A number of my blueberries are out living their containers. It’s the seventh year for some of my BB being in the same pots, and I’m seeing splitting and chunks of plastic falling off. This ‘Emerald’ has completely devoured the potting soil. The pot unraveled in ribbons.
Yours looks like mine after 7 yrs in a pot. Virtually no circling roots compared to fruit trees or figs. And the plant still looks healthy. Repot and it should be good for another 7 yrs.
I put all of mine in grow bags, which I hope will alleviate the need for root pruning as most of the roots of blueberries are fibrous.
Ah but that’s the point, blueberries don’t need root pruning…at least to a much lesser extent than most things. The pot goes first or the media decomposes.
Yeah, I made a few slices along the sides and bottom of the root ball to allow more surface area for new root growth. The roots are more dense than I could have imagined. This BB was moved into a slightly bigger container but I used a mix of peat and leaf mold to fill in the sides and bottom. I’m finding leaf mold to be a suitable substitute for peat in container mixes. This will be my first attempt with leaf mold for BB. They love organic matter, so I’m hopeful. 
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Ahh. Well I probably didn’t make the right move then because these bags only last 5 years.
It’s OK just move it to another one when needed. I like these grow bags. I’m putting all my potted figs in them. Those are my plants that are for long term production of fruit. They shouldn’t need repotting as soon as a hard plastic pot.
Same. They are really nice. Eventually moving all the figs I don’t bury into them.
Anybody tried to divide southern highbush BB when they get large and full of roots like this? I’m on the fence. Seems like it might work. But it also seems like they are mostly a singular crown with shoots, but the shoots don’t appear independent of the crown.
P.S. The 
must always win.
Had to throw that one in…
I recently did it with a Bountiful Blue.A couple years ago,a neighbor was trying to get his cat near the plant,stepped and broke some of the middle part away,so there was a space between two sections.
The thing grew very well and was too close to a Nectarine tree,so I dug the bush up and replanted in a 25 gallon grow bag.Even that was almost too small.Some of the roots separated during the transition and that part was put in a smaller container.
The clump though, wasn’t so dense like yours MrClint. Brady
My blueberries send runner offshoots from the main crown which I can separate to make another plant, but seems in a pot those would be dif to separate out at the stage yours has grown too.
Just curious, in your zone, why have blueberries in a pot and not in ground?
@JustAnne4, I believe the soil parameters are difficult to achieve in many parts of the country so some people just use containers.
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Yes, my native soil conditions can’t support BB, and even if it did I don’t think I could keep them properly watered in ground. BB have been easy for me in containers. They made their biggest jump when I started using Dr Earth Acid Lovers fertilizer once a month. That said, they are really loving all this rain right now.
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Mr. Clint…what size container is that in your first photo? I’m using 5 gal and 15 gal and the 15 gal ones have sunk about 5" into the container so I’m thinking of adding some more at the bottom but I’ve always been under the impression that blueberry roots were very shallow, the top few inches. I wonder if they would reach down into any new mix I put in the bottom 5-6 inches of the 15 gal containers?
Fruitnut…what size grow bags do you use for your figs and how old are they for a given size?
I’ve been using 50% supersoil and 50% peat moss for a mix. I’m thinking of adding in bark fines to any new mixes. Any opinions about that?
John
Blueberry roots will fill up the pot, not just the top few inches. If the mix has settled a lot it may have broken down and waterlogged in the bottom. Pull it out and see what the roots and mix look like. If necessary cut off the bad mix and add new that will drain well.
When growing in pots I try to fill the pot with roots asap. The roots help tp support the mix and keep it from settling.
My new figs are several in a 20 gallon fabric pot. In fact as many as 7 where I’m just wanting to compare fruit quality on many cultivars.
With regards to mixes drainage is key. Go for good drainage over high water holding capacity.
My blueberries are in 15" pots, not sure how many gallons that would be. The ultimate for me would be a double-walled self-watering container, and I’m not sure such a thing exists. The double-walled containers that I’ve seen lack proper drainage.
I have trouble keeping plants watered in terracotta pots in the Summer, so I’m less inclined to try the fabric pots. Maybe a North side bright shade planting of some kind (calla lilies) might work.