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What is Causing This???
- Thread starter Matt50680
- Start date
is all the new growth like that? : if so Calcium deficiency is a probable cause.
I'm not saying you're not right, but it looks EXACTLY like a common weed here. If you're sure it's growing out of the main stem, then I agree - you'd better cure it or the rest of the plant will potentially suffer, unless it's a mutation. Cutting it off would only mask the real problem for a short while. And sorry, if it really is your plants, I haven't seen that before, so have no offer of help!
random genetic mutation?
herbicide spray drift?
Boron deficiency causes growth reduction at the growing tips. Plants have small, crinkled, deformed leaves, with large areas of discoloration. Boron deficiency is often caused by application of too much lime. While boron is essential for root growth and fruit development, it can become toxic if overapplied. Always test the soil and apply only the recommended amount.
http://www.gardensalive.com/article.asp?ai=57
herbicide spray drift?
Boron deficiency causes growth reduction at the growing tips. Plants have small, crinkled, deformed leaves, with large areas of discoloration. Boron deficiency is often caused by application of too much lime. While boron is essential for root growth and fruit development, it can become toxic if overapplied. Always test the soil and apply only the recommended amount.
http://www.gardensalive.com/article.asp?ai=57
Very well could be mites for sure (in particular, something like broad mite). Look very closely around the damage for what will look like nothing more than very, very tiny (and I mean almost invisible) specks of white dust.
I would definitely say toxicity damage of some sort though (broad mite saliva is toxic). As greenman suggests, something else toxic could be causing it too. Herbacides, overdose of certain nutes, etc....
Do you have any more shots? Preferrably something clearer and maybe a bit closer?
EDIT:
When searching for broad mite, look more to the plants that are just starting to do it and also on the new growth of other plants in the same vacinity that haven't been affected yet... the mites may have moved on from the worse affected plants. If you have a handlens, it will certainly help, although the mites can still be extremely difficult to make out.
I should mention too that their favourite hang out is on the undersides of new growth.
Reminds me of the horrors I went though with mites in 2010. Looks very similar...
Hm. Love ya, gassy, but..... 
Broad mites tend to go after grown leaves, and usually eat "holes" in them. They are not true holes, which is why I used quotes. Instead, the mites eat the insides of each cell, leaving the transparent skeletal structure of the leaf mostly intact. So what's going on may well be because of mites, but unless you're also seeing these non-holes, it's probably a different kind of mite. Regardless.... KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM!
Broad mites tend to go after grown leaves, and usually eat "holes" in them. They are not true holes, which is why I used quotes. Instead, the mites eat the insides of each cell, leaving the transparent skeletal structure of the leaf mostly intact. So what's going on may well be because of mites, but unless you're also seeing these non-holes, it's probably a different kind of mite. Regardless.... KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM!
Reminds me of the horrors I'm still going through NOW!
Hope you have a much better season this time around, bro.
I've just ordered a bunch of these guys:
http://www.bugsforbu...r-mite-predator
Let's see what happens from here.......
EDIT:
Love ya too, G! but....
http://www.sardi.sa....ests/broad_mite
http://www.sardi.sa....6/Broadmite.pdf
http://www.pestid.ms...bid=218&mid=834
If there's one thing garden related I know a lot about, it's broad mite...
Hm. Love ya, gassy, but.....
Broad mites tend to go after grown leaves, and usually eat "holes" in them. They are not true holes, which is why I used quotes. Instead, the mites eat the insides of each cell, leaving the transparent skeletal structure of the leaf mostly intact. So what's going on may well be because of mites, but unless you're also seeing these non-holes, it's probably a different kind of mite. Regardless.... KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM!
Not on my plants, the broad mite damage is most evident on the new growth that comes out deformed with the outer edges curled downwards. The damage on large mature leaves looks like dark or purple spotting.