Why Are Your Bay Plant Leaves Curling?

Seeing curled, distorted leaves on your bay plant can be worrying. But don’t panic – curled bay leaves are often a symptom of a minor cultural or environmental issue that can be easily corrected. This article covers the most common reasons for bay leaf curl and how to get your plant back to health.

What Causes Bay Leaves to Curl?

There are several potential causes of curled bay leaves

• Underwatering – Bay plants need consistently moist soil. If allowed to dry out too much between waterings the leaves will curl and wrinkle in an effort to prevent water loss.

• Overwatering – While bay plants want moist soil, saturated soil denies roots oxygen. This can lead to root rot and curled leaves.

• Temperature Stress – Exposure to very cold or very hot temps can shock bay plants. Leaves curl to protect themselves.

• Pests – Insects like aphids, scale, and spider mites feed on plant sap. This can cause leaves to curl and distort.

• Disease – Fungal diseases thrive in wet conditions. Leaf curling and spotting are common symptoms.

• Nutrient Deficiency – Lack of nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium leads to stunted growth and curled leaves.

• Root Bound – Restricted roots in a too-small pot causes stress. Curling leaves can result.

• Herbicide Drift – Exposure to weedkiller chemicals through drifting spray or contaminated water causes extensive leaf curling.

Correcting Common Causes of Bay Leaf Curl

Once you’ve diagnosed the cause, you can take action to get your bay plant back to normal:

• For underwatering, resume a regular watering schedule. Water when the top inch of soil is dry.

• Overwatered plants need reduced watering frequency. Check soil moisture before watering. Improve drainage if needed.

• Move plants away from air vents/drafts and shift to a sheltered outdoor location or indoors.

• Inspect for pests like aphids. Remove with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap. Apply every 5-7 days until pests are gone.

• Remove damaged leaves and treat fungal disease with a commercial fungicide. Improve air circulation.

• Fertilize with a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during active growth.

• Repot rootbound plants in the next larger pot. Add fresh potting mix.

• Flush soil and shift plant to an uncontaminated area if herbicide damage is suspected.

Preventing Bay Leaf Curl

With improved cultural practices, you can avoid many of the issues that cause leaf curl:

• Water bay plants at the base to keep foliage dry. Water when top inch of soil is dry.

• Ensure pots have drainage holes to prevent soggy soil. Elevate pots with “feet” to improve drainage.

• Grow bay in bright shade to part sun. Provide afternoon shade in hot climates.

• Promote air circulation with a light pruning. Remove crossing/damaged branches.

• Inspect often and treat pests early before extensive damage occurs.

• Avoid overhead watering and prune for open airflow to prevent disease.

• Fertilize regularly with a balanced fertilizer during spring through fall.

• Repot container plants each spring before they become severely root bound.

• Provide protection from harsh weather swings that can shock plants.

What to Do for Severely Curled Bay Leaves

If many of the bay plant’s leaves are severely curled, dried and damaged, more intervention may be required:

• Severely curled leaves often can’t recover. Remove them by hand to improve plant appearance.

• Slow leaf curling by giving extra care – more water, shade, humidity. New growth should show improvement.

• For pest-damaged plants, apply horticultural oil or insecticidal soap every 4 days until no pests are present.

• Utilize a broad spectrum fungicide for disease recovery. Remove badly infected leaves.

• Flush soil with clean water to remove any accumulated fertilizer salts.

• Propagate new, healthy plants from cuttings to replace a badly damaged bay plant.

When to Take Further Action

Contact your local extension office if curled bay leaves persist after correcting cultural issues. They can test for diseases like nematodes or perform soil testing.

Seek input from a horticultural specialist for severely curled bay plants that fail to respond to treatment. They can help discover underlying issues affecting your plant.

Immediately remove bay plants showing herbicide damage like twisted new growth, cupped leaves, or extensive curling. Grow bay in an herbicide-free area.

Don’t Despair Over Curled Bay Leaves

Curling bay leaves may look troubling, but the cause is usually not fatal. By identifying the underlying issue early and making appropriate corrections, you can get your bay plant back to normal. Maintain best growing conditions to avoid many common problems. When in doubt, seek advice to get your bay plant thriving once again.