bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Trees & Their Price Tags

The question is for finished bonsai? if this is the case then the question has allready been answered fairley well. If your talking about bonsai stock then this can raise a wole new bucket of roots. There have been posts on other forums that number in the 100's of posts argueing back and forth as to what the perceived value of stock is. IMHO, two dimensional art (paintings) is something that should be collected and admired. It can be displayed on the wall and people can assume that you know something of the art you collect. The value can be cataloged, and looked up. It can be followed in magazine price guides and the such. BUT, the art never changes, it continues to escalate in value due to its static nature. Bonsai, on the other hand will increase in value or decrease, based on the current owner. The artist will bring the beauty to the surface and refine it over many years. The collector sometimes may let a tree get out of shape and lose the refinement of twenty years in just a couple of seasons. Thats why many wealthy bonsai collectors have a staff of bonsai masters taking care of their trees.

This brings us to you and I (about time). This is where you want to pay close attention. I am going to give you the secret of my 18+ years of wisdom doing bonsai. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON HAVING TWENTY CUTE BONSAI IN TRAINING. Spend all the money you can save and buy great stock from the get go. (heaven help me if Ripsgreentree reads this, I'll never hear the end of it).

I used to have lots of little one gallon junipers sitting around, that I would cut out and pot up in one or two years, and cal them bonsai. I guess if thats what your means can do that allright too. Its just better to buy a really great plant in say 5 gallon container thats been chopped once or twice, had its roots cut once or twice and has had some branches cut back for ramification. This kind of stock can sell for 25.00-100.00 dollars for two gallon material. Five gallon material will run from 75.00 - 500.00 on average. This is the only way I know to get the quality bonsai that every one seeks.

Go to every show, and join a club. This is the only way to find the good stock needed to make the great trees. Find a good bonsai nursery near you, make the trip even if you only get to go once a year. These nursery's specialize in stock suitable for great bonsai. The prices can be scary, but its the only way to get the plants of any size that will look great in a suitable amount of time. You can always buy a dozen junipers and put them into the ground, and let them grow. But, you still may end up with a dozen bigger crappy junipers not suitable for your needs. This is why I would just as soon pay the extra dollars and walk away with one plant that meets all the needs that "I" want with none of the loss of time and effort and money on 12 crappy plants. The stock is out there, it just takes a little detective work.

Pots. Thats another post all together.
Untill next time, Regards, Bonsaial

31-Jan-2002	#9
bonsaial1 Greybeard Join Date: Aug-2001 Location: Fresno, CA Country: USA USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: 13SH Posts: 5,252	Re: Trees & Their Price Tags The question is for finished bonsai? if this is the case then the question has allready been answered fairley well. If your talking about bonsai stock then this can raise a wole new bucket of roots. There have been posts on other forums that number in the 100's of posts argueing back and forth as to what the perceived value of stock is. IMHO, two dimensional art (paintings) is something that should be collected and admired. It can be displayed on the wall and people can assume that you know something of the art you collect. The value can be cataloged, and looked up. It can be followed in magazine price guides and the such. BUT, the art never changes, it continues to escalate in value due to its static nature. Bonsai, on the other hand will increase in value or decrease, based on the current owner. The artist will bring the beauty to the surface and refine it over many years. The collector sometimes may let a tree get out of shape and lose the refinement of twenty years in just a couple of seasons. Thats why many wealthy bonsai collectors have a staff of bonsai masters taking care of their trees. This brings us to you and I (about time). This is where you want to pay close attention. I am going to give you the secret of my 18+ years of wisdom doing bonsai. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON HAVING TWENTY CUTE BONSAI IN TRAINING. Spend all the money you can save and buy great stock from the get go. (heaven help me if Ripsgreentree reads this, I'll never hear the end of it). I used to have lots of little one gallon junipers sitting around, that I would cut out and pot up in one or two years, and cal them bonsai. I guess if thats what your means can do that allright too. Its just better to buy a really great plant in say 5 gallon container thats been chopped once or twice, had its roots cut once or twice and has had some branches cut back for ramification. This kind of stock can sell for 25.00-100.00 dollars for two gallon material. Five gallon material will run from 75.00 - 500.00 on average. This is the only way I know to get the quality bonsai that every one seeks. Go to every show, and join a club. This is the only way to find the good stock needed to make the great trees. Find a good bonsai nursery near you, make the trip even if you only get to go once a year. These nursery's specialize in stock suitable for great bonsai. The prices can be scary, but its the only way to get the plants of any size that will look great in a suitable amount of time. You can always buy a dozen junipers and put them into the ground, and let them grow. But, you still may end up with a dozen bigger crappy junipers not suitable for your needs. This is why I would just as soon pay the extra dollars and walk away with one plant that meets all the needs that "I" want with none of the loss of time and effort and money on 12 crappy plants. The stock is out there, it just takes a little detective work. Pots. Thats another post all together. Untill next time, Regards, Bonsaial __________________ Real men don't wear coats with "happi" in the title.