See the photos that show the problem. This curling and "eating away" of the leaf tissue happens on only a few leaves. Close examination shows no insects and I have used insect traps without catching any. The problem has been with the plant from the start, several years ago.
Do the leaves grow in this way? Or does it happen to a perfect leaf? It looks like some kind of cold exposure or physical problem. Do you fertile, if so, how often and how much? How is the underside? Is it clean?
To me, it looks like damage done when the leaf was formed.
No, most of the leaves are fine, showing no defects and the plants are healthy and fruit bearing. I don't fertilize. I've taken a few more photos and annotated them to illustrate how the problem can progress - but it can stop at any point. Sometime the leaf is barely affected, other times the problem is so bad that the affected area becomes burned looking, with the tissue turning black. A peculiarity of the problem is that it is almost always on one side (I mean only the left or only the right side) and at the same distance out on the leaf. Both the top and bottom of the leaf shows the problem. BTW - you aren't by any chance the Loretta formerly of Cinnaminson? If so, hello!
This message was edited Jun 18, 2016 1:27 AM
No, I am not that Loretta but "Hello" anyway! Lol!
So, is this plant indoors or outdoors? Your description sounds like possible aphids or similar? They suck on the new growing tips and the leaves grow in distorted and sometimes blackened. Have you looked for small bodied insects? When I blow up the last picture, I can see white spots on the underside of all the leaves along the main vein. What is that? Does it wipe off?
These are indoor plants, now three feet high in a pot. I can see very tiny pits (scars) around the affected area, on either the top or bottom of the leaf or both. Nothing comes off with wiping. I wonder if something is laying eggs? If so, it appears to do it quickly and depart right after doing so because for all my examinations, I've never caught anything crawling on the leaves. I think aphids, though tiny, are usually big enough to be seen and also if you rub a leaf that has them on it, you get a sticky feel on your finger, don't you? That doesn't happen with this. The tiny white spots you mention are near the base of the leaves on the undersides (both healthy and not) look and feel like sap.
This message was edited Jun 18, 2016 8:37 PM
Possibly pierced by a feeder.
Well, as you can tell, I'm grasping at straws right now and there is a good chance that this is totally off base. Your symptoms remind me of what happens to my rhododendrons. The leaves would curl and be deformed like yours and they would also be sticky but no sign of bugs. The closest picture I've found says it is caused by a gall midge. Look halfway down on this page.
http://www.rhodyman.net/rhodynho.php#anchor01510642
Here is just the image:
http://www.rhodyman.net/images/GallMidge2.jpg
Also, although most sources claim your plant is pest free, if you look at the native form, there is a mention of gall midge. No pictures of the damage though. There is mention to fruit damage.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/3496077?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
Here is periploca sp on bugguide.net. They call it a micromoth. It looks like something that might eat your grains or clothes in the closet.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/480992
So unless someone else can chime in here with better information, I would start with changing the potting soil, throw the old soil out and washing everything well and that is just based on the information I read about the gall midge on rhodies. It says they feed for 7 days, lay eggs and pupate at the roots. It may have nothing to do with your problem but keep an eye out for tiny moths.
* Other mention of disease on ardisia is calonectria but I don't think this is your problem.
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/diseases/rot.aspx
https://www.freshfromflorida.com/content/download/10906/141727/nem115.pdf
Good ideas. Thanks very much for all the information.
