Re: Curling oleander leaves
In Italy we get a bright yellow aphid which has a similar effect on the plants, probably due to
removal of the lymph in the leaves. Quite how they survive on such a diet is a mystery to me, but it
occurs to me that reserach into it could even lead to an antidote to oleander poisoning.
This sort of infestation usually occurs in Italy when the oleanders are pruned too late on in the
season. When did you prune yours (if you did?) Damien?
Anthony
Tony & Moira Ryan wrote:
> 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
