boxwoods losing branches

[Joe Dupre']

Two local bonsai friends and I have been slowly losing our boxwoods these last 3 years or so. The leaves start turning brown and the branch eventually dies. My 3" trunked literati boxwood is the latest victim. About 75% of it started turning brown in just the last 3 days. I'm swearing off of boxwoods until we can figure this out. My nearest bonsai buddy, who has a degree in horticulture and was raised in a family nursery, has tried everything he could and he has lost several once they started browning. He even barerooted one particular tree, soaked it in a Daconil solution for 2 days and repotted it. It too started showing signs of browning. My buddy's research says that there is no cure for this affliction. Bummer.

I am not going to wait a year to see my prized tree slowly die, so I cut all the foliage and roots off of it and will hang it on the wall of shame.

 

[sorce]

Pics!

I think there is a minimum foliage requirement.

Like, with enough reserves of energy to reach it after a hard prune, you're ok, but if not, slowly down hill because it can't catch up.

Or blight.

Sorce

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Boxwood blight?

 

[Joe Dupre']

Boxwood blight?

Even my friend is not sure. It happens really fast when it starts and nothing we've found stops it. I guess the tree might have "survived" for a couple of more years but it would have been a 3 foot trunk with one pitiful tiny pad on top. Nope. Not doing that. Rip the Band Aide off and move on.