Justin:
Everyone (yes, everyone) loses trees. All bonsai have a limited lifespan, but the lifespan can be quite significant for any tree if precautions are taken.
Trees die from a number of reasons:
1. Natural events (storms have taken more than one of my trees).
2. Insects and Common Disease (most of which can be dealt with through preventative maintenance, insecticides and fungicides).
3. Mismanagement (this is where insufficient soil, overwatering, inadequate fertilizing, and poor bonsai technique destroy trees).
Nothing is guaranteed in this living art, but I can assure you that study, practice, and patience can result in a group of bonsai that thrive under your experienced care throughout your life.
Cordially,
Michael Persiano
members.aol.com/iasnob
-----Original Message-----
From: Justin Luis Diaz
To:
Sent: Mon, 15 Aug 2005 23:53:07 -0400
Subject: [IBC] Bonsai Mortality
I'm in about year 3 or 4 of my bonsai experience, and I'm curious about how
many plants are lost each year. At this point I have a few trees that I feel
are actually starting to look like something. But, I'm still losing trees to
assorted reasons, most of which are out of my control... things like
squirrels in the night, or cats. Mostly they're seedlings or cuttings or
trees in thier first year of training, so I'm frustrated but not devastated.
More to the point...
I'm curious to a solid cross-section of growers, I'm sure even the sages
lose a tree here or there (or maybe not?), and I'm finally down to about 3
or 4 a year that are lost for good. At this stage I feel that's not a bad
rate, or should I be imprisoned as a mass murderer?
Maybe a percentage lost, and an estimate of collection size would be a good
indicator. I'm at about 5 trees that actually look like something, and about
15 others in assorted stages of development, not including cuttings,
seedlings, layers, etc.
Let's go high and say 4 a year, out of 20... 20%. 20% mortality is high
unless we're talking about spider young or fish eggs or something...
Overwatering tends to be the most likely cause of death early on is what
I've generally found, but what tends to be the cause 10 or 15 years down the
road?
Just curious.
Regards and low mortality rates to all.
Justin
************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Kevin Bailey++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++
************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Kevin Bailey++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++