The first article says that greenhouse tomato growers need to replace their perlite because of salt and pathogen buildup, OR they can take care of both with a hot water process. It is obscure to this discussion because: 1. Geoff's plants are not in a greenhouse so they are leached by the rain 2.The timeframe is still wrong (1-2) years before replacement, not 4 months 3. Tomatoes are less salt tolerant than figs, and this article outlines successful tomato growing only.4. there are dead tomato roots in this equation, they prolly contain some salt. The article clearly states that salts can be leached from perlite, it tells you to use hot water but remember they are killing insects and diseases too. So your article proved what I said earlier, perlite does not hold salt, because it can be leached easily. The second web address is to a basic potting media guide that makes no mention of the topic.? If you think I missed something important then why not post the quote so everyone does not have to copy and paste those links into their searchbar and read through to find what you are talking about. Because they should not just take your word for it, the info you provided is obscure and irrelevant like I said. There was one gem that applies to Geoff's situation though, the play sand specifically. His mix has poor drainage and aeration as a result of fine sands. "Fine sands (0.05mm - 0.25mm) do little to improve the physical properties of a growing media and may result in reduced drainage and aeration." FYI I know there are more types of salts. Your response to Geoff's question was gobbldygook related to this very topic. You say that "salts" are accumulating in his media, but fertilizer salts, you called them "nutrients", are leaching because the mix is too "porous". Care to explain how that is possible?

Hi Tevita, Could be Erinose Mite, but really need pictures to correctly ID it. Also, what country are you from as this helps ID as well? Regards, Brian Kerr.

Here are some extra photos of the less-affected plants.

I see similar leaves every year and do not know what causes them. My plants seem to get affected after a sharp drop in temperature after some very hot days. They always continue to grow and produce. The weird leaves may only last for 1 or 2 branches then return to normal. As the deformed leaves grow in size they often get more and more normal looking. Acid rain? Air polution? Herbicide drift? I don't know but I think you will still get tomatoes, at least I did for the last 3 years with plants that developed leaves like the ones you posted.