited for me here that I just haven't got anywhere sunny to put it right now. I'll do my best to keep it far apart from anything else.