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Posted: Jun/11/2009 4:33 PM PST
I bought a blueberry "bush" for my son for his 7th birthday. I " " cause its a stick with one horizontal near the base, two dozen leaves and a handful of berries turning blue. I have just learned that I will need other types of bushes if I want to have berries next year- no big deal- I'll get some more soon... I have also read about the soil ph and calcium in water... but haven't checked the ph of the current soil. I planted the stick's rootball from a 1# nursery container into a large container- easier to control. I read that rose and azalea mix was good for them, so that's what I put it in. It's watered daily in the morning for a few minutes with a 4 gpm sprinkler and has moist soil throughout the day, but the water doesn't stand on the surface after the timer shuts off. The bush gets water at 10 am and sun about 12- 7pm. It seemed fine the first week or so, but this week I notice that the topmost leaves look burned- they are dry, crunchy, red-brown, spreading progressively from the outside of the leaf to the inside. To me it looks like the plant is shutting these down to use energy/nutrition somewhere else. Is the Rose soil not good for these guys? I am reading here that the common problems are ph and inadequate draining. Not sure if either is an issue... I would appreciate advice, especially the kind that is inexpensive (LOL). |
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Posted: Jun/12/2009 6:38 AM PST
Sounds to me like it may be "overwatering". Blueberries can withstand some drought. Sun sounds ok. Soil mix? Mine are just in reg. potting soil, with a little fertilizer mixed in. Blueberries DO NOT like to be fertilized (go figure?). And yes, to produce berries next year, you will need another variety for pollination-I'm thinking there is supposed to be 3 bushes and 2 different varieties (I may be mixed up, but that's what came to mind). |
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Posted: Jun/14/2009 3:56 PM PST
Thanks a ton! I removed the sprinkler from it, I'll water it by hand from now on- thankfully it will only need water every few days. I'm feeling like I might replant it with by simply moving the whole thing into a larger container with some sand and compost mix around the outside, to allow for better drainage. There's no standing water, but its wet under the top dry layer, so maybe all the water is forcing too much nutrients too fast. I know now is not a good time to replant, but if it doesn't stop getting worse it's going to die, and I can't do worse than that! |
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Posted: Jun/14/2009 7:12 PM PST
When you are planting a plant that was in a container into another container, there really is no "wrong" time to transplant, UNLESS, you have a plant in flower or fruit. Then it is best to leave it alone until that cycle is complete. If you are not interested in the fruit, go ahead and transplant. I would trim back the plant about 1/3 after transplanting to encourage root development. |
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Posted: Aug/22/2009 1:42 AM PST
unless it is specifically a patio/container blueberry plant-I highly recommend you put it in the ground somewhere,along with 2 other different buddies.water the base if possible.I plant mine in the ground with a mixture of organic fertilizer-level tablespoon,loam-peat-compost-sand-leaves.We have 56 bushes doing well for the last 5 yrs.The Japs are my only problem thus far.All containers will dry out the plants,some more than others.The average family can get a good crop with 4 bushes.I have 6 of my own-the rest are for commerical picking.As I'm still working on last years freezer crop I gave all mine this year away.Keep the weeds away from the base,mulch with pine needles-leaves,blueberry food in the spring-just follow the directions on package.good luck and happy berries! |
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Posted: Sep/27/2009 3:09 PM PST
Thanks carolyncat353 for that - as I've had the same problem and it's starting to come right (though it's still early days yet). though in my case the downpipe of our house had a hole in it and was dripping onto the plant. We thought it was a good think as we didn't have to water it - but then you spoke of overwatering. I have a website called MyGarden (www.mygarden.co.nz) and trying to build up a database of all these types of problems to create a cause/effect/solution databse, so these problems/solutions really help. Thanks again! --------------------------- Vegetable Garden + Home Garden = My Garden WLB |
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