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Saving a blueberry bush that lost all leaves
Why does my blueberry bush have brown/scorched leaves?Should I transfer a growing potted blueberry bush to a bigger pot, or into the ground?How do I get rid of worm-like trails all over my Senetti plants' leaves?Requirements for successful Blueberry bush plantingBlueberry leaves that curl and then brownWhen to apply amendments to blueberriesBlueberry bushes leaves turned red and fell offHow to deal with a blueberry bush putting off unusually large-leaved branchesFicus lost 80% of leaves over the course of NovemberBlueberry dying leaves, flowers
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Earlier this year I bought a small blueberry bush at a local garden store. Since it was written on the attached note that it can grow in a pot on the balcony without a problem, I bought bigger pot, some recommended soil (I used 'rhododendron soil' with a pH value of 4.6) for it and planted it there. At the time that I bought it in late spring/early summer, it had a surprising amount of branches and berries on it, considering it's size.
Things went well for two months or so, I kept it in a half-sunny spot on my balcony (I live in southern Germany) and watered it carefully with tap water, since I was worried about drowning it. Every two weeks or so I fertilized it with a bit of the general purpose fertilizer I use for all my balcony plants (7% nitrate,3% phosphate,6% potassium oxide, smaller concentrations of other stuff).
At some point after these two months I noticed that its leaves had started to get brown, dry spots. I assumed the heatwave at the time to be the cause, so I moved it to a more shady place and watched it's moisture level more carefully. Nonetheless, more and more leaves turned brown and eventually were thrown off.
Since I assumed that lack of water could not be the cause, I was worried about having overwatered it after all, so I took it out of the pot and had a look at the soil and it's roots. While the soil was moist, it didn't seem an alarming extend to me and the roots were alive and firm, large enough in number and with still some space left in the pot for them to expand.
A friend of mine that I often talk about gardening stuff with suggested that the bush simply had too many berries to maintain them all, leading to this situation.
Over the course of the last week all the berries and leaves dried up, I removed them since these seemed a hopeless cause to me.
The stem of the bush still looks green and lively, and cutting one of the outlying branches showed that despite a dry outside, the inside is still firmly green and juicy.
Is there hope for this bush to survive and eventually grow new leaves?
What can I do to help it?
Additional information:
Water pH-value: 7.73
Water hardness: 15.6 dH, 2.79 mmol/l
plant-health leaves shrubs blueberries
add a comment |
Earlier this year I bought a small blueberry bush at a local garden store. Since it was written on the attached note that it can grow in a pot on the balcony without a problem, I bought bigger pot, some recommended soil (I used 'rhododendron soil' with a pH value of 4.6) for it and planted it there. At the time that I bought it in late spring/early summer, it had a surprising amount of branches and berries on it, considering it's size.
Things went well for two months or so, I kept it in a half-sunny spot on my balcony (I live in southern Germany) and watered it carefully with tap water, since I was worried about drowning it. Every two weeks or so I fertilized it with a bit of the general purpose fertilizer I use for all my balcony plants (7% nitrate,3% phosphate,6% potassium oxide, smaller concentrations of other stuff).
At some point after these two months I noticed that its leaves had started to get brown, dry spots. I assumed the heatwave at the time to be the cause, so I moved it to a more shady place and watched it's moisture level more carefully. Nonetheless, more and more leaves turned brown and eventually were thrown off.
Since I assumed that lack of water could not be the cause, I was worried about having overwatered it after all, so I took it out of the pot and had a look at the soil and it's roots. While the soil was moist, it didn't seem an alarming extend to me and the roots were alive and firm, large enough in number and with still some space left in the pot for them to expand.
A friend of mine that I often talk about gardening stuff with suggested that the bush simply had too many berries to maintain them all, leading to this situation.
Over the course of the last week all the berries and leaves dried up, I removed them since these seemed a hopeless cause to me.
