Hi,

I just got this VdB a while ago. I found that the leaves it has been growing are all curled. Is my fig tree healthy?

It has been growing strong. Just that the leaves are all curled and I wonder what has happened to it.

Thanks!

I had the same, it was getting too much sun. The shade helped with the new leaves but the old ones stayed curled up.

Oh, I didn't know fig can get too much sun. Would putting it in the shade help?

ya, vdb can get too much
it likes morning sun , but shade in mid day when it is hottest.
the misshapen leaves could also be sign/symptom of fmv

What soil are u using?
be carfull from too much compost cause acidity issues...

Looks normal. Could use water and fertilizer, probably, to grow more leaves.

Mine did that before too, I planted it in ground last year and some new sucker growth came up was healthy but the old infected growth died, I pulled the whole thing out after I got fed up with it not growing properly, it would grow maybe 2-3 inches a season.

Here in Arizona VdB is the first tree to curl up its leaves when the temps start to rise.  It does not seem to affect the health of the tree though.  My VdB has curled leaves all summer, but it keeps on growing and pumping out figs.

What other fig varieties curl up their leaves because of the heat?
I think so far I've seen this on VdB and Mission. Any other ones?... They just don't look attractive (although very tasty).
I want to plant a few on my front lawn but not with the curled up leaves.
 

My Petite Negri get mad and curl if they get afternoon sun as well.

Petite Negri, interesting. They say that it may be a sport of Alma, is Alma is also allergic to sun?
I think not (but I could be wrong), so something was lost in transition?

I've been trying to figure out what the heck was going on with the two VdB that I have. One day the leaves are normal, the next, they are curled. I go back in the early evening and they look ok.

I've added some photos ( end of the album) to the ongoing album to show the two, along with the clear signs of FMV. Trees are growing great, so it is what it is, I guess.

https://picasaweb.google.com/112045070591403359443/April12013?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Thank you so much for the inputs! I think I will wait and see how the tree grows!

looks fine. some FMV, some misshapen leaves. last two yrs, i used drip system to water my VdB every morning. that seems to help with leaves.but when it hits 100+, it will still curl up... if it curls up too much, i water again in the afternoon.

The Alma I have don't have leaves yet so I can't speak to their sun reaction but I know my Petite Negri are VERY sensitive to the afternoon sun. I also believe your location determines who can take how much sun and when.

There are days here when I just walk into the sun and it burns. That's why I started the "what exactly is full sun" thread awhile back. I am finding my bigger trees do well with EITHER morning or afternoon sun but not so great with all day sun. I'm sure in Seattle they would love all day sun, if it were available.haha Jeez I'm glad I moved to Texas!

It is all about making fruit and tasting good, in my book. Pretty leaves is way down the criteria list. ;-))

It's all about the fig tree doing what it needs to do to regulate itself. Some are different than others and recent potting changes (if in a pot) will greatly affect that. I find that by mid summer mine don't do this hardly at all, but in the begging the Petit Negra does it the most. Sunlight=growth and stored sugars. In the majority of plants which produce fruit or vegetables, generally the more sun the better; given the roots aren't cooking and get enough moisture. Leaves reacting to mid-day and afternoon sun is completely normal.

It's all about the water  :)   More room for roots and as Pete (Bullet008) said, often leaves that curl would love an extra cold drink as long as you can do it without suffocating the roots.  Calvin is right when he says the figs are reacting to their environment.  They're protecting themselves from less water than they'd like in the leaves.