oxmyx, we don't allow any leaf growing this time of year.
We want root production not leaves, so once a week we remove the leaves. Yes over watering can do this and so can insects.

I don't think it has anything to do with over watering.. they will just rot... If you go down to the search box at the bottom of the page and search "leaf curl" you will find 20 matches with some very good info in them..
Kylie

thanks Kylie

karma your not serious? remove leaves?

un ahh... nope not mites,thrips, That appears to be what does it mostly, looking at the searched posts......

I have some doing the same thing. I knew you could remove the leaf from plants but didn't know your could keep cuttings leaf free. Don't they need a few to get light through?

I also remove leaves. When it's about 8 weeks till planting I allow them to grow. Not only does it help with rooting, it minimizes bug damage. Georgia

I keep leaves at a minium mostly becoz of mites...
Kylie

I also remove leaves from cuttings so that the roots will develope stronger during the winter.I do leave tiny leaves, but I do not let large leaves remain on cuttings. They will flourish with leaves in the spring. And again I point out that I am not an expert(just love the flowers), but this has worked well for me in the years that I have grown brugs.

Does removing leaves technique apply only to Brugs being wintered over indoors? Or unrooted cuttings? Not sure here in SO CAL we have as complete a dormant period as in the colder climes. My Brugs are blooming like crazy in this cooler weather!
Should I be removing leaves for outdoor plants?
Should I be forcing dormancy? If so, How? So much to learn! Gloria

oxmyx, txtremely serious!! You want a great root system, remove the leaves, please!! Thanks for those of you that chimed in with the leaf removal.

gee8ch, you would love to just see the blooms and not the leaves. I strip all winter long as I hate spraying for insects. You can force dormacy by cutting back on the watering when it's colder. On the outside plants it's different, when the cold hits you would be wise to take the clue of those that grow fruit. Watering is a good source of keeping them from not freezing and also cover with some sort of heat, like even Christmas lights. I'm a strong believer even a short period of dormancy will help them in the long run. But again there are certain ones that shouldn't go dormant, those we cut back on the watering.

Those that remove leaves-

what do you do about the growing tips, with their new little leaves???

Those removing leaves-

what temps are you keeping you brugs at and is there any light provided, natural or otherwise??

We have alot of questions here- please help us newbies out!
(I'm not really a newbie, but have only been bringing cuttings and plants inside for two years!)

Thanks for an info!!

Barry, my leaf curl was because of mites, so can't help ya out there!

Brenda B

I'm no expert either..BUT.. The plant spends alot of energy sustaining leaves when my main goal is a great root system so it can take off come spring..It would be awsome for it to bloom inside .. But do I just rob my plant of energy for summer when I expect Big shows...I had mites for a while last yr and just kept removing leaves and misting so they had no place to call home...I didn't have to use any chemicals or anything and was able to get rid of them and all but Dbl Peach bloomed...HMMM she better start showin off or she is out of here..LOL
Kylie

I only have minor leaves on mine at this time. ONly a couple have larger leaf growth.

And that's because I'm hoping they go fast and early this year ready to take off in the ground. The others - minor leaves - but I guess I'll pull them off if they get too big.

Not interested in chasing bugs for the next couple months either.

I better get out there and start removing some leaves then. I thought this was only for large plants.

Kylie

Here's my secret for Double Peach blossoms- composted Chicken litter- undiluted!!! And make sure the soil pH is 6.8-7.0!!

So, did ya do the deed today- all those little seeds snug in their peat pellets?

I planted 54 seeds!

Brenda

BTW, I am so releived to hear about taking the leaves off- no more ready mite-meals!!!

So, all leaves should come off then? or just when the leaves get to a certain size? I have just been taking the bigger leaves.
I knew this was too easy so far, lol.

These cuttings currently with the foliage have about as much growth as the Brugs I received last year in January - with the little leaves and foliage. (Originally, I was very angry they shipped so early - then I was happy. Apparently they really did know what they were doing.)

I had to babysit them inside - from Jan 15th or something like that until I could take them outside. They had leaves and were actively growing. Spindly little 6" plants - skinnier than my pinky finger.

I'm in a 5b. I don't have a long season like others. (What I wouldn't give for a texas length season!)

Now, my January Brugs hit 6' plus the first year - in pots - and bloomed. The larger ones I received later with the leaves stripped - I had to get them going - they didn't do much last year - nor did any of them get large enough to bloom.

So - being in 5b - I need these babies to hit the ground running come April/May. I don't have time for the foliage and branches to develop.

That's the reason I'm "actively" growing mine. The large ones - those were an accident and weren't supposed to be awake right now. They're supposed to be asleep.

But given I've only got from May (Mothers day actually) through October (normally) - that's only 5 months for me.

And some of these pinks are promised to people - I wanted to hand them an actively growing plant with foliage. The other people I gave cuttings to - they already know what they're supposed to do.

But that's why I'm "jumpin'" mine right now. When they're old enough next year - I can dig them up - put them to sleep or cut them up.

