On Flowering Quince...

davidryan820

...my flowering quince, which I got from evergreen along with a japanese maple and crapapple (both are doing well), has finally developed new growth-- except that the new leaves are extremely wrinkly. The leaves look a very healthy green but are deeply folded, unlike the flat, more normal-looking leaves it came with. The tree has been in its soil now for about three weeks, and like the maple, has begun pushing out new growth (the crapapple hasn't but is developing little branches along the whips' length).

What could be causing these deformed leaves? Could it be the change in environment? My trident maple had some funky leaves when it first began to grow here in Colorado, but now is putting out well-formed leaves. The sun is very intense here at 6500 feet MSL. Even with days in the 70's, like today, you can get a sunburn if unprotected in less than 15 minutes (found that out this weekend!). All of my maples have taken refuge near the house where they get morning sun and then late day sun (maybe an hour before the sun sets) and they have taken off growing wild. I'm thinking the quince needs the same thing....

Any ideas? Help? Thanks!

Ryan

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fredtruck

Check for aphids, and get rid of them if you find them.

Generally, I've found that morning sun and afternoon shade works best.

rockm

Sounds like drier air to me. Humidity levels can affect how new growth emerges. If there's a spell of dry air (low humidiity levels), along with heavy sunshine, leaves can dry out a bit and wrinkle as they push in growth. I've seen it here with some maples as we've moved from heavily humid weather to drier air from cold fronts. New growth can get wrinkled, especially if it's only partially out when the drier air hits.

Your plant has been moved from a relatively low altitude environment, to a high altitude one, with the attendant increase in sunlight intensity, so that may also be a factor.

This kind of thing is usually temporary and the plant will adjust.

davidryan820

Thanks all...I figure it is the change in environment and sun intensity. I wouldn't rule out the dry air, either, except in this case the leaves pushed out during the monsoon flow-- so we have had humidity above 50% for most of the past two weeks. I do believe the dry theory is right on with the maples, though-- similar problems there but they have finally adjusted. It is nearing mid-August now and my trees are wanting to grow like weeds. This is my first growing season here in CO so this is all pretty interesting to me.