Bonsai Disasters

[hard1all]

The idea for this thread came from another topic and I thought it was a great idea.

I think we can all learn as much from our mistakes (and the mistakes of others) so I thought I'd kick this off. Believe me, I have plenty to offer on this subject!

This is what happens when you ignore good advice about doing too much work on a Black Pine ..... and "no" it didn't recover.

[hard1all]

and, I'd been told that a Swamp Cypress was virtually indestructible, but I managed to kill one

there was however a "happy ending"

I used the dead trunk up against a live Swamp Cypress to create a better base and to give some 'interest'

now, some years later, the whole thing seems to work well.

[Rory]

Haha, love the thread. I don't have pictures of my example of pain, but it was on purchasing a fertilizer called brunnings fertilisers. Oh dear, oh dear. Firstly.... do not buy this brand....ever. If your definition of slow release, is to break down after the first watering, and dump a sh** load of concentrate onto your roots is slow, then go ahead. It killed about 20 of my starters who never recovered from it Lost some lovely stock too. Clinton Nesci from Dural, didn't even laugh when I told him about it, as he said he knows plenty of members of his clubs who have tried the brand and lost some very old stock. He has since warned members never to buy this brand and be very wary of it. It is useless. Osmocote slow release is the only one he would recommend, and same for me.

But I was speechless, it just killed almost everything I fertilized. I realised upon coming out the next morning that it was a disaster, and continually watered and watered the product out, after trying to scoop the high concentrate off. Luckily this saved my older casuarinas, but a lot of my native slightly younger stock just couldn't cope. Clinton said this was the best thing to do as well, and that fortunately when members had done the same - the ones that realized it and watered for hours to wash it away generally faired better than those that just removed top soil.

I also remember my joy at attempting shimpaku junipers for the first time and cutting back too much, then losing all 5 of them months later due to not leaving enough foliage. I received my first serious lesson, which was.... read what others do first, and learn how to attempt it properly, rather than trial and error. It was an expensive $150 lesson for the junipers.

[PAC]

All I've done is:
overwatered
underwatered
overfertilised
underfertilised
chopped to hard
broken branches whilst wiring
broken branches whilst moving
cut foliage and roots at the same time
repoted to soon
etc etc etc
Oh and the dog has helped by digging, chewing and breaking branches, let's not mention the kids cricket and football matches in the back yard!

[Phoenix238]

All I've done is:
overwatered
underwatered
overfertilised
underfertilised
chopped to hard
broken branches whilst wiring
broken branches whilst moving
cut foliage and roots at the same time
repoted to soon
etc etc etc
Oh and the dog has helped by digging, chewing and breaking branches, let's not mention the kids cricket and football matches in the back yard!

Hahaha, classic!

[squizzy]

Nice one hard1all

I think I was supposed to start this thread a year or two ago. My trident is the obvious example from my collection but baby could make the cut.

I will have to get some photos out to make so e additions

Squizz

[Mount Nasura]

What's wrong with cutting roots down at the same time as a foliage trim? Species specific?

[Phoenix238]

I usually do too Nasura, but I guess it depends on the material. All the stock I have is pretty hardy (has to be around here lol)

[kcpoole]

Oh how many fails do i have !

My biggest issue seems to be Japanese maples getting attacked by fungus in spring. by the time they look sick it is too late lost a few over the years.

Reducing the rootball too much at a time is a good one too
Ken

[Elmar]

Going away for a week and trusting someone to look after your stock... only to come back and find potted kindling!


Cheers
EZ
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Andrew Legg]

Learning The Rules of good bonsai.

[Wayne R]

I've had plants/trees up and die on me at the drop of a hat... I usually put this down to incompetence or those searing NE winds we get here in Perth during summer. Most of these trees go from green to brown in a matter of days, but I have a juni that is doing the slow roll of death and really rubbing salt into my emotional wounds. Every day there are a few more brown leaves/needles but not enough for me to admit defeat and reclaim the pot.

Just this slow, inexorable fall towards misery. Bonsai can be so unforgiving.