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  • Blueberry soil

    I planted my new blueberry bush in a large-ish pot using multi-purpose compost. Now I realise that they like acidic soil. The plant is not doing as well as I would like although it has only been potted for 2 weeks or so.

    Should I repot the bush in the correct soil or is there something I can do to make the compost more acidic?

    Thanks
    Vikicats

    What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have never been discovered.
    Ralph Waldo Emerson

  • #2
    As it's only been potted up for two weeks, I would buy a bag of ericaceous compost and use that instead of the MCP. I wouldn't put it in too big a pot to start with though, maybe one or two sizes bigger than the rootball.
    Last edited by rustylady; 03-05-2012, 04:51 PM.

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    • #3
      I think you can also get a tonic for acid soil plants, that you water into the soil, and it makes it ok for them, might save you having to re-pot it

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      • #4
        ^ the only problem with that, is firstly its meant for the ground, not pots and secondly it doesnt work indefinately. I would recommend buying the right compots and repotting - otherwise you risk loosing the bush.

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        • #5
          Looks like I'm going to be shopping for ericaceous compost tomorrow then!
          Vikicats

          What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have never been discovered.
          Ralph Waldo Emerson

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          • #6
            I bought two blueberry bushes early this year and planted them in ericaceous compost. They're both growing great guns now. The experts recommend that you should have two or more bushes close to one another, think it's too do with them being loney so they can talk to one another.

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            • #7
              Just buy the correct compost, it's not so much money
              All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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              • #8
                Just to be on the safe side, collect rain water for your bush to drink! Tap water may contain lime / calcium. Cheers, Tony.
                Semper in Excrementem Altitvdo Solvs Varivs.

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by vikicats View Post
                  Looks like I'm going to be shopping for ericaceous compost tomorrow then!
                  Got to be better than losing your bush.
                  Our England is a garden, and such gardens are not made
                  By singing-'Oh how beautiful!" and sitting in the shade,
                  While better men than we go out and start their working lives
                  At grubbing weeds from gravel paths with broken dinner-knives. ~ Rudyard Kipling

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by northepaul View Post
                    ^ the only problem with that, is firstly its meant for the ground, not pots and secondly it doesnt work indefinately. I would recommend buying the right compots and repotting - otherwise you risk loosing the bush.
                    Sequestrene is what I had in mind, it can be used in pots, and it is a once a yearly dose, by that time the plant can be repotted whilst it is dormant, op asked if there was any other options, I gave one based on the fact I'd be wary of repotting something once it had just started growing, which will at least check it, and could possibly kill the plant, anyway good luck

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Urban View Post
                      I'd be wary of repotting something once it had just started growing, which will at least check it, and could possibly kill the plant, anyway good luck
                      So how far would you go with removing the "wrong" compost? Would it be enough to lift out the plant with a bit of a compost ball around the roots, or would you go as far as rinsing it all off?
                      Our England is a garden, and such gardens are not made
                      By singing-'Oh how beautiful!" and sitting in the shade,
                      While better men than we go out and start their working lives
                      At grubbing weeds from gravel paths with broken dinner-knives. ~ Rudyard Kipling

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                      • #12
                        Apparently it's only been potted for two weeks, so it should be easy enough to remove from the pot. I shouldn't think it's made many new roots in that time.

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by mrbadexample View Post
                          So how far would you go with removing the "wrong" compost? Would it be enough to lift out the plant with a bit of a compost ball around the roots, or would you go as far as rinsing it all off?
                          I didn't say I would, also a lot would depend on if it was a bare root, or a potted plant when it was purchased,

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Urban View Post
                            a lot would depend on if it was a bare root, or a potted plant when it was purchased,
                            It was a bare root when potted, I have lifted it from the pot and very little of the multi-purpose compost came with it. I have now potted it into the correct compost and watered in using rain water.
                            Hopefully this will help and give it a new lease of life.
                            Vikicats

                            What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have never been discovered.
                            Ralph Waldo Emerson

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Wendie View Post
                              The experts recommend that you should have two or more bushes close to one another, think it's too do with them being loney so they can talk to one another.
                              Unfortunately I haven't managed to get a friend for it to talk to but I have put it next to my gooseberry so perhaps they can develop a cross species friendship!!
                              I'll keep my eye out for a friend for it though.
                              Vikicats

                              What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have never been discovered.
                              Ralph Waldo Emerson

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