Blueberry dying leaves, flowers

Question

Hi I'm having major issues with my blueberry bushes. I had three in a large planter and they fruited last year just fine. The third one randomly dried up and died a couple of months ago, now one of the others looks Ill and possibly the other one. When the first one died I stripped out all of the soil and replaced it with fresh erecacius soil, I made sure the roots were sprayed off and looking ok before I put them in the new soil. They looked to be fine for a month and then the bush on the right flowers / fruit went all purple and leaves started to fall off. Iv only watered with rain water, not fertilised it, it's had new compost a month or so ago, really can't work out what's wrong with them.

Here is a video of the plant : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNuQ7ZzkoHI

Answer 1

Here are one or two possibilities. Blueberry scorch or shock viruses. When you are able to answer the questions I've asked in my first comment we'll be able to ID more closely. This link I've sent looks like the pictures of your blueberry and by what you've told us might just be correct.

You said you used ericaceous soil for that planter. I am assuming you got soil from your garden where blueberries or ericaceous plants were grown. That just might have been the problem. Virus, even other disease vectors would be present in that soil. Using garden soil in pots and that includes planters is just a bad idea. In the large body of garden soil we've no idea what is in the soil dug up to put in the pot or planter. In the large body of garden soil are 'controls' that will never be found in that soil after removed to be placed in a pot.

Lots of plants, if they are healthy because they are fertilized properly, watered properly, have great drainage would be able to fight some diseases. But yours sound as if they suffered some major stress and might have been made more susceptible to disease as I've said earlier.

Your reaction was actually an excellent reaction. To get rid of the soil and wash the roots. If you had used sterilized potting soil in the original planting (usually on the acidic side any way) that would have made a difference. But a virus is tiny tiny tiny and washing the roots wouldn't have helped because your plant would already have been infected. Fungus is the same way, there are a few blueberry blights that could also be culpable.

I don't think your shrubs will make it but no harm in trying. blue berry scorch virus Check out these pictures. I am amazed that all these pictures look like any and all diseases lumped together! Then there is 'shock' and that again looks like your blueberries. shock and scorch There are preventative measures which would mean doing something before infection. Shoot. Wait to hear from Bamboo. Please send more pictures; including standing back to give us a picture of the planter and shrubs. Tell us more about the soil you've used, especially the first planting. What was grown, why you believe it is 'ericaceous' soil and what you've added; what kind of compost, fertilizer. Did you install gravel or rock at the bottom of the planter before putting soil in the planter (not good for drainage)? You do have drainage holes, correct?

If you've got great drainage in those planters water will not be a factor. Blueberries are essentially bog plants and love low pH and lots of water. With what little I know right now, I would be getting rid of those plants, the soil, bleaching that planter and planning to replant with plants that are not in the ericaceous family. Wait for another answer however, okay? Have you grown blueberries before in your garden or is this a newly adopted garden soil from a previous owner?

Answer 2

This is actually grey mould caused by the fungus Botrytus cinerea. It affects many ornamental plants and fruits, especially berries.

In fruits, it usually enters the plant through the blossoms in spring and lay there unnoticed until fruits start to develop. As fruit develop and sugar content gets higher and higher combined with high humidity, it spreads very quickly. And in your case, lead to brown rot. This is especially true for gooseberries, strawberries and blueberries.

I am sorry to say that there’s no chemical solutions for amateur gardeners. You can cut out all infected material and hope that the sclerotia of the fungus haven’t spread(airborne spores released by fungus). You need to reduce humidity and have good hygiene to avoid spread.

It would also be interesting to know how you water your plants. Do you spray foliage or do you water straight to the roots? The latter is the way to water for most plants.

Answer 3

Have you tried amending the soil to be more acidic? I have had very similar issues in my 5 year old bush and the miracle elixir was just making it more acidic. You can substitute a tbsp of apple cider vinegar (with mother, of you have it) per one gallon of water for two waterings a week and the results you can witness within 24 hours. Just an idea! :) I've thought to keep it alive the post 4 out of five years, and it was that simple.