Lo grow sumac - malnourished?

[Eckhoffw]

Hey friends!
I was wondering if you could give me some info on why these leaves look funny.
A little curled, contorted and wrinkly.
Still green, but something seems off.
Any thoughts? I’m feeling some sort of deficiency is at hand.
Thank you!

 

[Eckhoffw]

New shoots? Maybe it’s ok

 

[Potawatomi13]

Not shoots, flower buds.

 

[penumbra]

It may have a deficiency, but that is a simple solution between you, your plant, and your fertilizer.
It may be because it is the end of the season and it will be dropping leaves soon.

 

[nuttiest]

Bugs. Can't see them but they may just fly away when you approach the plants. They may be gone, but left their damage. I will be back later and post you some 'after systemic' pix of this summer bug damage and new growth and maybe you will see similarities.

 

[Eckhoffw]

Not shoots, flower buds.

Ahah. Thank you.

 

[Leprous Garden]

Honestly I'm not really seeing anything wrong. The color looks great which generally makes me feel nutrients are fine. Most of your leaves look perfectly healthy to me.

 

[Eckhoffw]

Ok thanks. I’m new to this plant, as I just got it this summer.

 

[nuttiest]

Crunchy, misshapen, cupped, dwarfed and large irregular brown spots on leaves. Thrips, whiteflies, and gnats that fly away when i look closer at the plant. Couldn't catch them in a photo at the time, but there was always their white frass if i took a closeup. Used imidacloprid as soil drench and new leaves cleared up in a week. Unfortunately didn't last me that long, did most of the backyard three weeks ago and already see clouds as I walk through grass and feel biting!
Here are a couple good photos of new growth with old growth still there:

 

[Eckhoffw]

Gave this one a chance free from the nursery can.
I took it from this (last summer)
And potted it up in a blue pot hoping the autumn color would be a nice compliment.
The roots are fugly. I’m going to learn to like them. that is, if it even survives the repot.
I tried to only remove the fat roots with little feeders. We will see!