Yellowing leaves? Quick drying soil? Maybe your potted plants need their potting mix freshend up?
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Blueberries (Vaccinium cv.) grow well in pots but in Josh’s plant the potting mix level has dropped, because the organic matter in it has broken down.
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If not dealt with, the plant will decline; it needs repotting and the best time to do this is between mid autumn and late spring.
Other signs a plant needs repotting is firm, solid roots; yellowing leaves (despite a good fertilizing campaign), and soil drying out quickly or water flowing down the side of the root ball and not soaking into the mix.
What you do:
Remove the plant and mix from the pot; using a tarpaulin or other cover will make cleaning up easier.
Gently tease out the roots to remove old potting mix from the outside of the root ball.
If the plant is still not yet mature, you may need to go up to the next size of pot. If mature, you can use the same pot.
Fill the bottom of the pot with new potting mix; because blueberries like acid soil, Josh uses a mix specially blended for azaleas and camellias, which have similar needs.
Replace the plant with the root surface about 50mm from the top of the pot.
Backfill with new potting mix.
Water in well.
Josh then trims the bush back, removing any dead or damaged stems. If the roots need trimming back during repotting, it’s a good idea to trim the foliage back by about the same amount.
A second watering with liquid kelp helps the plant to recuperate from transplant shock.
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