The stem of the bush still looks green and lively, and cutting one of the outlying branches showed that despite a dry outside, the inside is still firmly green and juicy.
Is there hope for this bush to survive and eventually grow new leaves?
What can I do to help it?
Additional information:
Water pH-value: 7.73
Water hardness: 15.6 dH, 2.79 mmol/l
plant-health leaves shrubs blueberries
1
It's quite difficult to overwater plants in pots, provided there are drainage holes and they're allowed to drain freely without the water being trapped in a tray beneath, so how much did you actually water? Its possible the plant may have developed rust with the brown spots on the leaves, but hard to say now... did you use ericaceous or acid soil in the pot? Did you use an ericaceous fertilizer, or one meant for acid loving plants? Did you water with rainwater, or tapwater? And a photo of the plant and its pot might be helpful...as well as knowing where you are in the world.
– Bamboo
Jul 16 at 12:28
I expanded my question to include that information. The fertilizer in the described composition is designated as 'general purpose, so not specifically for acid loving plants. As for how much I watered it is hard to say, I would estimate something between 2 and 5 liters per week. I probed the soil regularly and before watering it it always still way ever so slightly moist at around the depth of my index finger.
– deemel
Jul 16 at 13:22
What is the pH of the water you have been using? Is your water from a hard source, that is, say from a chalky limestone well or rainwater or other?
– Colin Beckingham
Jul 16 at 13:29
@ColinBeckingham I appended the information I got from my local provider
– deemel
Jul 16 at 14:10
And what soil did you use in the pot?
– Bamboo
Jul 16 at 16:09
add a comment |
Earlier this year I bought a small blueberry bush at a local garden store. Since it was written on the attached note that it can grow in a pot on the balcony without a problem, I bought bigger pot, some recommended soil (I used 'rhododendron soil' with a pH value of 4.6) for it and planted it there. At the time that I bought it in late spring/early summer, it had a surprising amount of branches and berries on it, considering it's size.
Things went well for two months or so, I kept it in a half-sunny spot on my balcony (I live in southern Germany) and watered it carefully with tap water, since I was worried about drowning it. Every two weeks or so I fertilized it with a bit of the general purpose fertilizer I use for all my balcony plants (7% nitrate,3% phosphate,6% potassium oxide, smaller concentrations of other stuff).
At some point after these two months I noticed that its leaves had started to get brown, dry spots. I assumed the heatwave at the time to be the cause, so I moved it to a more shady place and watched it's moisture level more carefully. Nonetheless, more and more leaves turned brown and eventually were thrown off.
Since I assumed that lack of water could not be the cause, I was worried about having overwatered it after all, so I took it out of the pot and had a look at the soil and it's roots. While the soil was moist, it didn't seem an alarming extend to me and the roots were alive and firm, large enough in number and with still some space left in the pot for them to expand.
A friend of mine that I often talk about gardening stuff with suggested that the bush simply had too many berries to maintain them all, leading to this situation.
Over the course of the last week all the berries and leaves dried up, I removed them since these seemed a hopeless cause to me.
The stem of the bush still looks green and lively, and cutting one of the outlying branches showed that despite a dry outside, the inside is still firmly green and juicy.
Is there hope for this bush to survive and eventually grow new leaves?
What can I do to help it?
Additional information:
Water pH-value: 7.73
Water hardness: 15.6 dH, 2.79 mmol/l
plant-health leaves shrubs blueberries
Earlier this year I bought a small blueberry bush at a local garden store. Since it was written on the attached note that it can grow in a pot on the balcony without a problem, I bought bigger pot, some recommended soil (I used 'rhododendron soil' with a pH value of 4.6) for it and planted it there. At the time that I bought it in late spring/early summer, it had a surprising amount of branches and berries on it, considering it's size.
