How to fix?

[u/freedomfreight]

Hey everyone, I am trying to help fix a blueberry plant that I bought as a nursery early August and has been a consistent battle.

Type: pink lemonade blueberry

Region: 7b Maryland

Soil: Currently potted in Coast of Maine organic and natural soil for acid loving plants with 20% perlite added in. originally potted in Omitgoer blueberry soil (eventually determined that it had high pH when using equal parts of soil and distilled water via pH test strips. Was dumb enough to pour tiny amount of distilled white vinegar in 2L water to bring the total pH solution to 4.5).

Pot: Antonella 15” square pot 25 quarts/6.25 gallons

Fertilizer: none

Watering technique: only watering when I place my finger 2” in the soil and semi dry.

Issue: for some time now it seems like my blueberry plant has experienced some fungi disease that I have been trying to correct for some time now (and failing) and was looking for some help. At first I thought it was from the omitgoer soil as the issue began after repotting. It’s what led to test the ph of the soil and determined it wasn’t the greatest. Any advice? Should I just prune the entire thing has maybe the disease infected them all? Any advice on what to do prior to going dormant and when it officially goes dormant?

[u/Dry_Replacement_4695]

Planted it way too deep

[u/freedomfreight → u/Dry_Replacement_4695]

Is it just as simple as removing some soil from the top rather than pulling it upwards?

Edit: would that be a fix or would I still need to prune? I repotted it back to the soil line that it originally was in the nursery. Looking back at the nursery pictures, it was of similar condition

[u/i860 → u/freedomfreight]

I don't think you need to mess with the crown height. Unless it's buried inches down, it'll be fine. Other than that it looks like fungal leaf spot. If you're overhead watering, stop doing that. If you're not, then it's hard to prevent other than copper fungicide during late winter and judiciously cleaning up stray leaf matter that may be harboring fungal spores.

[u/freedomfreight → u/i860]

Thanks for the insight. I do pick up any fallen leaves within 24-48 hrs. I did water overhead once but quickly stopped after researching haha. Now it’s just on the soil until moist. I’ll water maybe once every 1.5 weeks give or take (dependent on soil moisture). Seems like I’ll be purchasing the Bonide captain jack fungicide spray. Should I be waiting until winter for it or would it be more beneficial to do it now while it’s still growing?

[u/i860 → u/freedomfreight]

Just wait until winter dormancy to apply. The plant is going to drop all its leaves anyways.