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A number of Bonsai Club m... #136669
Asked June 25, 2013, 10:04 AM EDT
A number of Bonsai Club members and I are experiencing clorotic symptoms on our locally collected blueberry plants. The leaves at the end of the branches are chlorotic, no evidence of insects/disease. Plants are in a mix of calcined clay, granite grit or haydite and pine bark fines. They are fed regularly. We are aware that acidic conditions are needed but soils have not been tested.
Are you aware of any disease in the area that could be the cause of this problem? any other advice, please?
Thanks very much.
Ray Mack
Anne Arundel County Maryland
Expert Response
Chlorosis is a classic sign of an iron deficiency brought on by high pH. The type of clay you're using may be alkaline and raising the pH. Get your soil tested and amend it to bring the pH down. Carefully read over our website's blueberry information in the Grow It Eat It section for how to do this: http://extension.umd.edu/growit/fruit-profiles/blueberries.
ECN
ECN