A 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 to help get rid of leaf curl disease. 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 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, 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.
How to Get Rid of Leaf Curl Naturally
You don’t need to turn to harsh chemicals to deal with leaf curl. With these home remedies and organic methods on hand, you’ll be able to tackle the problem naturally.
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 method will also improve airflow and lessen the chance of disease reinfection.
2. Vinegar Solution
Vinegar is an amazing 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 ingredients such as garlic, hot peppers, and onions. It is useful as a repellent spray against certain pests that can cause leaf curl.
Simply blend one head of garlic, five hot peppers, and three small onions in 2 cups of water. Afterward, pour the mixture into a glass container and let it sit overnight.
To use, 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 strong antifungal agent [2], so you can spray it on the infected trees.
All you need to do is mix 6 to 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 leaf curl disease spores, which can further affect 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 make sure that your plant gets the right amount of water.
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.
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].
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 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 as soon as you notice leaf curl on your plants. 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. This is because a severe magnesium deficiency in plants can cause the leaves to curl.
Epsom salt can help in this case. 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 also 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 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 in the best shape possible.
