Dwarf Pomegranate with abnormal leaf growth

Mike423

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I have three dwarf pomegranate trees (two Emperor and one party dress) and they seem to have some abnormal leaf growth. The leaves themselves seem to be deformed, twisted and some even have a slightly shrivel appearance. Not all of the leaves are malformed, some look perfectly normal. The party dress pom. has this problem to a slight effect and one of the Emperor's have it really bad whil the other Emperor almost has none of this at all. Anyone have any experience with this deformity? I've never seen it on other Nana Pomegranates and was just wondering what could be causing this? Sorry no pictures, I can take some tomorrow.
 

Burt in SoCal

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It's leaf curl, mines had it last season.i sprayed it with a fungicide earlier this year before it leafed out and it took care of it.
 

Eric Schrader

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You would see the Thrips so if you don't then it could be a fungal problem as Burtonvero suggested or a micronutrient deficiency or both. I would (and do) spray tender-leaf plants with a fungicide at ten day intervals (use two different types with different modes of action) until you're getting good clean growth. At the same time perhaps start watering with kelp emulsion or another fertilizer that contains micronutrients - many do but make sure the one you're using does. With a deficiency it sometimes makes sense to get a micronutrient-only type fertilizer so that you don't end up with too much nitrogen which tends to cause leggy growth in things like pomegranate.
 

Attila Soos

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Don't worry at all.
I grow pomegranates for a long time, the curly leaves are a normal thing on these trees. They come and go, and the trees are always healthy. I stopped worrying about it about fifteen years ago and never use any chemicals on them.
 

Mike423

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Thanks for all the help so far everyone. @Eric Schrader, I generally use general purpose fertilizer since Ivan told me it really doesn't make a difference. I also always give my trees a dose of Trace element FRIT at the beginning of every season, so they should have more than enough trace elements and nutrients in the soil. Their not very good quality but I attached pictures below the last is of some of the more 'normal' growth.

I dont think the problem is Thrips, a pest or fungus problem were the first two things I looked for and couldn't seem to find traces of either. This supposive abnormal growth was apparent on two of the pom's last year as well. @Attila what type of pom's are you growing that have this type of growth pattern? I'm also wondering if anyone else has this issue? I had just came to the conclusion that this is abnormal since I haven't seen any other pom's with this trait (nursery stock or otherwise).
 

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My poms here in Florida occassionaly do the same thing...
I notice it more comming out of winter, when we start getting the blazing sunny spring days.
Almost like a leaf burn ??? Agree with Atilla, never really effect the tree though.
 

Brian Van Fleet

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Wonder if it's just in their DNA...notice how the really old poms seem to have a twist to the trunks?
 

Attila Soos

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What's interesting to me, is that I grow side by side different varieties of pomegranate in the ground. The dwarf ones do get the curling leaves, but the larger varieties growing right next to them, don't get it. Right now, they are already pushing new growth in my backyard.
So far this spring (I live in So. California), I have not noticed any leaf curl on any tree.
 

keegan

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I would echo what was said above:

Aceria granati, pomegranate gall mite, is the specific mite involved here. Microscopic mites tunnel in the edges of the leaves of new growth causing them to curl. I thought it was peach leaf curl at first too--almost all my pomegranates have had this.

Imidacloprid granular systemic works well because they are in the leaves and so a systemic can reach them where many sprays will not. If you treat in early spring you usually don't have to treat again the rest of the season.
 
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