Woocash
Omono
Wish I knew somewhere with trees at that price too! I saw you dug that particular one but I was expecting it to cost fully five times that much. Hundred quid'll barely get you more than a twig in a pot in places that I've seen.
Can’t decide which one to buy
- Thread starter drip
- Start date
drip
Yamadori
Not sure if this guy takes negotiations but I’ll try. What are some good points to bring up for haggling, it’s listed at $500
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
Maybe, maybe not. Bonsai shows can yield some really good prices and higher quality stock trees. The bigger the show the better the pricing as immediate competition between vendors can help drive prices down a bit
Brent tends to have higher pricing for some varieties and particularly large specimens for those varieties. Some of the cultivars he has aren’t readily available generally. Some of the older trees he has he has grown for a very long time.
drip
Yamadori
I wish he updated the website more often lol. The show I might go to seems pretty big, they claim to be one of the biggest regional shows and it’s the 47th year, plus it’s at the chicago botanic gardens so I assume it’s got some merit. Do you think his trees are fairly priced or should I just wait for the august show
BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
Defo a great price for the Maple/Birch. I find those nurseries that grow on in their own fields have very fair prices. Youre not paying for pots or soil, just the bare tree usually.
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
This is silly. That may or may not be true for a handful of traditional Japanese species but fantastic NATIVE North American bonsai species are vastly less expensive and of vastly higher quality than anything in Europe.
Puff up all you want about too expensive Japanese maples. most of the quality Euro JMs are imported from Japan as seconds—not good enough for the Japanese market or simply surplus) the U.S. has harder import laws that make importing from Japan more expensive and problematic
What we have in N America are exponentially higher numbers of native bonsaiable species of every kind. There are almost 100 species of oak alone in N America. Europe has 30. The list goes on
So yeah say our prices for JM are out of line. Try to find a decent Ponderosa pine, live oak or bald cypress pre bonsai for the same kind money in the Netherlands
Desert O'Piñon
Omono
Not that you asked me personally, but as a newbie myself, I'm very glad I haven't made a significant financial investment for any of my (very much beginner) material. I've read and heeded advice from the veterans here. I've lost more trees than I have grown successfully so far. It really is the greatest, or at least the first very big hurdle, just figuring out how to get trees to grow in 1% scale pots with appropriate water, sun, fertilization, winter protection, etc.
Having grown various gardens, I thought that it was some kind of running joke that watering is the hardest part to figure out, of which I have made myself the butt. If it were me, I would invest that same cash into education and "dirt" cheap learning material (nursery stock, landscape rescues, yamadori, tools, fertilizer, rooting hormone, etc.). But consider my inexperience and weigh that against what you're paying for my amateur suggestion.
Enjoy the journey, and welcome to the most frustrating, time-testing, patience-building, nature-loving, and artistic science you could ever enjoy!
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
I’d wait to see what turns up in August. Brent’s trees are pretty decent so if nothing turns up at the show get Brent’s.
drip
Yamadori
Thank you brother! Looking to find a life long hobby with bonsai, and finally bit the bullet these past couple months after I quit my job. Maybe when I’m 40 (i’m 25) I’ll have something that’s worth showing. Just wanted something more mature to refine while I practice with young stuff.
ZombieNick
Shohin
I feel like you are being confused by some of the other members going off on tirades that aren't really answering your question. You are new, but this happens here a lot. Don't worry about prices in EU or even places in the US where you aren't feasibly buying trees. The real fact of the matter is you are looking for material online, which will usually be marked up as they have much more buyers that may be willing to fork out those inflated prices. You need to start attending nurseries and bonsai events locally, and see what is available to you, at what price. Then you can make an educated decision if these online purchases are worth it.
drip
Yamadori
That may be true but japanese maples are cooler. LMAOO jk that’s just my opinion, do you have any recommendations on cool native species I can work on, i’m in zone 5b/6a chicagoland area.
Desert O'Piñon
Omono
I remember 40...
25 is getting a little fuzzy, though. I understand wanting something mature. But I've been in refinement for about 30ish years now, and I'm still pretty rough overall.
You're young, so you have more time on your side (as far as we know). It's your choice, your $$, and your time. I'm just telling my perspective.
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
American larch. Eastern white cedar, jack pine, native spruce, Siberian elm. blueberry to name only a few.
You can probably get away with bald cypress if you have adequate winter protection. You could also probably get away with western Rocky Mountain conifers as well.
Ask around in your area to see what other people are using
Yeah a nice JM is great. I have a few myself. You seen one you seen most though. That ain’t the story with collected natives. Wild collected species tend to be much more dynamic and appealing to me anyway.
bonsaiwood
Shohin
To emphasize what rockm already mentioned, the MABS show will be held in your backyard and by the looks of it there will be several vendors selling plant material. Might be worth the wait to attend and see what material is available locally, who's selling it, and whether the asking prices meet your budget.
It may also be worth finding an experienced bonsai buddy and asking them to tag along (maybe from a local club?). Their experience could be priceless when assessing trees you might be considering... Just be prepared to buy them lunch.
It may also be worth finding an experienced bonsai buddy and asking them to tag along (maybe from a local club?). Their experience could be priceless when assessing trees you might be considering... Just be prepared to buy them lunch.
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
I have not myself but my co-worker married someone from Slovakia and goes over there at least once a year and has said over and over every time she goes there that just about everything is cheaper in the countries surrounding that area. She has also been to Italy and said the same. Might be more expensive in the Netherlands but I know people who have traveled extensively in Slovakia, Poland, Germany, Italy who say most things are cheaper there.
I've also heard the same from another co-worker that has family in France.
Besides I have seen your posts of what you can buy over there for a tree at a certain cost vs what we can buy over here many times over the years and its not comparable.
Lastly, I am not familiar with the source you are quoting but I take people throwing up links to prove their point with a grain of salt because its usually pretty easy to find some "source" to match what you want it to say
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Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
That tree would be well over $500 USD in a landscape nursery over here and up to $1000 if it was a pre bonsai
drip
Yamadori
Thank you, been to 3 nurseries near me and nothing close to what is shown on the website for japanese maples, I did pick up a 4-5 year old japanese maple atro from one of them. I will most likely wait for this big show coming up unless I get an itch to buy it if this seller ends up responding to my emails lol.
drip
Yamadori
Haha yeah I just don’t wanna get ripped off LOLI remember 40...
25 is getting a little fuzzy, though. I understand wanting something mature. But I've been in refinement for about 30ish years now, and I'm still pretty rough overall.
You're young, so you have more time on your side (as far as we know). It's your choice, your $$, and your time. I'm just telling my perspective.
drip
Yamadori
Definitely 50/50 on waiting or buying, if I really like this one online after more pics I might just buy it but I don’t wanna rush into a regretful decision but I also don’t wanna miss out if it ends up being my only option of japanese maple material at this age
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
Andy Smith works in South Dakota. His material is first rate. There are pretty nice native comifer and deciduous starter trees here for $65-$400 if you look. He has more trees for a variety of price ranges if you ask. He is a regular vendor at some of the larger shows in the eastern and midwestern us
