cursed container?

21 years ago

last year i potted a dwarf blueberry which died without showing any new growth upon receiving it in the mail.

this year- round two- not sure if it is the same pot because i hvae two that look alike. i potted new dwarf blueberries from mailorder, different varieties from last year. ok, one does the same thing last years plant did.

round 3- i disinfect, or so i thought, the pot. this time, i know it is the same pot b/c i marked them and it is the only one with dying/no growth plants. i plant a replacement blueberry of the same type and it dies!!!!!! i also planted another of the same type in a new pot at the same time/ both came in the same shipment.

round 4 has not happened yet- i will plant a nonessential who cares what happens plant and see if it dies.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

jenny_in_se_pa
21 years ago
How big of a pot are you putting them in and what kind (plastic? foam? clay?)? Are you keeping them outside or inside? Are you giving them sufficient water?

I know it's too late for this year but you might consider just buying more mature container-grown plants around March - April at a place like Lowes, HD, or Wally World, etc.

I had 2 mail order "patio" (but apparently not dwarf) bare-roots (my very first blueberries about 10 years ago) that were a mere 6" tall. I put them in a mix of 1/2 peat and 1/2 soiless container mix, one each in 12" plastic pots and actually kept them boggy for their first couple years. They went through some trials and tribulations over the years but are about 5ft tall and fruit with small, near-black purple sweet blueberries.
fairy_toadmother
Original Author
21 years ago
since they are small, i started them in individual 8" across self watering light colored plastic containers until i can get more permanent ones. they are in potting mix, fine "compost" from an old oak tree, and a bit of blueberry "food" which i cannot recall the name of. also, they are outside. they are mulched on top with larger chunks of the same half decomposed tree. all live ones have graduated to full sun and doing well.

all are doing fine, except the ones i pot at the same time as others that i then put in the same cursed pot... (twilight zone theme)

i am glad you responded jenny. could you remind me on proportions for the vinegar and water mix? i know it had been discussed in other forums many times, but the search didn't turn it up. my area is alkaline. i plan on looking for hollytone, but it appears i will have to online order.
thanks!
Related Professionals
Sarasota Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Enfield Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Akron Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Williamsport Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Huntsville Landscape Contractors · Savannah Landscape Contractors · Orangeburg Landscape Contractors · Murfreesboro Landscape Contractors · Alexandria Landscape Contractors · Idaho Falls Landscape Contractors · Billings Landscape Contractors · Evanston Landscape Contractors · Natchez Home Builders · Charlottesville Home Builders · Lafayette Home Builders
jenny_in_se_pa
21 years ago
When I potted my blueberries, I put them in a 50-50 mix of soiless container mix and sphagnum peat moss. That pretty much gave them conditions that fell within the pH range that they prefer (ie., ~5.5).

I don't use vinegar to maintain the acidity of the mix but use Hollytone or peat. The various food-grade vinegars undiluted have on average a pH ~3. I have seen various recommended dilutions (eg., 2 tbsp per quart), but I know that vinegar can be lethal to plants if not diluted correctly and I basically stay away from it. You can actually make a peat "tea" and water with that which will also help to acidify the soil.
fairy_toadmother
Original Author
21 years ago
thanks, good to know! i think i will test my peat first. i have read diff things on peat regarding acidity variations. i also noticed today that one blueberry that was doing so well appears to have iron cholorsis. i don't have a ph tester yet. also noticed what looks like sunburn. summer is basically here and i am getting nervous about the new "babies." i am terrible about watering. i forgot to add that i used the water polymer stuff b/c of my inherent need to forget watering. they were moist this morning.
thanks, again!