Lifetime Tree Death Count

[Dav4]

All these are dead. Some died shortly after collection and some died years after collection, some died slowly and some died quickly...but they are all dead

 

[Poink88]

All these are dead. Some died shortly after collection and some died years after collection, some died slowly and some died quickly...but they are all dead

Sorry. All are awesome especially these 3.

I am glad I haven't lost any these nice. Actually, I do not have anything these nice.

 

[Dav4]

I lost count years ago...these are just some of the trees good enough to have their pictures taken. Trust me, there were many, many more.

Full disclosure: the shohin azaleas were shown twice...I had to show them in flower...I really miss them.

 

[jeanluc83]

I remember someone’s signature read something like this: “Bonsai or the art of killing little trees”. For the life of me I can’t remember who’s it is.

It looks like I’m going to be down 2 maybe 3 this spring. I went away in the beginning of November last year. The trees were still on the bench and I’m pretty sure they didn’t get enough water while I was away. I hope I’m wrong but I know I’m not.

As far as life time count I’ll just say the dead outnumber the living.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Wow Dave...what a buzzkill pair of posts!
my most painful lo$$ was this one.

 

[Dav4]

Sorry. All are awesome especially these 3.

I am glad I haven't lost any these nice. Actually, I do not have anything these nice.

If you do this long enough, AND you start acquiring better stock, losing a good one is inevitable. The yews were free, collected from my in law's front yard...huge potential, but not enough root. The imported satsukis were purchased at NEBG years ago for relatively cheap. The chuhin shown above was had for around $400 during members day festivities in '09'. The shohins were purchased for 40-50% off during their summer sell down sale that same year, maybe $100 each. Regardless of their monetary cost, losing a nice tree always hurts...but it really is part of the game.

 

[bonsaibp]

OUCH! Bob, sorry to hear this.
I've been growing bonsai for maybe 20 years. I am certain that I have not lost one every year, so I will guess the number is 12 to 15. Most recent was an azalea that never came out of dormancy. I hate when I have no idea what took a tree from me. I always feel responsible for their demise. Sometimes I am attatched, and it does hurt. Especially when the previous owner was a good friend, and they have passed away. I feel like they are looking down on me and shaking their head as if I screwed up. I dont know what went wrong...Sorry Jim...

In my defense the majority of the losses came really early on when I was a teenager and had no clue, then another wave the first year or so I owned the nursery. In the last 15 years or so not too many though there have been a couple of really nice expensive one's. The worst was an old CA Juniper that had it's drainage holes blocked by spiders building nests in them- that was a very expensive lesson- but I check the drainage holes on every pot monthly now.

 

[Dav4]

Wow Dave...what a buzzkill pair of posts!
my most painful lo$$ was this one.

Yeah, I try not to think about them. Instead, I focus on the survivors...gonna go water 'em right now.

 

[Steve C]

I'm only two years into it so my number isn't that high yet. I've lost two out of eleven so far on my bonsai path. One was a fukien tea and the other a juniper I tried to keep inside when I didn't know any better.

 

[Neli]

I dont feel so bad about the trees I lost so far...You loosing all this trees cheered me up.
My gardeners go in a frenzy when watering...so I resorted to using totally inorganic mix free draining now...I keep all the dead trees on the shelves as a reminder to them what happens if they overwater.

 

[quietobserver]

Should I include all the Kevorkian's??? That'd bring the number up considerably.

 

[Dirty Nails]

Great thread. Everyone should commit to sharing their failures, Brians "$2000 coaster" haunts me. We learn 100x more from failures as from success.

I'll share this winters Trident death when I am sure it's dead. I think I am sure it is dead now and am lying to myself saying there is a chance it will leaf out.

I was thinking of clear coating it in poly then potting it up and keeping it indoors. Has anyone done this?

 

[jkd2572]

Problem is I truly don't know and did not learn what caused my sharps pigmy to die. Still haunts me. At the time it was my favorite tree....

Still great thread.

 

[lordy]

DAV4--I think I figured out the problem...

Dav4- pretty sure I've figured out what the problem is with this tree. You're water might be too thick.

 

[Lazylightningny]

I lost 4 or 5 this past winter. Three were from overworking too soon, and one was from over fertilizing. One was a poorly collected betula. I learned that certain trees can be suckers from main roots, and collecting them are pretty much impossible (yellow birches, and American beech). I'm trying to hold back on the "too much too soon" syndrome this year.

 

[Q-Bonsai]

The range in responses have been amazing. What kinds of trees do you all struggle with the most? For me? Juniper. I've lost tropicals due to poor over wintering and also I found that tridents are the hardest to kill.

 

[tmpgh]

I have lost two for sure. The first was an Alberta Spruce, which was a big box store bought to practice on. I killed it with overworking while simultaniously ignoring horticulture.

This winter I lost a little 4" azalea. Despite my attempts to protect it, the temperatures were just too much I suspect.

I have at least three trees tetering on the edge right now that I am very worried about: Another Azalea, a sweetgum and my privet. These three have shown little to no new growth yet. The flower buds on the azalea are starting to swell, so I am breathing a tad easier, and there are a few buds on the sweetgum starting to move. I think the privet may have met its match though...

For context I'm in my second year keeping multiple trees and have 15 that I've managed to keep healthy to oppose these that I've lost or am losing.

 

[Lazylightningny]

The range in responses have been amazing. What kinds of trees do you all struggle with the most? For me? Juniper. I've lost tropicals due to poor over wintering and also I found that tridents are the hardest to kill.

Spruce and juniper for me, but it's because I did too much work all al once. Lighter hand this year.

 

[berobinson82]

About 65% of the trees I had did not wake up from winter. I haven't the foggiest idea why. This hobby is a heart-wrenching one. Not sure I've bounced back from that blow yet. Maybe suiseki is more my speed.

 

[lordy]

About 65% of the trees I had did not wake up from winter. I haven't the foggiest idea why. This hobby is a heart-wrenching one. Not sure I've bounced back from that blow yet. Maybe suiseki is more my speed.

I may not have had the mortality rate you experienced, but I had more carnage than ever before. Chewed off branches, dead limbs, dieback, rotting roots. This is not good, Beavis. I will chalk it up to an F*ed up winter season with a lot more snow, causing rabbits and fuzzy tail tree-rats to go apesh!t and have their way with my trees. Telepathic note to my dog: spring training is headed your way pup. Get ready for two-a-days. I'm not about to 'fuhgetaboutit'. NFW.