Purchasing Dwarf Myrtle

I am not enclosing a picture since I don't know if it's allowed.
I have to have a myrtle, Myrtus communis, for religious-cultural reasons. But I have had no luck. My first one was stolen, then some had bugs. Every time I buy a nursery specimen, when I go to repot it, no matter how slow & careful I am, it dies of potting shock. The only bonsai nursery I can find that sells them as pre-bonsai is Bonsai Boy of New York, which has had a terrible reputation. They are selling dwarf myrtle, 10 years old, 25" tall (about 63 cm), very healthy looking, for $125. Can't tell what the caliper is. There is some trunk taper, but it is straight as an arrow. Dunno if I could get some movement with a branch bender. I would like somebody's opinion whether it sounds like a fair price.
Iris

I think that specific tree is not listed anymore, or at least, I cannot find it. Judging from other plants, such as a pencil thick olive branch with roots (price: 45$) I would say: Most likely overpriced.

iris - you offer so much solid advice that i really hope this helps:

i got a very nice (albeit small) crape myrtle from meehan's miniatures when they came to the chicago show this summer,
and they are based out there on the east coast...

http://www.meehansminiatures.com

i got the chickasaw and it has at least doubled in size in just this one summer
if they dont have the one you are looking for, perhaps they could steer you in the right direction...

just curious what sort religious-cultural reasons necessitate having that specific variety...?

and if you dont want to answer, i understand and respect that.

First of all, I am looking for the true myrtle, Myrtus communis, preferably one of the dwarf cultivars. Not crape myrtle, I already have one. I have to have myrtle because it is featured in Jewish culture. It is one of the four species we use to celebrate the Feast of Booths, Sukkot. It is also the favored plant of Jewish witches. Queen Esther's Hebrew name was Myrtle.
Meehan's doesn't sell myrtle. I can't find it at any of the tropical bonsai nurseries. I had the price wrong. It is being sold through Amazon for $165. I noticed that Amazon is selling a small variegated myrtle for $76, while you can buy the same plant directly from Bonsai Boy for $50. As near as I can calculate from the photo, trunk caliper is 3/4." So it is probably overpriced.
Can anyone steer me to a myrtle bonsai or pre-bonsai for sale? I'd rather pay $165 or more for something more reliable. I can't believe no one in Florida or California has any for sale.
Iris

sorry iris...

chalk that one up to inexperience re: species specifics

hope this helps more:

http://plantsexpress.com/webstore-plantsexpress/webstore/8796-0.aspx

20 bucks for one in a 5 gallon pot...

That is what I am trying to avoid, a nursery plant, since I have had no success with them. If anyone can tell me how to avoid potting shock with this species, it would help.
The shipping cost from California would be astronomical for a 5-gallon plant. I gave up buying from ForestFarm because their plants are tiny and the shipping is prohibitive.
Iris

Hi Iris
Honestly I have not seen dwarf or standard size myrtle for sale from a purveyor of bonsai or pre-bonsai plants. I few tropical plant nurseries do carry it, but you are looking for a plant that is not nursery material.

I think the reason you don't see it is that most bonsai nurseries have run into the same issue you have. Myrtle dies at the drop of a hat. It is totally intolerant of drying out between watering. It needs sun, and seems to be permanently infested with white fly - at least in my house. I have never gotten myrtle to survive beyond 1 year.

Hope you are successful in finding a source.

Leo

well, if you keep striking out, they do have a 1 gallon size too, for 6 bucks

Well I learned something new! Thanks for the explanation of religious significance Iris. I will keep my eyes and ears open, but no luck so far.

Sorry, Precarious, that is not a bonsai nursery. It is a seller for Bonsai Boy with questionable stock and wildly inflated prices.
Steer clear of any establishment that sells ginseng ficus. It is a novelty for the ignorant that has nothing to do with bonsai.
Iris

Umm... that is NOT a ginseng ficus I'm sliding out of sight behind me! It's...a tree with...muscles...

hihihihihihih hihih hih hih hi hihihiii  you re funny Precarious...

Dear Iris

This is so interesting.

Myrtle is the easiest thing in the world.     It just show you how plants perform under different conditions.

Now lets think about this.    Myrtis comes from where?   Mediteranean... Right .  When does it rain there....   Like here  it rains in Winter.  And very dry in summer.  So there is your trick.

I would keep it out of the rain in summer  (but still water it)   and water it in winter often  provided the temperature is cool.

It grows also very well with cuttings.  And then you dont need to trim the roots drastically.  You just pot it up.

Dip cuttings in Honey and then Hormone powder.  Put it in a Hot House till it starts growing.  Very bright light.  

The dwarf myrtles looks like miniature bonsai already to me when still very young. Here are some of my cuttings....



Iris the righteous was also called Myrtles...
..and he was standing among the myrtles..Zecharia 1:8 (referring to Man) Well not just any man...a very good Man.. hi hi

Love Light and Awakening
Andre

Well, a number of people told me I was on a fool's errand. Some nurseries don't sell them any more due to the high mortality. I found one in New Jersey last fall, but it was not healthy to begin with, so of course it died. Then a nursery on eBay advertised them in a 4.5 inch (11.5 cm) pot so I ordered one. All they sent me was a little pisher in a 3 inch pot. When I asked for the right product, I got a full refund, so this tiny shmitchik was free. 1/4 inch caliper, so you can imagine. I pruned & wired & repotted it, and it is still alive. Picture will follow shortly. Actually, one can often be successful with a small specimen where a large one is doomed. Found this with willow-leaf fig, buttonwood, & others.
Happy New Year,
Iris

I had been wondering! Thanks for the update Iris.

Woodlander's is a garden and mail order nursery. Not a bonsai nursery, but they have 2 cultivars of Myrtle. The common and an upright form of common myrtle. I've ordered from Woodlanders in the past, for they have interesting plants in sizes small enough to ship inexpensively. Definitely orientated toward mail order.

http://www.woodlanders.net/index.cfm/fuseaction/home.home/index.htm

http://www.woodlanders.net/index.cfm?fuseaction=plants.plantDetail&plant_id=455 Only $15 for a one gallon size plant.

http://www.woodlanders.net/index.cfm?fuseaction=plants.plantDetail&plant_id=1964

Interesting place. They have plants I haven't seen for years. However, they don't carry either of the dwarf myrtle cultivars, so I'll settle for what I have.
Iris