Sasha CampbellA common problem that affects many gardeners around the world is leaf curl.
Leaves curling can be a symptom of insect damage, a fungus, excess watering, or even a nutrient deficiency [1].
Fortunately, there are some natural remedies for leaf curl disease. In this blog post, we will provide some tips on controlling it naturally in your garden.
Leaf Curl Disease Symptoms
It’s essential to recognize the signs and symptoms of this plant disease so you can identify it early and treat it quickly.
Signs of leaf curl include curling of leaves, vein yellowing, and downward cupping of younger leaves. Plants affected by this disease may also become stunted.
Plants That It Affects
Plants commonly affected by leaf curl include peaches, tomatoes, eggplants, citrus, nectarines, squash, peppers, apricots, cherries, and plum trees.
Leaf curl is also a common problem in houseplants and can be caused by a few different things, as mentioned above.
How to Get Rid of Leaf Curl Naturally
When treating leaf curl, you don’t need harsh chemicals. With these home remedies and organic methods, you can tackle the problem naturally.
1. Pruning Your Plants
Pruning your plants regularly encourages healthy growth and prevents diseases from spreading from one plant to another.
Prune any leaves or stems that show signs of distress or damage caused by leaf curl. This method will also improve airflow and lessen the chance of disease reinfection.
2. Vinegar Solution
Vinegar is an excellent natural remedy for controlling and getting rid of peach leaf curl.
To make a homemade spray for leaf curl, mix one tablespoon of white vinegar or ACV with a gallon of water. Then, spray it directly on the affected plants.
3. DIY Plant Protection Spray
You can also create a DIY natural plant protection spray with garlic, hot peppers, and onions. This spray is useful as a repellent against certain pests that can cause leaf curl.
Blend one head of garlic, five hot peppers, and three small onions in two cups of water. Afterward, pour the mixture into a glass container and let it sit overnight.
Pour a quarter of the strained liquid into a quart bottle with water and a tablespoon of liquid soap. Shake well.
Apply the solution to your plants every day for about a week.
4. Oregano Oil
Oregano oil is another natural remedy for leaf curls. It’s a potent antifungal agent [2], so you can spray it on the infected trees.
You can spray your trees by mixing 6 to 7 ml of oregano oil with one gallon of water in a spray bottle.
5. Rake Up Fallen Leaves
As the leaves fall, they can harbor leaf curl disease spores, further affecting the tree. So rake up your fallen leaves and discard them.
6. Water Plants Correctly
Overhead watering of the leaves of your plants can cause leaf curl disease spores to spread due to the splashing of the water. Therefore, when watering your plants, stick to watering at the base of the plant and away from the leaves if possible.
Too little or too much water can also cause leaf curl, so you’ll want to ensure that your plant gets the right amount.
Overwatering is typically more of an issue with houseplants than underwatering. Feel the soil with your finger; if it is damp, your plant doesn’t need additional water.
7. Baking Soda
You can also use baking soda as a foliar spray to help prevent fungal diseases from attacking your plants. One user in an online discussion found that baking soda worked fine for treating peach leaf curl [3].
Mix one teaspoon of baking soda with one quart of water and spray it onto the plant’s leaves until they are wet.
This home remedy should help reduce fungal diseases and protect against future infections.
8. Garlic Spray
Garlic has properties that attack insects and fight fungal infections, so using it in your garden makes sense.
Making garlic spray for plants is surprisingly easy. Just follow the recipe in our linked article.
9. Neem Oil
Not only will neem oil help control the pests on your plants, but it also has antifungal properties.
Apply this natural treatment when you notice a curled leaf on your plants. Continue applying it as needed to keep the disease under control.
Mix a tablespoon of neem oil and a teaspoon of liquid soap with a gallon of water. Spray your plants with this solution.
10. Epsom Salt
Epsom salt can also help treat curly leaves on peach, nectarine, almond, and other fruit trees. This is because a severe magnesium deficiency in plants can cause the leaves to curl.
Epsom salt can help in this case. To increase magnesium levels, apply some to the soil around the trees.
Alternatively, make a leaf curl spray by combining two tablespoons of Epsom salt with a gallon of water. Spray the curled foliage with the solution.
11. BONIDE Copper Fungicide Dust
This product helps prevent and control plant diseases such as leaf curl and blight. It’s an organic fungicide worth checking out!
12. Cueva
Cueva is an OMRI-listed broad-spectrum fungicide that can also help fix leaf curl. It’s an eco-friendly option that is safe for both you and your plants.
Use this copper-based spray as a control remedy to keep the leaves from curling.
Takeaway
If you notice the leaves of your outdoor plants curling inward or your indoor plants curling down, you could be dealing with leaf curl disease. The key is to identify the cause and implement the best solution for your plants.
Remember, not all leaf curls are caused by the same issues, so figuring out the root cause is key.
Hopefully, these tips and natural treatments will help you get your plants back into the best shape possible.
Will your vinegar solution for curly leaf also kill the small black slugs?
Yes, it will.