Is this bad? I have a couple that have thrown out some weird puckered or deformed leaves. i'm hoping it might be the cold in my basement... or maybe that systemic I fed them a while back. Please don't tell me it's probably a virus...
Puckering leaves
Poppysue
Check under the leaves for aphids or mites. That is a sign of insects feeding. Ths systemic insecticide could have caused some damage too as can the cold. I've had brugs get chilled and the new leaves grew funny at first. Watch them and see if the next set of leaves is better.
I have also noticed one of my brugs with two sets of leaves that looked sorta curved, but the leaves beneath, the new ones are ok. I think maybe it is because I had this one out of the heat and when I moved it back, it seemed okay. I was worried I had some kind of viruts from my very overcrowed greenhouse. The leaves are green and show no sign of insect underneath or on top, but they definitely do curve like they are just not going out like they usually do. I did not want to think something is going wrong, but I did move this one over to where it is warmer. i will watch it very carefully. It seems strange, cause I've never seen this before, plus the color of the leaves are much darker. as if they just did not go all the way out or something. Do I sound totally nuts, but I don't know how else to describe this. Roz
If the leaf gets damaged while it is still very tiny and developing, it will grow deformed. Do they have black or brown circular spots on them? yellow mottling? black streaks on the stems? Also, to be on the safe side, don't overwinter things that can carry the TSWV/INSV like impatiens and begonias in the same green house with the brugs.
I don't see any insects - although I do have fungus gnats. They were bad for a while but I think I have them under control now. I wonder if the larvea in the soil would cause the leaves to do weird things. I potted it to new soil & brought the plant upstairs where it's warmer and the light is better. It looks like the next set of leaves is normal. No spots, streaks, or mottling - so maybe it will come out of it. I did get rid of one that had mottling on the leaves a couple of weeks ago. It looked to me like the tobacco mosaic virus and I didn't want to take any chances.
midwestsnowbird
Jan 13, 2002
I to have one with curled deformed leaves. I have just been watching it. i did have spider mites. but all seem okay now after treatment.
Glory
Jan 13, 2002
Roz,
Have Jen look under the leaves for you for spider mites....they are very, very small red dots that move.
Another way to find the bugs is to take a sheet of white paper and hold it under the plant and flick the leaves. The mites should fall onto the paper. A magnifying glass helps to see them. Thrips can be seen this way too.
This message was edited Sunday, Jan 13th 3:09 PM