Mites, Mites, Mites------ I am a miteaphobe.

AS takes care of it. I have seen it hundreds of times. I am doing a winter kill with oil outside. They are not on my brugs but were on the neighbors oleanders and in my big bay tree. Seems these suckers will eat anything for food. Sprayed the oleanders after dark and will hit the bay tree tonight. I figure if I knock the all the way down in the spring they will be few. When I go outside I look for signs of mites everyday. I have not killed anything with oil yet. AS is much safer but a lot more expensive.

Jim - I sure HOPE it's safe considering that stuff was dripping on my face. (grin) The Armor All for plants. LOL. . .

I LOVE that stuff - it's fantastic! And hardly any smell at all. Perfect for using inside a small enclosed room.

Can't believe how little it smells and washes right up. Neem oil seems to make everything smell like garlic! (grin)

And it wasn't too bad until I got rambunctious with the sprayer inside turned with it blasting and FORGOT about the FAN I had going in there right behind me.

Fwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh! Right back in my face - but you know what? I don't have any mites on me, and strangely, I don't seem to need as much water right now and my face has this nice "sheen" on it. (very big grin)

Seriously - I really really recommend anti stress. It's wonderful.

Awwwwwwwwww everyone has mites. If you don't have them you soon will. I am working on a much cheaper solution. Generic Anti stress and some other cool things; like generic Super thrive, and generic Forbid. Have the research done just need to test them.

Jim, I'll be the first in line for generic plant aids. That stuff is so expensive!!!!!!
Theresa

I'll be next in line!

I'll take some too Jim. Has anyone tried it on zinnias? My butterflies really loved them but by the end of the summer they looked terrible from the fungus stuff I cant think of the name of it right now thanks to bud light and friends.

I want some too Jim, let's have a war on bugs.

Marian

I just need to have some corroboration. In one of Threas's Photos (which see below) has the same symptoms of leaf curl that I do, and I am noticing a significant number of others getting this way.

I am not singling out Threas, I have seen this elsewhere, just using her image. as an example that some of us may have noticed but not thought about.
It worries me, What is it?? (I ask again) Maybe the pictures will be some help.

I was originally sure it was a deficiency, but I do feed well, no sign of mites, there is webbing, right?

{{gwi:585773}}

I have a couple of leaves like that but I think mine is from spraying it and the light being close to it. Kind of made some crispy spots.

jeep461, shhhhhh mites are serious business and some all you need is hot water to get rid of them. But if you have them really bad the only way to rid them is RAID. Strip those leaves!!

I blame everything on mites. I will have to look at the contents of a blue can. The "I do not see any" does not make them go away. Under optimal conditions they can increase 20 X plus in a week. Be aware they can become immune to it in 3 generations. I do not use pesticides now unless the problem is severe. I have a case of ortholene that has no use. I do not have house plants so I cannot imagine an outbreak inside.

Who every heard of mites on Oleander and Bay tree. These were the tiny red ones. New to me. They are dead now. I sprayed everything with oil. Below is a deal for a small grower or inside plants. The AS smother works for me but avid if it has not been sprayed on them before is like King Kong.

Here is a link that might be useful: Avid small bottle

the only battle with mites I have had was obvious. 3 times I have had them and there presence was obvious, - webbing, specs, and oily waxy leaves. I see no signs. Are you all telling me I have mites anyway??

Mr. Broadmite. He is the bad one much smaller than the spidermite. I learned the hard way. Only positive way to know is using a microscope. With all the trading I am sure Mr. Broadmite has crossed your path. He is much worse than the spider mite.

PS- I do believe everyone has mites even if they do not admit to it. Then again I am a mite phobic. I look for them always. I quarantine always.

Here is a link that might be useful: Broadmite

Broad mites are the real bad boys of the brugs.

Can't see them - they just devastate. They arrived in my yard late last year.

Awful - terrible. Anti Stress does it for me.

thanks Jimbo! so I wont see any signs at all!! no webbing, excrement, or anything else??

Barry, I'm going to have to agree with Jim here on the broadmites... I had an outbreak on a small group of brugs outside last year (LAST YEAR-so wierd saying that..anyway) and my leaves looked like what you're showing there. I saw nothing. No bugs, no webbing, nothing but distorted leaves. If those were mine, I'd remove and get rid of those bad looking leaves before I sprayed...

Thanks Michelle! getting a consensus, I also noticed that some of the very small leaves are dropping off, which is indicative of the little bast**ds!

Time to spray.

Strip the leaves. Leaves are not only broadmites food source but also where they lay thier eggs. Isolate these from other plants/cuttings.

Janice

Thats great. That must be what I have too since the leaves are falling off so easily.

How far do the plants have to be for isolation? I'm probably going to treat all mine to a warm bath & new soil & remove leaves!:^( How do I treat/disinfect the area where they were growing?
Theresa

Will antistress kill them? I am going to order some now.

What, where, is anti-stress?

You have to order it. I think from California. I did a search on it and found a number to call but don't have it here with me.