Question
Poor leaves
Hi again Elyse, I have another problem with my poor plants!
Re my photo; I noticed that the bottom leaves of 2 of my most abundant flowering plants have started curling up and developing little holes and spots. Upon very close inspection today, I noticed a tiny green grub lying on a leaf on both plants.
Is this what's been causing the leaves to suffer like this? How can one tiny grub cause so much damage?! I can only see one grub on each plant; are there likely to be more?
Most importantly; can you 'heal' the leaves, should I pluck them off, and how to prevent it happening again / treat it right now? Is there anything else wrong with the leaves aside from having this little grub eating it (e.g. leaf spot?)
*panicking* Thanks!
Kay
AnswerKay:
I can't identify the pest, if it's in the picture I can't see it. But you are panicking for nothing. A little leaf damage will not harm the plants, and in fact can strengthen them (they produce chemicals, similar to what our immune system does, when stressed). Do pluck the worms off when you see them - could they be tomato hornworms? I don't know if they're found in Australia, but that is the only green worm I know that attacks tomato plants.
If the leaves bother you, you can pluck them off as well, but it is not necessary. The plant looks pretty healthy to me, as best as I can tell. Even without the pests, it is common for the bottom leaves of many plants to yellow and die, and common for tomato leaves to curl for no particular reason, so don't worry, as long as the plant is flowering and growing, sounds like you're doing fine!
Elyse
