My Angel trumpet plant is young. The top leaves are all turning inside so thought they are curly. I’ve had these plants for years never seen this. One is growing on the flat ground!! Is this a disease? Thank you so much for helping me! - Ask Extension
My young Angel trumps are curling inside very tight. All my Angel trumpets are doing this large and small plants this has never happened in years. Cou...
Knowledgebase
My Angel trumpet plant is young. The top leaves are all turning inside so thought they are curly. I’ve had these plants for years never seen this. One is growing on the flat ground!! Is this a disease? Thank you so much for helping me! #871919
Asked June 06, 2024, 2:55 PM EDT
My young Angel trumps are curling inside very tight. All my Angel trumpets are doing this large and small plants this has never happened in years. Could it be a disease? Thanks you for you’re help.
New Hanover County North Carolina
Expert Response
Hello,
I think it is one of 2 problems but first check inside the curl just to make sure an insect isn't responsible. Aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies and especially spider mites will ravage the plants if left unchecked. All of these pests are easily controlled with insecticidal soap but this needs to be applied regularly to the underside of the leaves (directly onto the pests) to keep populations under control.
If not insects then it could be a calcium deficiency or sunburn & heat stress.
Angel trumpets have a high calcium requirement, and a deficiency first shows up in the tips of the leaves yellowing and dying, then curling in. Poor calcium uptake by your plants can be due to several things. One, an excess of nitrogen and potassium in your fertilizers. Try to use the appropriate balance for brugmansia, and at the rate noted on the package or bottle. Another cause could be a lack of water uptake by the plant, thus disallowing the plant to get the needed calcium up into the green living tissue. Uneven moisture will reduce the plants ability to take up calcium so try and even out the waterings.
Since you have had these plants for a while its less likely the heat or stress is the cause but consider this if the environment has changed and the plant has more sun than previous years.
I have included a link from NCSU that is a great tool for help with any plant.
If you have any other questions please let us know and thank you for contacting us!
I think it is one of 2 problems but first check inside the curl just to make sure an insect isn't responsible. Aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies and especially spider mites will ravage the plants if left unchecked. All of these pests are easily controlled with insecticidal soap but this needs to be applied regularly to the underside of the leaves (directly onto the pests) to keep populations under control.
If not insects then it could be a calcium deficiency or sunburn & heat stress.
Angel trumpets have a high calcium requirement, and a deficiency first shows up in the tips of the leaves yellowing and dying, then curling in. Poor calcium uptake by your plants can be due to several things. One, an excess of nitrogen and potassium in your fertilizers. Try to use the appropriate balance for brugmansia, and at the rate noted on the package or bottle. Another cause could be a lack of water uptake by the plant, thus disallowing the plant to get the needed calcium up into the green living tissue. Uneven moisture will reduce the plants ability to take up calcium so try and even out the waterings.
Since you have had these plants for a while its less likely the heat or stress is the cause but consider this if the environment has changed and the plant has more sun than previous years.
I have included a link from NCSU that is a great tool for help with any plant.
If you have any other questions please let us know and thank you for contacting us!
