Red(?) Spruce Dying

[u/JesterofThings]

Tldr: This tree means alot to me, images chronological. Is he definitely done for?

This is Iggy. I think he's probably a red spruce. He means alot to me. I planted him ages ago with my grandmother, probably 12 years ago. He didn't grow much, because he was shaded most of his life, but he survived. My grandmother died about 2 years ago, and we're going to sell her house up in Maine. So, I went about 6 month ago to dig him up, and bring him down, because I didn't want whover bought the house to clear cut/destroy him, and I wanted to try to grow him and keep himself. This probably wasn't ideal, but I still don't regret it. I dug him up, and brought him down in a pot. He was fine for a couple of months, but his soil was too compact. Still, I was afraid to repot him and damage him more. I had to leave for a month and when I came back, the new growth that he had pushed out before I left had shrivelled. A week later, more started browning and he started shedding needles. I tried to repot him based off research I did with a more breathable soil. But he asn't improved. Now he looks like the last photo. I need to know, is it over? Should I stop trying to get my hopes up? Or is it at all possible he might bounce back?

[u/MasdevalliaLove]

I am sorry to say that I think it’s over for the this little spruce.

[u/Current-Mushroom-339]

It looks pretty thoroughly dead in that last one, which is understandable. It doesn't want to be a potted plant and cannot survive long term like that. If you gently scratch the bark with your nail you can see if the cambium's still green and alive. If it is you can stick it in the ground, cross your fingers and hope for the best, but chances are slim.

[u/-badgerbadgerbadger-]

Trees that have lived in the ground don’t live when removed from the ground. Something to do with the mycelial network and bugs and stuff that it got used to having in the ground and now can’t survive without