Things went well for two months or so, I kept it in a half-sunny spot on my balcony (I live in southern Germany) and watered it carefully with tap water, since I was worried about drowning it. Every two weeks or so I fertilized it with a bit of the general purpose fertilizer I use for all my balcony plants (7% nitrate,3% phosphate,6% potassium oxide, smaller concentrations of other stuff).
At some point after these two months I noticed that its leaves had started to get brown, dry spots. I assumed the heatwave at the time to be the cause, so I moved it to a more shady place and watched it's moisture level more carefully. Nonetheless, more and more leaves turned brown and eventually were thrown off.
Since I assumed that lack of water could not be the cause, I was worried about having overwatered it after all, so I took it out of the pot and had a look at the soil and it's roots. While the soil was moist, it didn't seem an alarming extend to me and the roots were alive and firm, large enough in number and with still some space left in the pot for them to expand.
A friend of mine that I often talk about gardening stuff with suggested that the bush simply had too many berries to maintain them all, leading to this situation.
Over the course of the last week all the berries and leaves dried up, I removed them since these seemed a hopeless cause to me.
The stem of the bush still looks green and lively, and cutting one of the outlying branches showed that despite a dry outside, the inside is still firmly green and juicy.
Is there hope for this bush to survive and eventually grow new leaves?
What can I do to help it?
Additional information:
Water pH-value: 7.73
Water hardness: 15.6 dH, 2.79 mmol/l
plant-health leaves shrubs blueberries
plant-health leaves shrubs blueberries
edited Jul 16 at 14:09
deemel
asked Jul 16 at 11:08
deemeldeemel
1135 bronze badges
1135 bronze badges
1
It's quite difficult to overwater plants in pots, provided there are drainage holes and they're allowed to drain freely without the water being trapped in a tray beneath, so how much did you actually water? Its possible the plant may have developed rust with the brown spots on the leaves, but hard to say now... did you use ericaceous or acid soil in the pot? Did you use an ericaceous fertilizer, or one meant for acid loving plants? Did you water with rainwater, or tapwater? And a photo of the plant and its pot might be helpful...as well as knowing where you are in the world.
– Bamboo
Jul 16 at 12:28
I expanded my question to include that information. The fertilizer in the described composition is designated as 'general purpose, so not specifically for acid loving plants. As for how much I watered it is hard to say, I would estimate something between 2 and 5 liters per week. I probed the soil regularly and before watering it it always still way ever so slightly moist at around the depth of my index finger.
– deemel
Jul 16 at 13:22
What is the pH of the water you have been using? Is your water from a hard source, that is, say from a chalky limestone well or rainwater or other?
– Colin Beckingham
Jul 16 at 13:29
@ColinBeckingham I appended the information I got from my local provider
– deemel
Jul 16 at 14:10
And what soil did you use in the pot?
– Bamboo
Jul 16 at 16:09
add a comment |
1
It's quite difficult to overwater plants in pots, provided there are drainage holes and they're allowed to drain freely without the water being trapped in a tray beneath, so how much did you actually water? Its possible the plant may have developed rust with the brown spots on the leaves, but hard to say now... did you use ericaceous or acid soil in the pot? Did you use an ericaceous fertilizer, or one meant for acid loving plants? Did you water with rainwater, or tapwater? And a photo of the plant and its pot might be helpful...as well as knowing where you are in the world.
– Bamboo
Jul 16 at 12:28
I expanded my question to include that information. The fertilizer in the described composition is designated as 'general purpose, so not specifically for acid loving plants. As for how much I watered it is hard to say, I would estimate something between 2 and 5 liters per week. I probed the soil regularly and before watering it it always still way ever so slightly moist at around the depth of my index finger.
– deemel
Jul 16 at 13:22
What is the pH of the water you have been using? Is your water from a hard source, that is, say from a chalky limestone well or rainwater or other?
– Colin Beckingham
Jul 16 at 13:29
@ColinBeckingham I appended the information I got from my local provider
– deemel
Jul 16 at 14:10
And what soil did you use in the pot?
