If you are saying this, welcome to a huge band of brothers. Even very experienced bonsai artists have this happen. Death is a rude awakening to the fact that you probably did something wrong, and it had permanent results. What did you do wrong? Here is a list of common “wrongs”.

1.    You cut too much root off when you repotted.
2.    You let the roots dry out while you were in the process of repotting.
3.    You didn’t settle the new soil into and around the roots, leaving air pockets that let roots dry out.
4.    You didn’t wire or tie the root ball securely into the pot, allowing the roots to shift and shake in the soil mix.
5.    You forgot to water the tree after repotting.
6.    You put the newly repotted tree outside on the bench when the humidity was low and the wind was high.
7.    The bonsai was potted in a much higher position this year, so those beautiful roots would show up better. The former underground roots, now exposed, sunburned, dried out and died.
8.    Thinking the bonsai needs more fertilizer, because the soil is new, you give it an extra strong dose of fertilizer… a great way to burn up all those new roots.
9.    You allow your soil to freeze after the buds begin to open.
10.    You didn’t take time to sift out your soil, because it didn’t look that bad, and someone said the small stuff helps the new roots get started.
11.    You reused some soil for some reason, but the soil still looked good.
12.    Or you could have had some very bad luck with a nasty fungus or blight. That’s possible, but you still will get the blame.

Reprinted with permission from Southern Bonsaist of the Azalea City Bonsai Society in Mobile, AL, Vol. 26, Issue 1 (January 2008), p. 2.