Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Inspect the undersides of curled leaves for insects.
- Look for silvery trails on the leaf surface.
- Check if the soil is too dry.
Likely causes
Citrus Leaf Miner
Most likelyHow to tell: You see silvery, winding trails or tunnels inside the leaf tissue.
What to do: Prune off heavily infested leaves to stop the spread. Use neem oil on the remaining foliage to deter the moths from laying more eggs.
Aphids
Most likelyHow to tell: Clusters of tiny green or black insects appear on new, tender growth causing it to twist and curl.
What to do: Wash the aphids off with a strong spray of water from your hose. Follow up with an application of insecticidal soap every 7 days until they are gone.
Find out what's wrong with your mandarin orange
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
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When to worry
Minor curling on a few leaves is manageable, but widespread curling can stunt the growth of your tree.
Stopping it coming back
Regularly inspect new growth for pests and keep the tree healthy with proper light and water.
Mandarin orange: curling leaves? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your mandarin orange and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Can I save curled leaves?
- Once a leaf is badly curled or damaged by miners, it will not flatten out again. Focus on protecting the new, healthy growth.
- Are these pests harmful to me?
- No, aphids and leaf miners are specific to plants and will not bother you or your pets.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Mandarin orange
- Why are my Mandarin orange leaves turning yellow?
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- Why is my mandarin orange tree not flowering?
- Why are my mandarin orange leaves getting brown tips?
- Why is my mandarin orange tree drooping?
- Why is my mandarin orange tree showing signs of root rot?
- Why is my mandarin orange tree looking leggy?
Back to the Mandarin orange guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.