– Bamboo
Jul 16 at 16:09
1
1
It's quite difficult to overwater plants in pots, provided there are drainage holes and they're allowed to drain freely without the water being trapped in a tray beneath, so how much did you actually water? Its possible the plant may have developed rust with the brown spots on the leaves, but hard to say now... did you use ericaceous or acid soil in the pot? Did you use an ericaceous fertilizer, or one meant for acid loving plants? Did you water with rainwater, or tapwater? And a photo of the plant and its pot might be helpful...as well as knowing where you are in the world.
– Bamboo
Jul 16 at 12:28
It's quite difficult to overwater plants in pots, provided there are drainage holes and they're allowed to drain freely without the water being trapped in a tray beneath, so how much did you actually water? Its possible the plant may have developed rust with the brown spots on the leaves, but hard to say now... did you use ericaceous or acid soil in the pot? Did you use an ericaceous fertilizer, or one meant for acid loving plants? Did you water with rainwater, or tapwater? And a photo of the plant and its pot might be helpful...as well as knowing where you are in the world.
– Bamboo
Jul 16 at 12:28
I expanded my question to include that information. The fertilizer in the described composition is designated as 'general purpose, so not specifically for acid loving plants. As for how much I watered it is hard to say, I would estimate something between 2 and 5 liters per week. I probed the soil regularly and before watering it it always still way ever so slightly moist at around the depth of my index finger.
– deemel
Jul 16 at 13:22
I expanded my question to include that information. The fertilizer in the described composition is designated as 'general purpose, so not specifically for acid loving plants. As for how much I watered it is hard to say, I would estimate something between 2 and 5 liters per week. I probed the soil regularly and before watering it it always still way ever so slightly moist at around the depth of my index finger.
– deemel
Jul 16 at 13:22
What is the pH of the water you have been using? Is your water from a hard source, that is, say from a chalky limestone well or rainwater or other?
– Colin Beckingham
Jul 16 at 13:29
What is the pH of the water you have been using? Is your water from a hard source, that is, say from a chalky limestone well or rainwater or other?
– Colin Beckingham
Jul 16 at 13:29
@ColinBeckingham I appended the information I got from my local provider
– deemel
Jul 16 at 14:10
@ColinBeckingham I appended the information I got from my local provider
– deemel
Jul 16 at 14:10
And what soil did you use in the pot?
– Bamboo
Jul 16 at 16:09
And what soil did you use in the pot?
– Bamboo
Jul 16 at 16:09
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
I suspect your water is the problem. Blueberries need acid soil (pH below 5.5). Your "rhododendron soil" was fine at 4.6, but your water is significantly alkaline. The chemistry definition of "neutral" is pH 7.0 but "neutral" garden soil is usually around 6.0.
I would repot the plant in the same "rhododendron soil", getting as much of the old soil off the roots as possible. Ideally, water it with rain water not tap water, or find some suitable bottled water. Different brands of bottled water sold for drinking may have pH anywhere between 5 and 9. The most acidic brands would be ideal, but unfortunately alkaline water tends to "taste better" so is likely to be more common. Deionized or distilled water should have pH 7.0.
Get a soil testing kit to monitor the pH. You can increase the acidity if necessary by adding sulphur. Note: the information on some web sites that Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) will increase soil acidity is a myth - you want pure sulphur.
You were probably over-feeding the plants. The grow naturally in very poor soil. Use fertilizer formulated for ericaceous plants which will maintain the soil acidity, not general purpose fertilizer.
add a comment |
Thanks for the details on water pH. It looks like the water is the cause of the problem. We have to remember that the pH scale is logarithmic, so the difference between say 7 and 7.5 and 6.5 and 7 is not at all the same. Your water is quite alkaline and this will counter very rapidly any acidic conditions you try to establish with the right soil conditions. There are a number of resources available online about making water more acidic including adding small amounts of vinegar to the water. It might not be too late for this plant; continue your researches and find a water mix your plants might like. Rainwater will probably be better than tap in this case.
