A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Plant pests and problems grapefruit tree gone all curly...I find this forum very inst

Hi everybody. I am new here and I find thisforum very instructive. My problem:
My grapefruit tree is going all curly with small leaves and stalled. Here is a pic Any idea what causes this? Disease? Parasite (can't see anything) lack of this or that or too much of this or that?

Very hard to tell from the pics, but it looks like one of 2 things, either a virus, or a svere deficiency...there's nothing you can do about a virus, although it likely won't be fatal, but you may be able to correct a deficiency by fertilizing or, better yet, repotting into a good potting mix.
Wait for other replies, though, you may get better responses.

Hmmm, at first I was thinking leaf curl fungus but usually you see red coloring with it.

I see it is only on the new growth it seems. Did you happen to over fertilize it?

That's possible...I'd think a balanced fertilizer wouldn't do that, though. Too much of certain minerals could, though, for sure.
Now that I look again, that could be it, tamara.

Thanks fellas! Well...Hmmmm... overfertised? Could be, like all beginners I tend to flogg my garden... But could one overfertilise using organic stuff? I mean horse and chiken doodoo, blood and bone etc...

Rather than go into a lengthy explanation, please check Leaf Curl here.

I think you are getting close to fall season there, so, leaf curl should not be a problem.

looks like old aphid damage to me... but don't see signs of honeydew. Does it seem to be growing out of it? or is the new growth deformed?

suzanne! you hopped in just in time. hope all is well.

I agree with BugLady, it looks like aphids. Look on the underside of the leaf and stems for little tiny green or black bugs. They can be pretty hard to see and can be missed on a quick glance. If you do see them repeated use of insecticidal soap can get rid of them. Prune off the badly curled stems, as those areas will not recover. If they are on one plant, chances are they may be on others as well, so inspect all the plants near by.