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12 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Leaf Curl

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12 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Leaf Curl

A common problem that affects many gardeners around the world is leaf curl.

Curling leaves can be a symptom of insect damage, a fungus, excess watering, or even a nutrient deficiency [1].

Fortunately, there are some natural remedies to help get rid of leaf curl. In this blog post, we’ll provide some tips on how to naturally control it in your garden.

Leaf Curl Disease Symptoms

It’s important to recognize the signs and symptoms of leaf curl disease, so you can identify it early and treat it quickly.

Signs of leaf curl include curling of leaves, yellowing of veins, and reddish or purple areas on leaves. Leaves affected by this disease may also become stunted and powdery gray.

Plants That it Affects

Plants commonly affected by leaf curl include peaches, tomatoes, eggplant, citrus, nectarines, squash, peppers, apricot, cherry, and plum trees.

Leaf curl is also a common problem in houseplants and can be caused by a few different things (as mentioned above).

Too little or too much water can also cause leaf curl, so you’ll want to make sure that your plant has the right balance.

With houseplants, overwatering is typically more of an issue than underwatering. Simply feel the soil with your finger, and if it’s damp, then your plant doesn’t need additional water yet.

How to Get Rid of Leaf Curl Naturally

You don’t need to turn to harsh chemicals or risky treatments to deal with leaf curl. With these strategies on hand, you’ll soon be able to reclaim your garden with healthier plants.

1. Pruning Your Plants

Make sure you are pruning your plants regularly in order to encourage healthy growth and prevent 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 will help reduce the number of spores that can overwinter.

2. Vinegar Solution

Vinegar is an amazing natural remedy for controlling and getting rid of peach leaf curl. It kills fungi.

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 ingredients such as garlic, hot peppers, and onions. This acts as a repellent against certain pests that can cause leaf curl.

Simply blend one head of garlic, 5 hot peppers, and 3 small onions in 2 cups of water. Afterward, pour the mixture into a glass container and let it sit overnight.

To use, pour ¼ 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 strong antifungal agent [2], so it can help kill off any unwanted fungi.

All you need to do is mix 6-7 ml of oregano oil with one gallon of water in a spray bottle, and then spray your trees.

5. Rake Up Fallen Leaves

As the leaves fall, they can harbor Taphrina deformans spores, which can further affect the tree. So rake up your fallen leaves and discard them.

6. Avoid Overhead Watering

Overhead watering of the leaves of your plants can cause the disease 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.

7. Baking Soda

You can also use baking soda as a foliar spray to help prevent fungal diseases from attacking your plants. One user (ayz) found that baking soda worked fine for treating peach leaf curl [3].

Simply mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 1 quart of water and spray it onto the plant’s leaves until they are wet.

This should help reduce any existing fungal diseases as well as provide some protection against future infections.

8. Garlic Spray

Garlic has properties that attack insects and can also fight fungal infections, so it makes sense to use it in your garden.

Making garlic spray for plants is surprisingly easy. Just follow the recipe in the linked article.

9. Neem Oil

Not only will neem oil help control the pests on your plants, but it also has antifungal properties that can help prevent further infection.

Apply this natural treatment as soon as you notice leaf curl on your plants and continue applying it as needed in order to keep the disease under control.

Just mix a tablespoon of neem oil and a teaspoon of liquid soap with a gallon of water and spray your plants.

10. Epsom Salt

Epsom salt can also help treat curly leaves on peach trees, nectarine trees, almond trees, and other fruit trees. Just apply some Epsom salt to the soil around the trees to help increase magnesium levels.

Alternatively, make a leaf curl spray by combining 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt in a gallon of water. Use the solution to spray the curled foliage.

11. BONIDE Copper Fungicide Dust

This is a product that helps prevent and control plant diseases such as leaf curl and blight. It’s an organic fungicide—definitely worth checking out!

12. Cueva

Cueva is an OMRI-listed broad-spectrum fungicide that you can use to help fix leaf curl. Moreover, it’s an eco-friendly option that’s safe for both you and your plants.

Use this copper-based spray as a control remedy to keep leaves from curling.

Takeaway

If you notice your outdoor plant leaves curling inward or your indoor plant leaves curling down, you could be dealing with leaf curl disease. However, the key is to identify the cause and implement the best solution for your plants.

Remember, not all leaf curl is 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 in the best shape possible.

Picture via commons.wikimedia.org

Sasha Brown

Sasha Brown is a blogger and lover of all things natural.

2 comments

  • Will your vinegar solution for curly leaf also kill the small black slugs?

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