sold bonsai

mo's bonsai · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 5:37 am Post subject: sold bonsai

Hey buddies,

A friend of mine insisted I sell him a tree. I told him they were not ready to be placed in a bonsai pot but he insisted on buying it so he can give it as a gift. I said it is not a good time to re-pot a tree right now because when he saw the one he wanted it was in a regular plastic pot. to make a long story short, I gave in on the condition that I can't guarantee it's survival. I removed it from the plastic pot and pruned any roots that might pose a potting problem. the roots themselves looked in good health. Then I submerged the tree in water with several drops of super thrive for about twenty minutes. finally I added some free draining soil , wired in the tree and added some more soil and decorated it with moss. I sold it to him for $20. The tree stands about 6in. and is roughly 3-4 yrs old. it is a green mound Juniper. My question is my presentation, is there anything else I could have added or done without? was the style and pot size good or questionable? I know one of you guys, I forget who, is not partial to moss but he wanted it on there. I think the moss was called Irish moss or something like that. what about the tree it's self? Please give me your honest opinion so that next time I sell a tree I can prepare it better. Here are some end result photos. I'm not sure I got this photo-bucket deal figured out yet so here it goes.

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc260/mosbonsai/Soldbonsai005.jpg

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc260/mosbonsai/Soldbonsai004.jpg

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc260/mosbonsai/Soldbonsai003.jpg

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc260/mosbonsai/Soldbonsai002.jpg

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc260/mosbonsai/Soldbonsai001.jpg

Jayfrin · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 6:10 am Post subject: Re: sold bonsai

I suppose the fact you repotted this time of year couldn't be helped but i think that was probably the biggest fault. It was a good idea to give the tree superthrive after the trimming though. Also i hope that the tree is going into good hands be them knowledgeable or wanting to learn. In regards to the pot its not a traditional rectangular pot Sad

it seems rather deep though probably an illusion due to the round shape, considering that i would say its probably a good size Smile

. I like the final presentation with the ground cover and such looks very nice! A little rock or two may have added but i cant complain. I also think that you probably couldn't have done much else for the tree considering you pruned and wired it, though i am still against the time of year you chose.. but again not your fault. Remembering what i said form before if this is going into the hands of a bonsai enthusiast you may have been better not wiring and pruning only a little letting them add their own style but if a novice or even somebody totally new to the concept you've done the right thing. Sorry to carry on, wish you and your tree good luck!

Cheers! Very Happy

yamadorinige · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 10:43 am Post subject: Re: sold bonsai

Good job! The presentation is fine, the one thing I would have done is to emphasize very strongly to your friend would be to keep the juni outside as most novices tend to think that all bonsai are grown indoors

Stymie · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 11:20 am Post subject: Re: sold bonsai

I believe that if that doesn't make it. The fault will be entirely at the door of the new owner. Did you emphasize the need for it to be outside?

imholte · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 2:25 pm Post subject: Re: sold bonsai

I am not a fan of the moss that you added, looks more like a weed than the soft fine moss that you usually find in a bonsai pot.

mo's bonsai · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 3:30 pm Post subject: sold bonsai

Thanks for your comments guys,

Jayfrin, you are right about the pot size but I didn't want to disturb the root system too much considering the time of year so I wanted to make sure the roots had plenty of room. about the wiring, I apologize for not being clear but i meant that i wired it into the pot to hold it in place. The tree shaping and wiring was done a year and a half ago and all I did to the foliage was cut the wiring off the limbs. also I'll try the rock next time.

Yamadorinige and stymie, "is it going to be outside?" was one of the first things I asked. Unfortunately, the gift is for a newly licensed attorney decorating their new office and I could only imagine not a bonsai enthusiast. I did make a little wooden picket fence sign with my name and phone number engraved with a wood burner and stuck it in the soil so that they can call me with questions and advise. I did tell him though to tell the attorney that they can keep one or two days maximum inside a week and the rest of the time outside. I hope that was good advise.

Imholte, I know the moss was not a good type but that's all I could find in my area. I don't normally use moss anyway but that's what people who buy them like.

One more thing guys, was the price of $20 too high or decent. I told him to give me what ever he wanted, and he offered $20. I hope I didn't poke his eyes. Thanks again fellas!

Mo

Jayfrin · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 4:31 pm Post subject: Re: sold bonsai

I quite like the moss as many junipers are native around here and Ive seen my fair share of them and they always have either rock of a sort of tall is grass/weed and in my opinion you really captured the look of a juniper outside in nature. Also twenty dollars is a fine price you could have gone higher since the plant is four years old... but he was a friend so i could understand not wanting to gouge him.

Have a good one Smile

mo's bonsai · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 10:40 pm Post subject: sold bonsai

Thanks Jayfrin, I was trying to please a first time sale and at the same time say good bye to an old Friend and by old Friend i mean the tree. Such is life maybe I'll see it again sometime.