ChristianDGreat
Shohin
If its me, ill keep the 400 and save more for better materials.
If you were going to pay $400 for one of these trees, which would you pick?
- Thread starter electraus
- Start date
Scorpius
Chumono
This reminds me of that old taco shell commercial where they can't decide on whether to use soft or hard shell tacos and the little girls says, "Why not both?"
It’s not really about finding pre bonsai at less than retail prices. It’s about not spending a quarter of the cost on shipping. You could get a $400 tree from a vendor’s booth at a show or you could buy a $300 tree online that’ll cost another $100 to ship.
Talking specifically about these two trees: The hinoki has some interesting movement in the trunk, but is lacking taper and I don’t care for the pigeon-breasted area in this front. Would be nice to see some other views to determine if there’s another with better potential to make a good front. The juniper has plenty of taper but is lacking movement at the base. To get any interesting movement near the base, you’d have to jin one of more of the 3 trunks and hack the remaining ones way back to introduce some changes in direction. If you’ve got to do that much work anyway, why not just start with cheaper nursery stock? Unless you really love formal uprights, it’s a hard pass at that price point, IMO.
leatherback
The Treedeemer
I was at my nursery for some exams this week. In some of the lull I halped unpack a truck of new trees, straight from one of the biggest distributors in the EU. When I saw the prices of the new trees my jaw dropped. Seems like the prices have come up a whopping 50-100% at distributors level over the last 1-2 years. So.. Even though I am not convinced the pricetags are realistic, consider the Juniper I might. Needs some more angles.
The hinoki as a species does not do it for me, and this specimen is a parody of a pre-bonsai, to me.
The hinoki as a species does not do it for me, and this specimen is a parody of a pre-bonsai, to me.
electraus
Mame
Sounds like the recurring theme is "neither, but if you're gonna choose one, choose the kishu." I think I'll keep searching.
PaulH
Omono
I think both are extremely overpriced. Save your money and come to the GSBF Bonsai Rendezvous next month in Santa Nella or the Pacific Bonsai Expo in November in Oakland.. Lots of vendors with great stuff
Hartinez
Masterpiece
electraus
Mame
I will be at both! Guess I’ll save my money until then. That is, unless I find something better than these two in the meantime. In that case… well, I guess I’ll just have to build another bench
leatherback
The Treedeemer
I would recommend that EVEN IF you find something better than what is posted above, you first go to the shows and see what the vendors there have.
Potawatomi13
Imperial Masterpiece
Ditto
!
Maiden69
Masterpiece
Yes, with the price of oil rising, that cost is being pushed back into the consumer. On all industries! I think that now that the prices are slowly going down, the market will follow suit... but, something inside of me tells me that they will not come down equally, since the industry saw that the consumers kept buying the items at the higher price they may keep the high prices to make up for the losses at the beginning of the pandemic.
From the OP, I don't know if I would spend $400 in either one of those trees.
penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
Like most others who have responded, I would keep looking. I think you can get more for your money, but honestly, for me its not about the money with regard to these two choices. I just don't really care much for either of them. Obviously to someone who loves them $400 may be a real deal. In capable hands I am sure either could become excellent bonsai, but they are not there yet and actually have a ways to go imo.
