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Wilting blueberry bush #889468

Asked November 07, 2024, 8:52 AM EST

I planted two blueberry bushes in pots this spring, and watered them well during the summer. I stopped watering all my outdoor plants starting mid-September to let them go dormant for the fall/winter. I noticed today that one of the blueberry bushes (the back one in the photo) is wilting. With the warm weather and the drought, should I water it, or is this what blueberry bushes do when they go dormant in winter?

Washington County Minnesota

Expert Response

Thanks for the question.

If I look carefully at the left bush, which is the one wilting, I believe that there is water sitting in the dish under the pot. This leads me to believe that you might have overwatered the plant and its roots are rotting. This would prevent water from entering the plant. Watering the soil at this point would only compound the problem. I would suggest that you remove the bush, paying particular attention to the soil in the pot. If it is wet to the touch and seems “soggy”, then overwatering probably has occurred. Remove this old soil and replace it with fresh potting soil. Look carefully at the exposed roots. If they appear black and very limp, some rotting has most likely taken place. Let the bare roots dry for a day or so. Then plant the bush in this new soil. I don’t know what the winter location will be of these plants. If you keep them outside in the pots, I fear that neither plant will survive the winter unless you take certain precautions. Look at the following site, especially what is said about zones 4 – 7.

https://www.monrovia.com/be-inspired/putting-container-planted-berries-to-bed.html

It is possible that if the roots of the wilting bush have rotted, recovery may not be possible this late in the season. Wait and see what it looks like in spring 2025. Be prepared to replace it.

Again, leaving both bushes outside during the winter in the pots without taking certain precautions will probably result in both dying.

Good luck. Please get back to us with any additional, related questions. Thanks for consulting our forum.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied November 07, 2024, 9:39 AM EST

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