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What causes leafs to curl up on a plant

young codgeryoung codger Posts: 529
in Problem solving
This tends to start at the top of the plant and progress downwards. 

On the current plant it is only one leaf. On another that has many more leaves, it is affecting  about 4 leaves so far.

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  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 16,695
    There are various types of leaf rolling insects. If you carefully unroll the leaf, is there anything inside it? 
  • young codgeryoung codger Posts: 529
    No,  ganja insects or other insects of any kind. 

     I am always inspecting the 3 plants with a very bright torch because I did have aphids sniffing round earlier on in the summer. I would inspect 2 or 3 times during the day. 
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 11,430
    I know tomato leaves can roll up if the plant is over watered. It looks healthy enough though.
    What type of plant is it ?
  • young codgeryoung codger Posts: 529
    Plum-I have 3 now at various stages of growth. 
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391
    If just one of those aphids happened to suck on that distorted leaf while it was forming, you have your answer.  Extremely common on any plant which has been attacked by aphids.  Another possibility is mildew, especially if they are indoors?
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • young codgeryoung codger Posts: 529
    What is it that actually causes mildew, is it inadequate ventilation? 
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391
    Poor ventilation, high humidity and warm temperatures are the main things to avoid.  Tree seedlings are best kept outside but in a sheltered position so they can experience normal weather conditions.  If kept too warm they may fail to go into normal dormancy which could affect future growth.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • young codgeryoung codger Posts: 529
    That is something I have to seriously consider if that is the case.

    I've kept them in the house thus far since germination.

     They have only  stood outdoors in the sun on a couple of very brief occasions-maybe a total of 4 hours in all. Even then, the aphids were on them in that short time so never ventured out after that.

     At the moment I am unsure where I could put them from say October onwards. My first thoughts are the cold uninsulated garage. Obviously I'm concerned about frost.

    I acknowledge that you say sheltered. If the garage temp went  below zero I would be wanting to bring them back in. The conservatory is cold in winter but warmer than the garage.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,119
    I'm not sure why you're worried about them being outside. If you get them hardened off and outside now, they'll be fine up against a house wall or somewhere similar, just so that they have some protection from the extremes of winter weather. I leave all sorts of cuttings outside, even in tiny pots, all year round to no ill effect. I might lose the odd one or two, but it means anything that grwos on afterwards is a good sturdy plant.

    Their growth will slow down naturally outdoors, and as @BobTheGardener indicates, they'll become dormant, and they'll be stronger, better plants than if they're cossetted and protected.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • young codgeryoung codger Posts: 529
    My concern is frost.

    I have sowed many plum seeds this year-my first time of trying. I only ended up with 3 plants.

    They are doing okay at the moment, I would not want to lose them. They don't have a monetary value. The value is the time & effort invested in them so far, and the low success rate I have experienced.

    I would initially like to know when all risks of aphids have past. If I was to put them out now the aphids would decimate them.

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