Re: Curling oleander leaves

iberbier@cgac.es wrote:
> 
> Another novice query: I've noticed a lot of the leaves on my newly
> planted oleanders are curling up - lengthwise this is, along the main
> axis of the leaf. What is causing it? Heat? Lack of water? Too much
> water? They are in large metal containers in full sun. Mulched with
> newspaper and wood chippings.
> 
> Thanks for your patience.
> 

 Damian 
The only possibility I can think of is an infestation of an insect,
possibly (if there is actually one which favours oleanders) some sort of
leaf-curling midge like the one which is found on the tip leaves of
apples in some areas.

If such an insect is involved you would probably find some evidence of
its presence in the curled-up leaves, either the insects themselves or
the mess they leave behind (frass), though the apple ones do not stay in
the leaves very long and by the time one sees the curling the young have
often completed their growth and dropped to the ground where they
pupate.

There doesn't seem to be much one can do about it and apart from looking
unsightly they don't do any long-term damage. On the apples they are
only serious on very young plants where most of the leaves are attacked
so they may have their growth stunted a bit. If one can catch them at
the stage where the insects are still present, cutting off the infested
tips and burning them will go a good way to controlling them.

Of course my advice only applies if there are definite signs of insect
presence. Otherwise I have no useful suggestion to make, as though
oleanders are quite common here I have never seen this happen locally.

Moira
-- 
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata, New Zealand. (on the "Ring of Fire" in the SW Pacific).
Lat. 41:16S Long. 174:58E. Climate: Mediterranean/Temperate
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index