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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active
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I suspect your water is the problem. Blueberries need acid soil (pH below 5.5). Your "rhododendron soil" was fine at 4.6, but your water is significantly alkaline. The chemistry definition of "neutral" is pH 7.0 but "neutral" garden soil is usually around 6.0.
I would repot the plant in the same "rhododendron soil", getting as much of the old soil off the roots as possible. Ideally, water it with rain water not tap water, or find some suitable bottled water. Different brands of bottled water sold for drinking may have pH anywhere between 5 and 9. The most acidic brands would be ideal, but unfortunately alkaline water tends to "taste better" so is likely to be more common. Deionized or distilled water should have pH 7.0.
Get a soil testing kit to monitor the pH. You can increase the acidity if necessary by adding sulphur. Note: the information on some web sites that Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) will increase soil acidity is a myth - you want pure sulphur.
You were probably over-feeding the plants. The grow naturally in very poor soil. Use fertilizer formulated for ericaceous plants which will maintain the soil acidity, not general purpose fertilizer.
add a comment |
I suspect your water is the problem. Blueberries need acid soil (pH below 5.5). Your "rhododendron soil" was fine at 4.6, but your water is significantly alkaline. The chemistry definition of "neutral" is pH 7.0 but "neutral" garden soil is usually around 6.0.
I would repot the plant in the same "rhododendron soil", getting as much of the old soil off the roots as possible. Ideally, water it with rain water not tap water, or find some suitable bottled water. Different brands of bottled water sold for drinking may have pH anywhere between 5 and 9. The most acidic brands would be ideal, but unfortunately alkaline water tends to "taste better" so is likely to be more common. Deionized or distilled water should have pH 7.0.
Get a soil testing kit to monitor the pH. You can increase the acidity if necessary by adding sulphur. Note: the information on some web sites that Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) will increase soil acidity is a myth - you want pure sulphur.
You were probably over-feeding the plants. The grow naturally in very poor soil. Use fertilizer formulated for ericaceous plants which will maintain the soil acidity, not general purpose fertilizer.
add a comment |
I suspect your water is the problem. Blueberries need acid soil (pH below 5.5). Your "rhododendron soil" was fine at 4.6, but your water is significantly alkaline. The chemistry definition of "neutral" is pH 7.0 but "neutral" garden soil is usually around 6.0.
I would repot the plant in the same "rhododendron soil", getting as much of the old soil off the roots as possible. Ideally, water it with rain water not tap water, or find some suitable bottled water. Different brands of bottled water sold for drinking may have pH anywhere between 5 and 9. The most acidic brands would be ideal, but unfortunately alkaline water tends to "taste better" so is likely to be more common. Deionized or distilled water should have pH 7.0.
Get a soil testing kit to monitor the pH. You can increase the acidity if necessary by adding sulphur. Note: the information on some web sites that Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) will increase soil acidity is a myth - you want pure sulphur.
You were probably over-feeding the plants. The grow naturally in very poor soil. Use fertilizer formulated for ericaceous plants which will maintain the soil acidity, not general purpose fertilizer.
I suspect your water is the problem. Blueberries need acid soil (pH below 5.5). Your "rhododendron soil" was fine at 4.6, but your water is significantly alkaline. The chemistry definition of "neutral" is pH 7.0 but "neutral" garden soil is usually around 6.0.
I would repot the plant in the same "rhododendron soil", getting as much of the old soil off the roots as possible. Ideally, water it with rain water not tap water, or find some suitable bottled water. Different brands of bottled water sold for drinking may have pH anywhere between 5 and 9. The most acidic brands would be ideal, but unfortunately alkaline water tends to "taste better" so is likely to be more common. Deionized or distilled water should have pH 7.0.
Get a soil testing kit to monitor the pH. You can increase the acidity if necessary by adding sulphur. Note: the information on some web sites that Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) will increase soil acidity is a myth - you want pure sulphur.
