Blossoms drop when average night temperatures are below 60 degrees or above 75 degrees. They thrive in areas where daytime temperatures are 75 degrees and night temperatures are 62 degrees. If the daytime temperatures get above 90 degrees, the blossoms will drop. The setting of the fruit resumes when the temperatures get cooler. The small-fruited peppers are not as subject to temperature fluctuations as are the larger ones.
Peppers have a built-in mechanism for prevention of overfruiting.
The plant senses when it cannot support more fruit and will drop flowers. When some of the fruit is harvested, the plant will again produce more fruit, if the weather is just right. Peppers are usually purchased as transplants. If planted too early, when the soil and air temperatures are too cool, they will just sit and vegetate. The small plants often have leaves that turn yellow.