Zelkova? Ulmus? Need species ID please...

Vonsgardens

Frank,
I think you would look good with an eyepatch. You know, pirates of the Bonsai fields. I didn't know that Vance was a commercial tree grower, I know he has a patent(s) for grow boxes. I suggested a few years ago that Frank stop fertilizing everyday, very low dosage, he had an off year. Due to the nature of beast, fertilizing everyday is the best solution for his situation. However, after the recent 20 dyas and 20 nights of rain, I believe that he has commenced Ark Building- and hasn't been fertilizing. Frank, will you be taking Bonsai in pairs?

John

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"Wiring is simple; However, it is not easy to do it right" Boon

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Vance Wood

My bonsai business is small and generally centered around growing and providing material for work shops and demonstrations. I do sell semi finished small size bonsai at shows and materials for developing into bonsai that have been grown from seed or liners. In short I am more or less responsible for both the source and development of the stock I vend. With the exception of real young stuff I generally work on developing stock with small needles and great bark. The only time I force grow anything is to get some trunk size and secondary branching. So my approach is different.

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The only finished bonsai is a dead one; me 1992 MABA Des Moines Iowa

Vonsgardens

Vance, that is kind of what I thought, that is a good place to be. The best way to not lose a lot of money in the bonsai business is to stay small...

John

__________________
"Wiring is simple; However, it is not easy to do it right" Boon

Vance Wood

So far I have done reasonably well in not losing money. What doesn't sell this year gets worked on some more, and every year after that. Eventually it will sell for a good deal more than I paid for it. I am hesitant to tell you the end game profit margin. I believe money can be made in the Bonsai business but most people getting into it lose site of what bonsai is all about. They buy expensive imported stock and proceed to lose their shirts because most people are not interested in paying $2000 for a tree in Michigan.

It is my belief that you go with the material you know you can work with both culturally and stylistically to produce a pleasing piece of material, dare I say art, and sell it at a price that makes the work worth while. So here is how it works. I grow from seed or purchase a bunch of liners. When a show comes up I will put most of these up for sale and some of them will not sell, obviously. I also keep some of the more promising of these trees either for my own amusement or collection.

The trees that don't sell are pruned and wired (some of them). The next year they go up for sale along with a new batch of starter stock, this time at a higher price. The process repeats itself perpetually and after a few years in this you start coming up with some pretty good trees that can be sold at a pretty good price. Eventually even the ugly duckling will become a swan. But the important thing is that I have kept the business small enough that I have fun doing it. I think this is where a lot of professionals lose it,--it stops being fun.

A lot of new professionals are trying to do bonsai but are for the most part competing with Mallsai. They buy stock, throw it in a pot and sell it at a profit---hopefully. I develop and or style all of my stock.

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The only finished bonsai is a dead one; me 1992 MABA Des Moines Iowa

Joanie

Vance, that is similar to what Jim Barrett does. He starts with cuttings of very specific species, and every year when he works on them and repots them, the price goes up. He writes it on a little tag. You can see the price of the tree from the past. He always has several levels of stock to sell, so you can buy the youngest or pay a little more and gain some girth.

It really makes sense, because another year of work, water, and growth is worth more money of course.

Joanie

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