Buying vs Growing...

I know many folks that prefer to just buy a well developed Juniper or Maple Bonsai, say 4 to 10 yrs old, in say a nice 6" to 10" Ceramic pot or just in a nursery growing pot and then pick a nice ceramic pot to display it in.
These folks do a little pruning and maybe a re-potting and they are a happy and satisified group of Bonsainista's...

I personally believe this to be a very valid way to enjoy and become a Bonsai Gardener over time, it almost always
leads to a few starter Bonsai and the Trials and Tribulations that follow...

Bonsai Gardening is a very addictive pastime and also can be very rewarding...

This becomes a very rewarding practice for the Professional Bonsai Gardener that grows and sells his work...

Most folks want the Joy without the Work...

I believe Forums like this IBC & Bonsai Nut are for the Hard Core Bonsai Gardener's aka Bonsainista's...

Curious to others opinions on this subject...

bonsai is a pretty big umbrella chuck - lottsa room under it for growers and buyers...
also make for the possibility of a thriving bonsai economy

but personally, i prefer the learning experience that comes with experiencing the learning.

It is an interesting argument. I buy trees, and I then grow them. I have collected trees which are many years old, and I have cuttings and airlayers. It is not so much the finish but the journey, and anyway a tree is only finished for a short time and needs things doing all the time. I have spent a lot more on trees in the last ten years than before. The beginner in our group will buy young material, and learn how to style and grow them on, as well as some better trees. I works both ways,
Geff.

Still collecting from the drains and roadside.
Will have to start a serious thin out next year.
I find what I grow from seed or seedling or cutting or air layer more valuable to me than bought or dug.
Laters.
Khaimraj

I don't buy bonsai I grow them. Any tree in my garden is my friend. If die I'm sad. Amen

I agree, I hate to lose a tree. As I said before I have all sorts, and all have my stamp. Growing from seed and getting to anything like finished for my is not an option, but I still like growing from seed or cuttings etc. I buy trees which belonged to growers who have died, or are unable to look after them the trees have to go somewhere, and we are continuing their progression by taking them on.

Geoff.

yamasuri wrote:I don't buy bonsai I grow them. Any tree in my garden is my friend. If die I'm sad. Amen

I'll make you cry with all of the trees I kill at my place.
I collect and buy trunks already at the size I want them and go from there.
I don't air layer. I chop.
Bonsai is already slow enough. Why wait for a seed or cutting to grow to size when you can go and collect or buy trees of appropriate size?

I agree, it is sometimes useful though to have cutting that can be used for thread grafting. I have to say though, I prefer my trees to be bigger rather than shohin size, as long as I can pick them up and carry them that is,
Geoff.

My trough allows for excellent growing and even the hardwood types put on 2 to 3 inches in 1 to 3 years.
Plus, I have other things to do, while they are growing

I prefer my trees 3 inch [ 8 cm ] trunks [ 15 to 18 inches tall [38 to 46 cm ] ] -------- as you get older lifting ?
I already have a few at 30 inches [ 76 cm ]

Quite a few at the tiny sizes.

Large cuts, tree has to have the ability to heal or termites etc. eat through the wood. Or the wood at 50 years old
is naturally poisonous.
BUT I am working with a most interesting local shrub, amazing healing.
Will show next year.
Laters
Khaimraj

Hey Mike,

[aside ] Just realised, I am 2 years older than you. Anthony is your age.
Looking at your avatar section.
Politely
Khaimraj

I have a mixed collection, and I imagine most people in the hobby do also.

There is a place for, and a great deal of satisfaction in purchasing a fully developed tree, in this case you are more a curator than a designer. To continue and develop the style set by previous artists is a worthy task. Often well developed trees actually take many more hours of work every year to maintain in good condition than younger undeveloped stock. It is a challenge worth tackling, and if you can afford to jump in at this level, well worth doing.

I have a modest number of trees that were purchased as partially developed material. some already in bonsai pots, maybe good enough for a local show, but not ready for a top level show. Again, previous owners and artists made design choices, and my task is to continue and refine the plans that were already set.

