Blueberry plants all died suddenly

angelavdavis

Hi all,

I bought five blueberry plants, to accompany my already established twin bushes.

All are planted in ericaceous compost in terracotta pots, although different compost from original pots and all have been watered from water butt.

They were all doing well - new growth, had flowered and were developing berries.

Then suddenly (literally in the course of a week) one went brown after the other.

Initially, I wondered if a cat had sprayed on the first one - but gradually they have all gone the same way.

Any ideas??? I am perplexed what has caused this disaster.

nodwah

does it look like this?
http://www.blueberries.msu.edu/phomopsis.htm

angelavdavis

Thanks for this Nodwah, no the leaves have simply gone brown - usually from the tip inwards and limp.

I am wondering if the ericaceous compost I bought from B&Q was iffy - it didn't look as I would have expected (had lots of bits in it), I should have suspected something then.

nodwah

Might be iron deficiency?
if they're still alive (!) get some specialised feed for Rhododendrons etc with sequestered iron and don't used tap water if you're in a hard water area.
You could be right with the dodgy compost!

angelavdavis

Think I have got some rhododendron/azalea feed so might give it a go - might be too late for most of them sadly. I really can't believe they took a turn for the worst so quickly....

JoolzS

angelavdavis wrote: »

All are planted in ericaceous compost in terracotta pots, although different compost from original pots and all have been watered from water butt.

Sorry, no help at all, but you have just explained to me why I had a half used bag of ericaceous compost that I've just give to my neighbour. I obviously bought it for my blueberry plants that died last year ....lol (honestly - that was a real lol for me).

That half bag of ericaceous compost has been a complete mystery for me this year. Now I know why I bought it!

Julie

Lotus-eater

angela, I don't know, but one of mine has just done the same, I have three plants, one of them has just stopped growing and turned brown from the tips, the fruit has gone blue, but it is undersize and tastes horrible. Not sure what's going on.

Mazio_2

The exact same thing has happened to 1 of my 4 plants weird?
The other 3 are still doing well at the moment.
I stopped watering so much thought it might be that but not sure.

gingerbeer

I'm glad this thread was started as I too have had this same problem. First my cranberry bush died, just dried up and then my blue pearl, blueberry. My blueberry had loads of fruit just forming but the leaves have practically all gone brown and are falling off . I am baffled

denton6

Just a thought but have you checked the roots to see there are no little grubs in there nibbling away.maybe worth a look.

choille

I have an abutolon [sp?] and it is looking terrible - it has been the wind the other week - the wind was really cold after a very hot spell. I think mine was wind burn.
Could it be that?