• If you need help identifying a pepper, disease, or plant issue, please post in Identification.

Curly Leaves Questions

Hey all, I wanted to post a couple of pics of one of my Datil plants started mid October inside.  I am using the double cup method now and am getting some pretty "puckered" and "curly leaves" and just wanted your opinions on what could be causing this.
The vendor I bought the seeds from says that their plants do the same thing soooo---maybe genetic???
This plant is in miracle grow potting mix.
There is a pebble in between the two cups for a reservoir and I have been watering/feeding from the bottom.  
There are roots hanging out of the inner cup probably 3/4 inch or so.
Thanks for the opinions in advance.
 
 
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1778.jpg
    IMG_1778.jpg
    119.8 KB · Views: 72
  • IMG_1777.jpg
    IMG_1777.jpg
    118.3 KB · Views: 61
moruga welder said:
root bound , getting cal-mag ? and light ?     :party:
 
 
Yeah, definitely root bound because the roots are coming out of the bottom and drinking from the second cup but there are tons of vids on youtube (Khang Starr) that use this method.
 
I have given cal-mag plus (not sure of brand right now) they are really dark green and the main stalks are huge.
 
As far as light, they are under a Hidden Harvest Micro Mole full spectrum LED about 20-24" above the tops and getting 16 hrs of light on a timer.  
 
Not sure why this is happening.  I doesn't look "normal".  It's like the leaves are maybe closing up to avoid the light???
 
Confused 
Barry
 
There are many potential explanations. It's probably nothing to worry over. I've had plants with leaves that persistently curl up like this.
I have a seedling, Scotch Bonnet Jamaican Long, that has shown similarly effected leaves for practically its entire life. The leaf curl never worsened. I potted up recently, and it appears roughly the same. Because my conditions are fairly regular, I assume it's genetic expression.
I read a while back (maybe a thread on here) discussing how datils tend to lay over after noon. Apparently, for them it was a widely acknowledged behavior. 
 
The color of the leaves looks good, but it does look like something is a little off. I'd be keeping my eyes open for signs of a more significant problem may be developing, particularly (i) worsening cupping, rippling, or otherwise malformed leaves, (ii) interveinal or marginal chlorosis, or (iii) necrosis at the margins and/or tips.
 
There's two things I'd consider doing now.  First, I wouldn't exclusively bottom water.  Every other watering or so I'd water through the cup from the top with a more diluted nutrient solution and let some flow out the bottom of the cup - and not into the double-cup reservoir.  Otherwise there's no where for the salts to go except back up into the soil with each bottom watering.  This can lead to problems with the plant taking in various nutrients even if present. It also ensures you get water to all the roots periodically.
 
I'd also consider potting up soon.  Roots coming out the bottom of a double-cup set up doesn't mean the plants are root-bound.  The roots growing out the bottom aren't circling inside the cup, thus they aren't contributing to the plant becoming root-bound. Then again, the cup/soil could be filling up with other roots as your plants are putting on some size.  You can always carefully tap one out and see how full the soil is. Potting up into good soil at the right time will often cure problems that were hard to solve otherwise.
 
True. That's some good advice. Here's my guy... 
ZS94J5c.jpg

To the left and right are some big cupped leaves. If you notice the smaller leaf between them in the middle and direct-face... that one has a more subtle rippled look around the margin. My two SBJL have done that since very early on. The leaves always looked different alongside the rest of the pepper varieties.
 
Yep. Visited your GLOG more than once Mr. West and your plants look exceptional.  Tybo/Barry's plants look great too, just these latest leaves are a bit funky.  It's a good reminder that peppers are living things and you can do everything right and still the odd funky thing can happen.  Absent a serious/obvious issue, it's good to move cautiously and avoid overreactions and major changes.
 
Yep I see some similarities so I'll keep an eye on them.  Possibly up potting.  
CaneDog, Yes the latest leaves are FUNKY.  The vendor said their plants looked the same but I just have a hard time believing that this is normal.  
Thanks for the replies
 
Back
Top