名媛直播

Toonstar87 wrote: Well here's a pic of what I'm supposed to be receiving for ?17

Well... as expected, it's a typical mass product.

To be fair - if that is a realistic representation of what is ordered then it could have been much worse, doesn't look too bad IMO, although a little overpriced.
Be good to see a picture when you get it

Dave

Ok so Iv done a little research and have found a nursery in the UK that has a few Chinese Elms on offer all the same price of ?15... Do any of these look any good or am I still way off?

Personally I am not really keen on any of these, but I believe Greenwoods have a decent reputation so you should at least get a healthy tree

Dave

Those small "mallsai" are very typical in many nurseries. If you want actuall bonsai then look for a bonsai nursery close to you. They should sell real bonsai but prepare to break a budget. It definitely depends on whether you want a nice looking plant for a one off nice celebratory resent or you seriously want to take on the art of bonsai as mentioned before. If you just want a one off nice celebratory present then these chinese elms could be good for a one off. But they are pretty much one the worst materials to work with. If you want to take the art of bonsai on then try reading the basics page on this website. Then maybe get some material like nursery stock in which you can truly develop in bonsai and grow a nice colection. The nursery stock material, depending on some factors is far more easier to work with. Some things i have mentioned may be slightly incorrect but what i have said is what i would do in your shoes.

But one thing very common with these mallsai, is the soil quality. Try to rpot the tree as soon as possible into a better soil. You will know why when you read the soil article on this website.

bob wrote: But one thing very common with these mallsai, is the soil quality. Try to rpot the tree as soon as possible into a better soil. You will know why when you read the soil article on this website.

I very much agree with what you write - it depends on what your plans and expectations are.
Bob did not explain what a 'mallsai' is - that is a mass-produced, usually young, tree, that looks a bit like a bonsai, but lacks the characteristics and aesthetics of a real bonsai. 名媛直播 is an art, mallsai are not considered art.

To turn a mallsai into a good bonsai is not impossible, they have not been grown for this purpose, but essentially you would have to start all over with it and it would require years of growth and training.

If you understand this, and still want to buy it, that's OK. You can:

- Buy this tree and accept it is not great, and never will be great. It will teach you to care for the tree.
- Buy a real bonsai - but that will not be cheap - and you have no experience so you won't know how to care for it and may loose it
- Buy starter material that you can shape yourself. Most people that we see on this forum do not have the patience for this, and immediately want to cut and wire it, to make an instant-bonsai. That won't work.

I do not fully agree with Bob's remark about soil quality. If you get it from a reputable bonsai-nursery, it should be OK and you wouldn't have to repot it as soon as possible.

Ok starting to get a little confused if I'm being honest
What is meant by starter material? Am I looking for trees smaller than those I posted? Or one that has already been made into a bonsai... Will do a bit of research through the topics lol

Starter material - or 'pre-bonsai' trees, basically anything with potential to grow & shape into a realistic miniature of a mature tree. Look primarily for trunk shape, this is the most difficult & time consuming aspect. I look at every bargain bin when we visit garden centres, never pay more than a few pounds for stuff, I got this nice little Berberis for ?3 from Dobbies last year, not much done yet.

ironhorse wrote: I got this nice little Berberis for ?3 from Dobbies last year, not much done yet.

Great example. Put it in a bonsai pot and it 'll look like the trees that are sold for over 10 times that what you paid for it...

Auk wrote:

ironhorse wrote: I got this nice little Berberis for ?3 from Dobbies last year, not much done yet.

Great example. Put it in a bonsai pot and it 'll look like the trees that are sold for over 10 times that what you paid for it...

Or.. Pay 5 times as much, and get yourself a plant you can actuallly make a decent sized bonsai with :evil: . The berberis shown, would be still too young to be in my garden, except as part of a challenge.