Curly Mandarin leaves

amanda starts with ...
Hi All...I was wondering if anyone knows what causes this? These are two separate mandarin trees in my orchard...thanks in advance for any help :)

Pictures - Click to enlarge
Picture: 1	Picture: 2

Jason says...
I would agree, Camels......Amanda can you take pictures of them in action licking the leaves. Its probably happening now under the cover of darkness.

itdepends says...
Some of the leaves in picture 2 (those that are folded longways) look like they may have been affected by citrus leaf miner- any squiggly silver tracks underneath the leaves?

Don't know about the other ones- we don't get camels down here............

Julie says...
My mandarin doesn't have aphids, but the leaves have been curling back like this for a couple of years. I'd really like to know why.

It hasn't affected the fruit though - had a normal crop.

Speedy says...
Some species of thrips can also cause lvs. to curl,
thereby giving the little critters protection.
Some Ficus spp. are commonly affected , but I dont know about Citrus spp. and thrips.
There are thousands of species thrips so who knows?
If not thrips, you could try seaweed soln. spray on leaves to deter any nocturnal camel activities.
They (nocturnal camels) also dont like the smell of chook poo,
so you could try spreading some of that around the base of the tree.
:-?

HappyEarth says...
Hey Amanda, Is it affecting new growth or the older leaves as well? It looks to me like damage caused by some sap-sucking insect.

Rich
www.happyearth.com.au

amanda says...
Thanks for your help guys! I had a very close inspection this morning and noted a few different types of bugs - and that bean fly has made it's yearly appearance now too.. :( There was also a little round brown bug I haven't seen b4...god knows what that is...

I have treated with a good squirt of water and sprayed with my homemade seaweed brew - so I will be sure to post if I get normal leaves.
There was red spider mite on my capulin cherry tree too.

It's interesting what u find when u take the time to look closely!? ;) It's the worst time of the year for bugs..here at least..I wait with bated breath for my ladybirds to have their population explosion!

Dekka says...
Hi Amanda,
Do you remember what fertilising regime you used? The reason I am asking is that sometimes leaves will curl instead of burning from too much fertiliser. Is growth normal otherwise?

Fishy says...
Hi amanda, did you get a fix for your curly mandarin leaves? ive got the same on a dwarf lemon tree

AM says...
Hi Amanda,

I live in Centreal West NSW and my potted Mandarin has these curling leaves also. I have been trying to find out what causes it also. I certainly dont have any camels here. So might do what someone else recommenced and send a sample to the Dept of Ag.

amanda says...
Hi AM/Brad - I googled this topic to death once and never did find out what causes it. Barely found any reference to it all actually. I still get the odd one's but the trees are really healthy - the orange trees on either side of the mandarins don't get it at all.

It was worse on my Imperial than my Emporer - what type have u guys got?

VLR says...
I think what grub says is true. The older leaves on my Eureka lemon were curled during the winter but they seem to be straightening out now. I have a bunch of other citrus trees growing but the lemon's in the most exposed area (gets the full southerly winds).

Pauline says...
Yes, cold can make citrus leaves curl. For some reason it seems to affect some plants more than others. My lemonade tree has had it, but the new leaves coming through now it is warming up are fine, but my limes were perfect all winter.
I am an obsessive bug checker and the only thing I have found on my curled leaves all winter is the odd spider living in the curled leaf (resulting in the odd squeal from me lol).

amanda says...
This is intense sun/UV stress Gabby...(unless the camels are hiding out somewhere? hehe) My lemon has it for the very first time this year also - in this heatwave.

Just up the water a bit - I am watering fairly well in this heat - but semi-lighty morning and evening - to keep the humidity up arouns the trees? It is not a deficiency - in my humble opinion. It is possible (I suspect) that the heating may be interefering with some nutrient uptake (maybe calcium or such)..there is not really much u can do about that.

There are sun-block products for trees. Can't say I have tried them - it just doesn't seem that necessary. The branches and trunk are more important tho...if they get sunburnt then much damage can follow.

Come the cooler weather the leaf curl should stop...