Cause of these leaf changes in a queen's crepe myrtle (pride of India)

[Rakesh Biswas]

We have noticed these leaf changes in our queen's crepe myrtle from a potted sapling since Jan 2008 (image apr 18 2008) as they persist even today although the plant continues to thrive. (Image Jan 25 2009).

 

Would be grateful for comments, suggestions regarding these peculiar changes and remedies.

 

rakesh

[Kenneth Greby]

Rakesh--  Looks fine to me. New growth (from mature stems) is typically coppery colored. Mature leaves in second picture look to be of typical thickness. Regards-- Ken Greby Broward County, Florida USA --- On Sun, 1/25/09, Rakesh Biswas <rakesh...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Yazdy Palia]

Dear Rakesh,
If the colour is only on tender leaves it is ok. However if you have
such colour changes on mature leaves, it could be deficiency of
Phosphorous.
In your case, it looks fine to me.
regards
Yazdy Palia.

[Rakesh Biswas]

Thanks Yazdy,

 

It is not he color I am worried about but you may take a relook that in both pictures some of the leaves have a crumpled and wrinkled (diseased) appearance.

 

rakesh

 

[Yazdy Palia]

I notice a couple of leaves having a sort of crumpled appearance. It
could be the larvae of some insect on the rear side of the leaves.
Sometimes, the moths lay their eggs on the rear portion of the leaves
and the larvae build some kind of cocoon around themselves. If that is
the case, removing the cocoon should help.
regards
Yazdy Palia.

[Kenneth Greby]

Rakesh--  Occasionally I've had an occasional deformed leaf, usually caused by either minor insect damage or drought stress as leaves are starting to expand. Again, I wouldn't worry about it at all. Enjoy the color of the new growth!

Regards-- Ken Greby Broward County, Florida USA

--- On Mon, 1/26/09, Yazdy Palia <yazdy...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Rakesh Biswas]

Thanks Ken.

 

Yes I guess this is a minor problem after all as long as they aren't failing to thrive.

 

rakesh

 

[Rakesh Biswas]

Thanks Yazdy.

 

I shall keep that in mind.

[shubhada nikharge]

Hi Yazdy,

Whenever u see the leaves are being eaten/crumpled in a potted plant, u tend to use the pesticides to remove the infection.

 

However, many a times it is a food plant of caterpillars of butterflies or moths. Although all the leaves are eaten and the the entire plant becomes leafless, dont worry. It is the natural process which u should not interfere into. After some days, these caterpillars will form a pupa/ cocoon and imrge into a butterfly or a moth. Eventually, the plant will grow new leaves again.

 

i have reared many butterflies and moths so far sucessfully.

 

plese remember when u remove a cocoon from a leaf, u kill a butterfly or a moth before it is born.

cheers,

shubhada

---

From: Yazdy Palia <yazdy...@gmail.com>

If that is the case, removing the cocoon should help.
regards
Yazdy Palia.

---

Get an email ID as your...@ymail.com or your...@rocketmail.com. Click here.

[Yazdy Palia]

Dear subhada Nikharge,
Many thanks for the advice. I fully agree with you. In fact I leave
most of the pests to their natural enemies.
There are many a pest in Robusta coffee. I grow Robusta coffee. I
leave the control of mealybugs to birds, some aggressive ants etc. I
leave the control of shot hole borers to birds like speckled peculets
etc.
Nature has an answer to every problem in nature.
Regards
Yazdy.