Majority of my collection is ''nursery stock'', very young, not well developed, or recently collected from the wild material. Here all the design work is mine. Many are ''blank canvases'' and could become anything. This is where I put much of my effort.

Then I have seedlings. These are from seed I started. It will be years before they even become ''pre-bonsai''.

I hope to be around long enough, that all will be show trees in my care - but realistically, I know I will only be one owner of these trees in a long succession of owners (baring accidental death of the trees). I do know I will be moving all me trees on to other people over time. I may never see the ''finished'' product, but that is okay, I enjoy the growing, and caring for the trees.

Khaimraj Seepersad wrote:Hey Mike,

[aside ] Just realised, I am 2 years older than you. Anthony is your age.
Looking at your avatar section.
Politely
Khaimraj

Your posts look younger than that.
I would have said you were only like 48 or 49 years old.

Ha ha Mike,

that's okay. Three or four years ago I had a workman [ 45 years old ] give me a lecture on life and
it's harsh experiences, because he said I was too positive.
He thought I was 35 years.

The expression he used was ------------ yuh [ your ] mudder's [ mother's ] milk eh even dry on yuh face.
Laters.
Khaimraj

mike
DOES THIS POST MAKE ME LOOK FAT ???

i always thought khai was older than me...
ends up we are about the same age...

I have been in bonsai for about 8 years and have trees that originated from seed, cuttings, air layers, collection, and by buying. Like Khai, I like three inch trunks on 20 inch trees. However, these are my second favorite size. Lately all I want to create are shohin root over rock. As far as I know, these must be started from seedlings. I have about 15 or so of these that I started 3-5 years ago. Some may be presentable in a few years.

[quote="kevin stoeveken"]mike
DOES THIS POST MAKE ME LOOK FAT ???

This only in jest now so don't be offended.

No. But your boots do!

M. Frary wrote:

kevin stoeveken wrote:mike
DOES THIS POST MAKE ME LOOK FAT ???

 This only in jest now so don't be offended.

No. But your boots do!

me offended ???

perish the thought !!!

you guys sure are fixated on my killer boots...
you want i should wear them with socks and then send you the socks after a 3 days trek ?

only then you will get the true essence of das boot !

Oh Kevin.

no, no, please keep the socks......................................

Steve,

that's 3 inch trunks to 15 and 18 inch tall trees ---------- stout to graceful.

Merry Christmas to All...........
Laters
Khaimraj

kevin stoeveken wrote:

M. Frary wrote:

kevin stoeveken wrote:mike
DOES THIS POST MAKE ME LOOK FAT ???

 This only in jest now so don't be offended.

No. But your boots do!

me offended ???

perish the thought !!!

you guys sure are fixated on my killer boots...
you want i should wear them with socks and then send you the socks after a 3 days trek ?

only then you will get the true essence of das boot !

Those aren't boots...THESE are boots!!!!!!

and NOBODY tops diamond dave as he was back then !!!

I prefer growing and collecting over buying. Although I still buy some, It seems like I have more of a connection and enjoy the ones I have grown or collected more. I am trying to look ahead 10-20 years from now and guess what I wish I was doing now. It is impossible to know so I do a lot of different things but mostly I tinker with stuff I have collected.

LanceMac10 wrote:
Those aren't boots...THESE are boots!!!!!!

Oh, you bad boy Lance, you bad boy!

Reminds me of something like "one of our friendly cousellors gave him a doughnut and told him to stay closer to church-oriented activities" (or sthg, the LP is somewhere in the basement)

You macho-man!

Sexy feminists:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbyAZQ45uww

I believe this is how Kevin wants to lose his bootees
Laters
Khaimraj

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib_eW9VSUwM

kevin stoeveken wrote:and NOBODY tops diamond dave as he was back then !!!

I'm worried about you.

no need to worry bruce... my mom doesnt !!!

and boy-o-boy... i will take all the nancy sinatra you gots !!!