It went into decline at end of Summer 2007, but recovered over winter with gravel piled up against the trunk, then the same in end of summer 2008, but finally went into terminal decline at end of summer 2009. The common factors seem to be summer watering and warmth allowing rot. Bodster had one growing well on old conifer needle compost, and I think that may be the secret.... an extremely fibrous, organic mix that does not rot down. Most orgamic fibrous substances like coarse bark, are great for drainage in the first year or so, but then decompose and become too heavy and wet.
Does anyone know if Bodster's is still alive?
Last autumn I had a look at the roots on mine and all had rotted apart from the outer edge gap between the compost and the pot on the side facing the sun. That to me says too wet, too long, and the only place that dried out quick enough was the edge of the conpost where heated by the sun. It had gone from looking healthy with about 20 leaves to just a central spear within a month
I tried removing all the, now decomposed, coarse bark compost replacing it with a mixture of 75% shredded pine needles and Euclyptus leaves, and 25% mp compost. Don't know whether the root disturbance finished it off, but it didn't recover.
Another thing that may be worth trying is watering with very dilute H2O2, this is reputed to work on overwatered plants as it fizzes oxygen around the roots
I've not given up yet, I'll get another, and continue my learning curve
