What's causing my blueberry leaves to turn reddish brown?

9 years ago

Hi, I just bought some Northsky blueberry bushes last month and transplanted them to a larger container. The soil I'm using is 40% peat, 40% coir and 20% perlite. I also added some Hollytone Organic fertilizer to the mixture as well as some Espoma Bio-tone for root development.

After a week the leaves have started to turn a reddish brown color (see photo). This has been happening to other blueberry bushes as well that I transplanted into containers.

I don't think it's fertilizer root burn because the Hollytone said it's fine to add and then mix it into the soil.

Any thoughts on what could be causing the leaves to change color? It's been in the mid to upper 40's at night and 60's and 70's during the day.

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Comments (4)

bossyvossy
9 years ago
don't have answer about red foliage, looks like just new foliage. But I have my blueberries in a similar soil mix and from your pic your pot looks dry. still doesn't explain redness but maybe you should ck for moisture by sticking your finger a couple of inches down. Sure looks dry. Also, plant looks pretty young, and I'm not sure it was ready to be fertilized.
drew51 SE MI Z5b/6a
9 years ago
Well they were probably not exposed to a lot of light, the redness is a sign of stress. Maybe slowly expose them to the sun. Assume they are greenhouse grown and need acclimation to the outside environment. It's not that unusual, all should be fine. Increase sun exposure daily. You should do this with all new plants. Start them in shade and increase direct sun exposure over a 2 week period. Maybe now leave them in the shade a couple days, then one hour,direct sun next day 2 etc.

Everything else you did seems proper, so my guess is acclimation, or possibly cold, but that looks like sun damage to me. And I agree pot looks dry, but so do mine as the top layer of these mixes often dry, but are very wet an inch down, so really do not need water. Keep it moist not wet or dry. If after 2 days in shade, the redness decreases, it was too quick a transition to sun exposure.
If still red, it may be another problem.
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edweather USDA 9a, HZ 9, Sunset 28
9 years ago
I think most container blueberry growers on this forum would suggest staying away from organic fertilizers in containers. Chemical fertilizers are recommended. Ammonium sulfate is used by many of us. I use a CRF, MG Shake and Feed at the beginning of the season, with regular doses of water soluble ammonium sulfate during the season. There are lots of threads on this forum on fertilizing blueberries.
drew51 SE MI Z5b/6a
9 years ago
"I think most container blueberry growers on this forum would suggest staying away from organic fertilizers in containers"

I would say a mixed bag. Compost is organic and fruitnut uses it, I use both, and blueboy is all organic. As time goes on i myself think a sterile soiless mix is not the way to go. I'm leaning towards a living composted mix with elements of the soiless mix to keep it well draining.