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Need help pls don't know where I have gone wrong with my blueberry plant!

Robert.szwentnerRobert.szwentner Posts: 8
in Fruit & veg
Hi guys, 
Im in need of wise heads. I havent got a clue what I have done wrong to my 5 yr old blueberry Bush. It has produced so much fruit in the past and was expecting this year to be the best. 

Approx 5/6 years old. 
Repotted into bigger tub 2 months ago
Pruned 2 months ago
Looks very pale and not much new growth. 
Pic taken end of April, South East UK 

Thank you in advance 

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391
    edited April 2020
    What sort of compost did you use to re-pot it?  They require (not just like) quite acid conditions so need ericaceous compost.  If they don't have acid conditions, they are unable to take in food which can lead to the pale colour.  If you did use acid compost then I would give them a liquid feed suitabe for acid-lovers, such as ones sold for feeding azaleas and rhododendrons.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Robert.szwentnerRobert.szwentner Posts: 8
    Thank u bobthegardener, I really have no idea what pH of the compost was, had no idea it mattered. Compost from the council recycling centre but I did top it with good quality compost. I'm amazed how little new foliage growth there is on it, compared with all the other plants this blueberry looks like it's going into fall, autumn colours. So strange 
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391
    OK, so that's the issue.  I would get hold of some ericaceous compost as soon as you can and re-pot it into that, otherwise it will continue to struggle and may even die.  Other types of compost often have lime added, which blueberries absolutely hate.
    The problem is that it can't take-in nitrogen to form the chlorophyll which makes the leaves green.  Without chlorophyll, you see the natural 'autumn' leaf colour.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Robert.szwentnerRobert.szwentner Posts: 8
    Ah awesome. From one Bob to another thank u. 
    Where can I get such a compost during lockdown? Lol 
  • pclark42pclark42 Posts: 164
    Some garden centres are doing a click and collect or B&Q
  • Robert.szwentnerRobert.szwentner Posts: 8
    Found it on ebay thank u pclark
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 9,976
    Unless your tap water is naturally soft, then you really need to use rainwater on them which is slightly acidic They like to be just damp most of the time so try not to let the compost dry out.
    Once re potted in the right compost give it some time to settle and during the growing season feed once a month with a feed suitable for azaleas (which also require acidic conditions). I use miracle grow for azaleas.
    As BobTG says, unless compost pH is right, your blueberry can't access the nutrients it needs and will perish eventually in the wrong compost.
    It's a good looking bush you have there hope you manage to get it back in shape.

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Robert.szwentnerRobert.szwentner Posts: 8
    Thank you for the detailed info Pete 8 
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