How do I save this blueberry bush?
John Wong
last year
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John Wong
last yearRelated Discussions
How do I pot a bare root blueberry bush?
Comments (7)So actually I have 3 to plant and I just took a look at the roots of each. One was so root bound that the roots were a solid mass of very fine hairs. The plant looked like it came out of a pot 4" wide and about 10" deep, almost like a tube of roots. I had to break up the mass a little and chunks of the stuff came off in my hand. I'm assuming that's a good thing. So I broke off a bunch of the stuff and reduced the mass of roots to about 1/2. I've got them soaking in water now and will go back out and pot them in a little while. It's amazing how few real looking roots there are on a small blueberry bush....See MoreHow do I pot a bare root blueberry bush?
Comments (12)Actually I have 3 now. 2 more came today. I have a Sweetcrisp, and the other 2 are a Patriot and I'm ashamed to admit it....yes...a KaBluey from Gurneys. I had a $50 credit from Gurneys, figured 'what the heck' and decided to use it. I found out that the KaBluey, even though the name is silly, is A-257 selected at the University of Arkansas, so I'm optimistic that it will do well. I just took a look at the roots of each. The KaBluey looks healthy but was so root bound that the roots were a solid mass of very fine hairs. The plant looked like it came out of a pot 4" wide and about 10" deep. I had had to loosen up the mass of roots a little and chunks of the stuff came off in my hand. I'm assuming that's a good thing. I reduced the mass of roots to about 1/2. I've got them soaking in water now and will go back out and pot them in a little while. It's amazing how few real looking roots there are on a small blueberry bush....See MoreShould I do anything for this blueberry bush or throw it out?
Comments (8)I'm worried because the last time I saw this (on the one that died), the berries ended up all shriveled and the stems also began to brown and shrivel/curl. I've seen pictures of various blueberry diseases where the flowers turn brown and the blueberry part and stem itself shrivels. And I'm not seeing this at all on the "healthier" plant...To clarify, the second pictures are of the Sunshine Blue bush which is totally fine. In the fall, the leaves had become reddish around the outer parts of each leaf and spread inward toward the center of the leaf. I later began to notice little green/black dots on the surface of the leaves (not w/in the leaf) that looked like spores. I then decided to pull off all the leaves and figured the plant was dying...But it came back....See MoreCan this blueberry bush be saved?
Comments (1)I thinks its possible to save it. Never give up just try a different method. I have used Dr Earth Acid Lovers as a base adding perlite, crushed pine bark and some peat since the bags I used to get were so wet and dense the roots couldnt breathe. My blueberries have thrived and multiplied in that combo mix and have been very productive. The high bush have doubled in size and the low bush have spread from 8inches to 32in and will be divided next month. Even my dwarf TopHat is bursting with berries now. I found that air and drainage along with acid are the key to helping plants recover. Holes on sides and bottom of planters for more air flow, a mulch of pine bark or pine straw (rip needles off pine boughs) to protect the roots that are close to surface and protect from cold and freeze/thaw cycles in winter and spring. Even though Dr E was acid lovers I still put a bit of soil acidifier in ensure the long term acidity wasnt changed. Usually yellow is chlorosis which means the acid level is not low enough for the plant to get the nutrients from the soil, they are still locked up. You may also have to add some iron when you put in more acid or use acid fertilizer. Some nurseries sell a plant spike called ironite. It wont take long to see improvement in the new growth since its summer. Use rain water when you can or Miracid. Some use vinegar but I dont now the amounts and ratio....See MoreJohn Wong
last yearraee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
last yearlast modified: last yearJohn Wong
last yearraee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
last yearJohn Wong
last year
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