What could be causing the leaves to grow this way?

The most recent leaves on my plants (almost all of them) are growing weird. It almost looks like they've been eaten by bugs, but they're all shaped the same, so I think they're growing this way.

They were transplanted 2 1/2 weeks ago, and have a litttle burn to them due to nutrients in the soil, but otherwise are growing great. They're even starting to bloom! The ones blooming are the ones not due to harvest until November. (the others due in Oct are not blooming yet). They DO have little bugs on them that I can't get a good photo of as they always go to the other side of the stem when I put the camera (or me) on the side they're on. The closest I can say they look like is thrips, but I don't see where they're eating. I squish them when I can, but spraying soapy water doesn't help.

Anyway, here are the photos: Oh, the short leaves on ..62 are due to a poor job of FIMing.

Most of the time I see that type of growth after topping. I think that it's just a side effect of the growth hormones released when you top the growth tip. Keep going...

^yup, you fimmed it, it will grow out, good luck!

Hi susanne, too me it just looks like something is eating it... get some pyrethrum spray or some other insecticide if soapy water is not working and spray above and underneath the leave's

Hi
It look like they absorb too much sun light, How is the temperature going on during a day?
Maybe you need to use shade on them
Thnx
Good Luck

Thanks for all your replies. I don't think it's the bugs as they are all the same shape....?? does that make sense?
I like the idea of it being a type of growth after topping as that's where they all are, and no others.
Unfortunately, I don't have enough sunlight. When they were in smaller pots, I had them out in the field in a wire dog crate where they could get full sunlight and they were so nice and bushy. The "grow site" is in the woods ('nuf said) and the opening is only large enough to get sunlight during the middle of the day as the taller trees around it stop it from getting any early or late. We cleared as much brush as we can, but can't cut down the trees that shade it. The plants doubled in size in the first week after they were transplanted there, but it was mostly due to s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g.....darn. But, it's the best we can do, and that spot has worked all right for the last two seasons. We can get the water hoses out to that area so we don't have to haul water...YEA!
SO, I'm not going to worry.
thanks again!

Looks to me like the soil you transplanted them into is possible way to hot, are you using recharge or mammoth P or anything with beneficial bacteria to help in feeding your plant if so that may be the problem they are making the soil hot, i would water with strait water for the next week to 10 days and give them no nutriends other than maybe calmag. also for the bugs try neem oil it works wonders or capt. jacks

tpc_mikey said:

Looks to me like the soil you transplanted them into is possible way to hot, are you using recharge or mammoth P or anything with beneficial bacteria to help in feeding your plant if so that may be the problem they are making the soil hot, i would water with strait water for the next week to 10 days and give them no nutriends other than maybe calmag. also for the bugs try neem oil it works wonders or capt. jacks

Click to expand...

Yup, I was told on another thread about the hot soil when I asked about the spots on the leaves, so I haven't given them any nutrients yet, just water so far. We had a couple of good rains since I transplanted them, and that's going to help. I'll give them another good watering again before I give them any nutrients.

I'll get the neem oil. I tried soap & olive oil, but the mealy bugs and those others are still there. I squish them daily. Back to Amazon. (I'm housebound, and it sure comes in handy!)