raw stock

bonsaimeister

Hello.

I have been doing bonsai for about three years now. I think I do a pretty good job of selecting material that will turn into pretty good bonsai within the next ten years or so. I like large nusery material and collected stock. However, I often find that what I know to be good or great raw material is too expensive for me. I understand the resons behind the prices, but find it frustrating that I cannot afford it. I would like to see people post their best pre-bonsai, mabey state where it was obtained, how much it costs, and if (with hindsight) it was a good deal or not. I find material simmilar to the maple below at my local nursery all the time, but this kind of stuff is usually about 250 dollars. Even if I had that kind of money (which I dont), I know I would feel terrible if I killed It. On the other hand, I am already tired of waiting for my younger material in the ground to get to that stage.

All pics and opnions welcomed

bonsaimeister

Attached Images

maple1_112.jpg (43.5 KB, 160 views)

__________________
"On its root I firmly commit
In its trunk I keep my soul
Through its leaves, I reflect my vision..."

- Robert Steven

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mike108

Other than the tree I noticed the pots quite oxcidated. Try cleaning it with oil.

bonsaimeister

This is not a tree of mine. I was not looking for suggestions on it. I was using this tree as an example of the material that is availble to me. Please read my post again.

bonsaimeister

__________________
"On its root I firmly commit
In its trunk I keep my soul
Through its leaves, I reflect my vision..."

- Robert Steven

Bonsai Barry

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Bonsai Barry

"Our talent lies in our choices."

007

I understand your frustrations, and I too went through the same thing. What it boiled down to with me is that I would save my money to buy one nice tree instead of two or three smaller, less developed tree's. If that meant I get one tree a season, so be it.

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rockm

Hard to really tell how big this one is, but it looks pretty sizeable. It's got movement and the beginnings of pretty good branch placement, at least from what I can see.

Two hundred fifty would seem to be a reasonable price for this tree--from what I can see from the photo. It has been worked to become a bonsai, not a landscape tree, which can be a problem when you're buying stock from nurseries.

That said, if you're looking for inexpensive, yet substantial stock, check out nurseries at the end of the growing season, like in August, after the sun has taken its toll on some more expensive landscape trees' leaves. Sometimes, sun damaged or less vigorous maples are marked down drastically in the late summer by nurseries to get rid of them.

Additionally, join a local club--club auctions or private sales can be goldmines of decent or even excellent material. I've seen trees similar to this one in quality go for $40 at club auctions...You can also find local hobbyists in clubs who are looking to off load some of their stock that they've either gotten tired of or are looking to finance a larger purchase. I've sold off trees this way.

gibmeister

Bonsaimeister,


Here is a Sharps Pygmy Maple I picked up at a local landscape nursery for $60. The trunk is around 1 1/2". I think it has good potential over the next 5 years.

Gib

Attached Images

Pygmy Maple WEB.jpg (60.6 KB, 60 views)

Dav4

Nice buy, Gib. That tree would have been $150-$200 around here. Good luck,


Dave

watchndsky

I'm in the same boat - I have not been able to find anything on "clearance" anywhere and all my decent stock have been ebay purchases. I did manage to find a nice maple at the bonsai expo in Asheville in the fall (kiyohime I believe) But for the most part, I dont know of any places within driving distance to me in NC.