Oh no.. This one too...I have been spraying for pests mostly lately. However, I did hit one of my junipers with a fungicide again. The tree just seems to not be doing much, so even though there are not really the strong signs like before, somehow I think that it still might be present.
My thinking has been as long as the tree survives that is the main thing. However, where does this leave someone...Maybe with trees that will never achieve their previous look. Trees where the design is permanently ruined. Some, not styled yet. Sometimes you end up even worse than when you initially started training the tree. It is really up to the individual at that point to decide the direction. After training a tree for 5-7 years plus, now the fungus or whatever hits. Now, we are 3-4 years plus behind. So we are talking about a 10 year plus journey in which the end is very unclear, which it usually is in general.
Things are pretty slow going for junipers around here. I mean, I remember my junipers growing like crazy and getting those long extended shoots from different areas. I don't see much of that going on.
In my opinion fore, although you can still work with all the trees you have and hope for a good outcome. I think your success and enjoyment of bonsai might come in the form of starting a whole new collection. This time, being very aware of what you need to do right off the bat. Also, a new crop of trees might not give you the same problems. I do realize that there is a chance that if you start a new collection the same thing might happen. I also realize that many of us do not have thousands of dollars to throw down to start a whole new collection. However, if you try again and the same thing happens, you will know that it is just nature. However, if it works out for the best, you will finally be able to get some joy out of this hobby and actually be able to do bonsai. I mean, at this point, you can't even do actual bonsai. You can't style, wire etc. because you can't work on unhealthy trees. Basically your involvement with bonsai is keeping these trees surviving. I realize that this is an important part of bonsai. However, it should not be the only part for someone involved in the hobby.
Rob