You were probably over-feeding the plants. The grow naturally in very poor soil. Use fertilizer formulated for ericaceous plants which will maintain the soil acidity, not general purpose fertilizer.
edited Jul 16 at 16:25
answered Jul 16 at 16:16
alephzeroalephzero
5,1131 gold badge8 silver badges16 bronze badges
5,1131 gold badge8 silver badges16 bronze badges
add a comment |
add a comment |
Thanks for the details on water pH. It looks like the water is the cause of the problem. We have to remember that the pH scale is logarithmic, so the difference between say 7 and 7.5 and 6.5 and 7 is not at all the same. Your water is quite alkaline and this will counter very rapidly any acidic conditions you try to establish with the right soil conditions. There are a number of resources available online about making water more acidic including adding small amounts of vinegar to the water. It might not be too late for this plant; continue your researches and find a water mix your plants might like. Rainwater will probably be better than tap in this case.
add a comment |
Thanks for the details on water pH. It looks like the water is the cause of the problem. We have to remember that the pH scale is logarithmic, so the difference between say 7 and 7.5 and 6.5 and 7 is not at all the same. Your water is quite alkaline and this will counter very rapidly any acidic conditions you try to establish with the right soil conditions. There are a number of resources available online about making water more acidic including adding small amounts of vinegar to the water. It might not be too late for this plant; continue your researches and find a water mix your plants might like. Rainwater will probably be better than tap in this case.
add a comment |
Thanks for the details on water pH. It looks like the water is the cause of the problem. We have to remember that the pH scale is logarithmic, so the difference between say 7 and 7.5 and 6.5 and 7 is not at all the same. Your water is quite alkaline and this will counter very rapidly any acidic conditions you try to establish with the right soil conditions. There are a number of resources available online about making water more acidic including adding small amounts of vinegar to the water. It might not be too late for this plant; continue your researches and find a water mix your plants might like. Rainwater will probably be better than tap in this case.
Thanks for the details on water pH. It looks like the water is the cause of the problem. We have to remember that the pH scale is logarithmic, so the difference between say 7 and 7.5 and 6.5 and 7 is not at all the same. Your water is quite alkaline and this will counter very rapidly any acidic conditions you try to establish with the right soil conditions. There are a number of resources available online about making water more acidic including adding small amounts of vinegar to the water. It might not be too late for this plant; continue your researches and find a water mix your plants might like. Rainwater will probably be better than tap in this case.
answered Jul 16 at 16:10
Colin BeckinghamColin Beckingham
7,4734 silver badges28 bronze badges
7,4734 silver badges28 bronze badges
add a comment |
add a comment |
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It's quite difficult to overwater plants in pots, provided there are drainage holes and they're allowed to drain freely without the water being trapped in a tray beneath, so how much did you actually water? Its possible the plant may have developed rust with the brown spots on the leaves, but hard to say now... did you use ericaceous or acid soil in the pot? Did you use an ericaceous fertilizer, or one meant for acid loving plants? Did you water with rainwater, or tapwater? And a photo of the plant and its pot might be helpful...as well as knowing where you are in the world.
– Bamboo
Jul 16 at 12:28
I expanded my question to include that information. The fertilizer in the described composition is designated as 'general purpose, so not specifically for acid loving plants. As for how much I watered it is hard to say, I would estimate something between 2 and 5 liters per week. I probed the soil regularly and before watering it it always still way ever so slightly moist at around the depth of my index finger.
– deemel
Jul 16 at 13:22
What is the pH of the water you have been using? Is your water from a hard source, that is, say from a chalky limestone well or rainwater or other?
– Colin Beckingham
Jul 16 at 13:29
@ColinBeckingham I appended the information I got from my local provider
– deemel
Jul 16 at 14:10
And what soil did you use in the pot?
– Bamboo
Jul 16 at 16:09