Price: $99.95
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buying bonsai trees |
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Buying bonsai from a nursery
Bonsai always appear to be expensive for what you get. In saying this, I don't mean to suggest that retailers make vast profits. Far from it; no-one gets rich selling bonsai. When you consider that even the cheapest supermarket bonsai has had some care lavished on it, at least some pruning of branches and roots, and that it has then been transported half-way round the world, a price that is equivalent to that of a cinema outing for two does not seem unreasonable.
When it comes to larger, more established bonsai, the price may be on a par with that of a second-hand car. But just think what you're getting. The tree may be anything from 20 to 100 years old, perhaps more. It would initially have been pruned and the main branches would have been wired into position. Then the tree would probably have spent up to 25 years in a growing field, before being potted up into a training box. During its spell in the ground it would have to have been lifted every few years to have its roots cut back, the branches pruned and shaped and the wires removed. All highly skilled, time-consuming jobs.
Once in the training box, the grower is likely to have sold the tree on to a refining nursery. Here, experts would have attended to its every need. They would check on its development, visiting it often in the growing season to trim, prune and shape the branches. Every year or two, it would have been repotted, at which time the roots would need to have received the same attention as the branches. After several years in the refining nursery, it would finally have been potted into an appropriate bonsai container. Then, and only then, would it have been offered for sale!
If it were to be sold for export, the bonsai would have been removed from its pot (which would have to be shipped separately) and carefully wired into a custom-built crate, with the roots packed in moist sphagnum moss. The packing crate, with others, would then have been shipped in a temperature-controlled hold to its new destination. Before it could be put on display and sold, it would have been inspected by officials to make sure it was free of pests and disease and, even then, would have had to spend up to six months in quarantine. Little wonder that the best-quality bonsai are quite expensive!
As you can see, there is every reason for quality bonsai trees, which have enjoyed many years of care from dedicated specialists, to be regarded as living things of great intrinsic worth. Get the best tree you can afford and treat as you would a faithful friend.
ABOVE Ugly little plants like this are all too often sold as bonsai trees, yet this one resembles neither an ideal tree, nor an ideal bonsai!
Buyer's guide
When buying a bonsai, bear in mind that it is important to find a dealer whose advice you can trust. These miniature plants are living entities and, due to the amount of care that goes into producing them, good ones are not cheap. A tree that is able to thrive in the conditions you can provide for it will reward you with many years of pleasure.
Juniper juniper procumbens nana
This dwarf Juniper bonsai from Japan is the most popular evergreen in the U.S.A. When we think of a traditional bonsai and what it should look like, we think of a "Juniper Procumbens Nana." It is very hardy, long-lived and tolerates many adverse conditions. This is an excellent bonsai tree for the beginner.
Price:
$225
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WHERE TO BUY
Indoor bonsai
These days, in most Western countries, small and rather tired bonsai are sold in all sorts of odd places, from supermarkets to home-care stores, and even on petrol station forecourts. I have seen tropical bonsai incongruously being offered for sale from market stalls in the dead of winter. The poor things were moribund even before they were sold.
In one sense, the proliferation of cheap, so-called bonsai has introduced the pastime to a wider audience, bringing the many joys of the hobby to people who have later become dedicated enthusiasts. But in the vast majority of instances these small trees quickly succumb, not because their new owners have mistreated them, but simply because they are unable to bear the succession of shocks to which they have been exposed. The care instructions (if any), which come with them, are invariably inadequate and the sales staff quite unable to offer any useful advice.
You may say, 'Well, I bought a bonsai from a supermarket and it's still alive'. Good; you're exceptionally lucky! My advice, though, is that next time round, you seek out a specialized bonsai supplier or a general nursery which deals in bonsai. At least there, the staff will have some knowledge of plant species and their care. And you'll get a real live bonsai tree, rather than a sad little basket-case!
A good indicator of whether or not a store is a reliable supplier of bonsai is the range of related products and equipment they sell. If the outlet also stocks the appropriate books, tools, wire and pots, you may be assured that they take bonsai seriously and have other satisfied customers.
Outdoor bonsai
Most trees dislike sudden changes in their environment; for example, even normally hardy trees will deteriorate rapidly if kept doors for more than a few days. It naturally !lows, therefore that if you want to start off y growing trees outdoors, where they belong, you should buy them from a supplier who is as committed to the art of bonsai as you are. Do of ever buy outdoor trees from a store that keeps them inside.
If possible, and you are in the New York area visit Bonsai Boy, even if you have to go some distance to get there.. They specializes in bonsai. The trip will be well worth your time and trouble. There, you will discover a wide selection of species and a knowledgeable staff who will be delighted to offer you the benefit of their wide experience. You'll also be able to get all the proper tools and equipment you will need in order to begin your hobby.
But if you don't live near them you can order your bonsai, tools, wire and pots from them on the Internet. They keep their prices low by hiring no outside help. As a highly successful family operated business, they take great pride in providing special attention to each and every order. There customers appreciate the care and effort that they put into selecting and shipping their trees.
Selling Bonsai Trees and Supplies On the Internet Since 1993!
Bonsai Boy of New York is a family operated, certified New York State nursery. As tree growers, we maintain superior product quality and offer our bonsai trees and other accessories at low wholesale prices. Our goal is to delight our customers beyond their expectations.