Would you buy this maple?

[broken_branch]

I guess I don't have an eye for disease yet. I did just buy a variegated P. Afra covered in mealy bugs cuz the leaves were pretty

 

[broken_branch]

https://media.tenor.com/M4CGOcI-1OUAAAAM/are-you-not-entertained-gladiator.gif

 

[Scorpius]

Full Moon JM's are difficult to make into bonsai due to their large leaves and internodes. I currently have one of these called "Little Green Stars" that is a dwarf variety that I believe will make an okay bonsai in the future.

 

[KikurageOtomo]

My personal feelings on nursery stock are:

• Go when nurseries inevitably have their end of season clearance, something that might not be worth it as a full priced landscaping tree may be an incredible value when its marked down 50, 75, 80%. I find this also sort of reduces the apprehension to do necessary drastic reductions to make it approach "good".
• You'll likely never find a pre-bonsai of some cultivars / varieties of trees, if you want to see it happen then its in your hands to create it. If its an obscure piece of material I tend to be much more flexible on the quality criteria of the starting point and will invest time into it. To the opposite point, why would i start a generic Japanese Maple from nursery stock unless it has exceptional attributes that are saving me effort?
• Lastly, like Scorpius mentioned above, what are the inherent traits of the species that would make it appropriate for bonsai? If you're fine with something that will never be in proportion, go for it! Otherwise you'll be pushing the highest size classifications to make it within scale. Its also important to consider if the material tolerates semi-routine rootwork and your ability to overwinter something that may not be zone hardy when in a potted medium.

 

[Paradox]

No. Not worth the effort to get what I would consider a mediocre tree at best

The damage alone is pretty bad and doesnt give any interest IMO
Full Moon maples are one of the maples that seem to be difficult to air layer in my experience.
I tried one and it refused to root

 

[19Mateo83]

I would pass for all the above mentioned reasons. Are you just looking for a larger size JM to start with or are you just wanting a JM in general?

 

[It's Kev]

like that girl in the club who's got some baggage and who's totally cray cray... i can fix her.

 

[Potawatomi13]

It has character, Yes indeed.

 

[rockm]

If it's under $10, maybe. Thing is beat to s#@$ and not in a good way.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I would not be interested. The tree has major structural flaws, and is not in good health.

 

[nuttiest]

I guess what I’m seeing in this shot, is a man beaten down and exhausted, about to succumb to his inevitable fate.
The slime tree slowly advances over its meal.

Look harder - there is another person in victory pose on top of his back.