GGWT growing tip curled?

[sjamesNorway]

The growing tip is curled around itself like a pig's tail on my Girl Girl's Weird Thing plant. The leaves aren't curled. Any idea what causes this? The plant looks otherwise healthy, and none of the other plants in my greenhouse have this problem. Should I pull the plant?

Steve

[ginger2778]

Originally Posted by sjamesNorway

The growing tip is curled around itself like a pig's tail on my Girl Girl's Weird Thing plant. The leaves aren't curled. Any idea what causes this? The plant looks otherwise healthy, and none of the other plants in my greenhouse have this problem. Should I pull the plant?

Steve

Need photos to really help, but look for aphids, mites, whiteflies. Its the usual cause of a curled meristem. If so it wont need pulling,just treating. Really could use photos here.

[sjamesNorway]

Thank you for your reply, Marsha.

First a correction: It's not the growing tip that's curled, but the top two branches. I tried inspecting with a magnifying glass, and there wasn't anything I could identify as insects.

The top photo of the stem that's curled the most, was taken from "overhead". The 2nd photo, of the other branch that's curling, was taken from the side.

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[StrongPlant]

Originally Posted by sjamesNorway

Thank you for your reply, Marsha.

First a correction: It's not the growing tip that's curled, but the top two branches. I tried inspecting with a magnifying glass, and there wasn't anything I could identify as insects.

The top photo of the stem that's curled the most, was taken from "overhead". The 2nd photo, of the other branch that's curling, was taken from the side.

I have this problem as well,though we'll see if it is an actual problem.I had this last year also,but it didn't seem to affect plants in any adverse way.I wonder what's causing this? Anyone?

Btw those are leaves.The entire leaves are curling downward towards the stem.

[sjamesNorway]

Originally Posted by StrongPlant

I have this problem as well,though we'll see if it is an actual problem.I had this last year also,but it didn't seem to affect plants in any adverse way.I wonder what's causing this? Anyone?

Btw those are leaves.The entire leaves are curling downward towards the stem.

I just double-checked to be sure. The leaves on my plant aren't curling; they're just following the curling branch.

Steve

[carolyn137]

Early in the season especially, growth above the soil and growth of the root system are out of sync so you can see curled leaves,upside down leaves and twisted leaves as well.

That's what I think the problem is and when growth is balanced they'll be just fine.

Sheesh Steve,what did you expect when growing a variety that has the word WEIRD as part of the variety name.

Carolyn

[Ricky Shaw]

There's no info that I can find relating to tomatoes, but I wonder in these cases that resemble persistent herbicide damage with little connecting evidence are the result of saved seed from plants that may have been mildly affect, but grew through it and produced ripe fruit.

[StrongPlant]

Originally Posted by carolyn137

Early in the season especially, growth above the soil and growth of the root system are out of sync so you can see curled leaves,upside down leaves and twisted leaves as well.

Phew.Glad I don't have to add that on my "to worry about" list,thanks xD

[sjamesNorway]

Hi Carolyn. It's not the leaves, but branches, though your "out-of-sync" explanation may apply. You're right, I should have expected something weird!

Steve

[sjamesNorway]

Just to say that those who said not to worry were right. The branches uncurled and the plant looks great.

Steve

[Ricky Shaw]

Thank you for the follow up, it helps everyone in future identification. So many things look alike and some things there will never be 100% certainty.

[Spartanburg123]

Yes, I also thank you for following up! Glad to hear that it's back to normal!!

[zipcode]

you can see this more and more often on forums. Just a few days ago there was a similar thread.
It's overfertilization. I think people tend to put more and more seeing the good results other people are having on forums, and when gardening in greenhouses or pots (without changing the medium), there is an accumulation of fertilizer in time, most of what you put last autumn wasn't really used by the plants. In theory it's mostly due to nitrogen, but according to my observations it's not necessarily that, but it's hard for me to say without a soil analysis.

[sjamesNorway]

Originally Posted by zipcode

you can see this more and more often on forums. Just a few days ago there was a similar thread.
It's overfertilization. I think people tend to put more and more seeing the good results other people are having on forums, and when gardening in greenhouses or pots (without changing the medium), there is an accumulation of fertilizer in time, most of what you put last autumn wasn't really used by the plants. In theory it's mostly due to nitrogen, but according to my observations it's not necessarily that, but it's hard for me to say without a soil analysis.

Overfertilization doesn't explain this case. There are 14 plants in containers in my greenhouse. All of them have been treated in the same way. A soil test showed normal N & K, and lower P. They all got two small handfuls of bone meal and a tablespoon of Epsom salts on planting. This is the only plant that curled.

Frequent watering will also flush out excess fertilizer in containers.

Steve