Yes, I see legs, no visit to Specsavers, virtual or otherwise required @Pete.8 😊
Ok so not overwatered or soggy-bottomed, but definitely stressed. So that could be under watering, or most likely temperature fluctuations (especially sharp drops overnight) as Pete says. I would of thought London’s microclimate would be ok for them, but maybe not. Perhaps you need to keep the pots indoors to overwinter if you don’t already and/or put them out later.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Nollie, thanks. The plants are cuttings that were potted in early March. They started well but have recently taken a turn for the worse. There are many similar plants in pots around the neighbourhood that seem to be doing fine. Pete I will attempt a macro shot of the "spiders" and post shortly if it's any good.
Early March does sound a bit early to be putting young plants from cuttings out... good weather early would have encouraged them to put on good growth, but if then followed by a colder spell, that could be why they took a turn for the worse, or the sap-sucking spider mites if that’s what they are... or maybe a combination of both. Frustrating for you to see everyone else’s doing well. Hope you find a solution.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
It's probably not the ones you can see on the top of the leaves. The mites are most likely on the underside of the leaves on the veins where they feed. Pelargoniums are usually resistant to most bugs because of the oils within, but may as well rule them out Do you have a pic of the whole plant in all its gory glory?
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I've already removed most of the reddened and wilting leaves but you can still get a sense of loss of leaves and the reduced size and strength of the new ones.
I can't see anything really wrong as such. It's still early in the season and the new growth looks healthy. It may be just some older leaves that were lost. I'd trim off any dead bits and see how it goes. A drop of feed now and then would good
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Thanks Pete but the lost leaves were only two or three weeks old. These plants were growing fast with bright green leaves a month ago. This is a problem that has repeated itself for several years now. The plants start off strongly then lose leaves which are replaced by smaller and weaker ones, until there is almost no growth or flowers. Maybe I should just try growing something else!
Maybe it is just the conditions where they are. I've grown them countless times in baskets and the like and found them to be forgiving. Maybe it's just a bit too windy for them and they need some shelter
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
If you are propagating from the same plants every year, it's possible that a virus of some kind (eg transmitted by aphids etc.) has built-up in your 'stock.' Try buying-in or getting a cutting from someone else and see how that does in exactly the same conditions.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
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Ok so not overwatered or soggy-bottomed, but definitely stressed. So that could be under watering, or most likely temperature fluctuations (especially sharp drops overnight) as Pete says. I would of thought London’s microclimate would be ok for them, but maybe not. Perhaps you need to keep the pots indoors to overwinter if you don’t already and/or put them out later.
Most are too small too see without magnification, but they're a likely candidate
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Pete I will attempt a macro shot of the "spiders" and post shortly if it's any good.
Pelargoniums are usually resistant to most bugs because of the oils within, but may as well rule them out
Do you have a pic of the whole plant in all its gory glory?
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
It's still early in the season and the new growth looks healthy. It may be just some older leaves that were lost.
I'd trim off any dead bits and see how it goes.
A drop of feed now and then would good
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I've grown them countless times in baskets and the like and found them to be forgiving.
Maybe it's just a bit too windy for them and they need some shelter
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.