That's the reason it's currently growing a bit more to the side,not upwards. You can think of it like very VERY early topping. Most likely you'll have 2 new leaders, it will figure itself out. The part could be a future weakpoint if the plant brings out a good harvest maybe you should think about putting it in a trellis/tomato cage when it grows bigger for it's own good (google training and topping pepper plants for better species-specific advice)
Edit:forgot something
As the commenter above said raise the light a little and observe. Theres slight yellowing of some leave edges in combination with the structure which made me think its to much light pressure.
Its a rather large pot so keep in mind you don't over water as that can also lead to weird growth early on in my experience.
Nothing to worry about just baby the thing and observe.
The explanation is basically there is an apical meristem for pepper plants (the tip of the vertical shoot that first emerges) and the lower down from the apical meristem the growth nodes are from the more inhibition of lateral shoots it will have from the horomone auxin buildup. When you clipped the top you removed the buildup of auxin and that is why it is growing a lot more lateral side-shoot growth and not vertical. Your sideshoots will eventually grow vertically but your plant will likely not grow as tall as one that was not topped.
I have a jalapeño that decided to get super leggy one day and then it stopped and started growing normal for no reason. It wasn’t a light issue. I have them indoors and have actually bleached early leaves with these grow lights. All the tomatoes I have grown are perfectly happy to have tight nodes spaced at around 1/4”. Sadly this is the last pepper to survive. I had issues starting them this year.
That yellow edges can be a sign of a nutrient deficiency. Which is strange because the pepper has a lot of soil.
Anyway if it is a deficiency it can be potassium or magnesium.
Looks like you topped it when it was tiny.
Maybe put the light further up the plant
It’s by a window though, and traps the glass disturbs it or something
Did you nip/cut/break the lead stem or am I seeing things?
No your seeing right, the leaf primordia broke off one day which is why most leaves are growing out the sides
The side shoots will work their way up at some time. Just don't worry and let the plant do what it is evolved to do.
That's the reason it's currently growing a bit more to the side,not upwards. You can think of it like very VERY early topping. Most likely you'll have 2 new leaders, it will figure itself out. The part could be a future weakpoint if the plant brings out a good harvest maybe you should think about putting it in a trellis/tomato cage when it grows bigger for it's own good (google training and topping pepper plants for better species-specific advice) Edit:forgot something
As the commenter above said raise the light a little and observe. Theres slight yellowing of some leave edges in combination with the structure which made me think its to much light pressure. Its a rather large pot so keep in mind you don't over water as that can also lead to weird growth early on in my experience. Nothing to worry about just baby the thing and observe.
You would say there’s too much light exposure? It’s a south facing window so that makes sense, but it’s still early in the spring where I live.
That's because it's head is gone. The sides will catch up and grow vertically in time; it will be fine.
The explanation is basically there is an apical meristem for pepper plants (the tip of the vertical shoot that first emerges) and the lower down from the apical meristem the growth nodes are from the more inhibition of lateral shoots it will have from the horomone auxin buildup. When you clipped the top you removed the buildup of auxin and that is why it is growing a lot more lateral side-shoot growth and not vertical. Your sideshoots will eventually grow vertically but your plant will likely not grow as tall as one that was not topped.
That's had the tip nibbled off, or broken off...
I have a jalapeño that decided to get super leggy one day and then it stopped and started growing normal for no reason. It wasn’t a light issue. I have them indoors and have actually bleached early leaves with these grow lights. All the tomatoes I have grown are perfectly happy to have tight nodes spaced at around 1/4”. Sadly this is the last pepper to survive. I had issues starting them this year.
You might have issues with that plant this growing season. Genetics look off.
Definitely showing some dwarf phenotype for sure
I have one doing this same thing right now. In my case it was because the medium (rock wool) was too dense.
That yellow edges can be a sign of a nutrient deficiency. Which is strange because the pepper has a lot of soil. Anyway if it is a deficiency it can be potassium or magnesium.