名媛直播

rolex wrote: Thanks so much for the replies..


Edit: Guys, honestly, these comments on here are killing me.. No need to make selling these "against the law" as I am sure the kind little old man did not go out of his way just to rip me off of a few dollars, the tree looks pretty to me regardless. Do you guys really let things like this ruin your day?


Thanks again guys

So my suggestion (as a beginner), place the tree in a bigger pot and treat it as a natural tree growing wild in your yard. Then do some research on how to create a bonsai, compared to buying a small tree in a pot that people call a 名媛直播 to make money. I don't blame the old man for selling the tree to you, but you'll come to learn the patience and dedication it takes to create a true 名媛直播 and understand why people can be very pationate about the art.
Read and then read some more.
Best of luck

m5eaygeoff wrote: Yes it should be illegal to sell something which it is not. It was overpriced, but if you are happy then fine

Lol, so you are upset that I paid $4 instead of 50 cents? And I never said how much I paid for it, so kind of funny of you to jump to the conclusion I overpaid. Even more hilarious is your way of saying that it's "fine" that I like it instead of saying that's "good", as if you can barely believe your own eyes that someone else may like it.. Take it easy man

The views are not elitist, and if you don't like the reply then don't ask the question.

They are, sorry to disappoint you. It's come up before and it will come up again when you make posts like this. I don't like the sarcastic tone of your reply but I'm happy to debate my reasons for liking ithe plant whether you want to believe it or not.

Buying a plant when you don't know what species it is (or ask the seller) and don't know where it should be kept or how to look after it is not the best way.

Sure, that's my fault, I bought it based on looks alone. Changes nothing. Might not be the best way, but at least I am making the effort to try and learn about it

The only place for it is outside and the best way to get a tree to start styling is to plant in the ground for 3 to 5 years, then pot up and allow another 2 years to settle then you can start working on it.

This, I can appreciate.

Thanks for your post

with all do respect.. if the old man sells this as being bonsai.. good for him if he finds people ignorant/clueless enough to buy it as such..
he probably just goed to a local garden center, buys 10 junipers in a 1 gallon container, chuncks them into a cheap bonsai pot, adds some pumice and soil, does a small pruning and sells them for 10 times what he actually paid..

it's a business..

but it's a business that gives bonsai a bad name for the general ignorant/clueless starter..

it's mass produced junk that has nothing to do with bonsai (apart from the fact that it's a small plant in a bonsai tray) and is all about profit..


today i saw on instagram a picture of a 5 year old procumbens juniper, wired a bit and placed in a bonsai tray.. they asked 140$ for it..
that's just criminal..

if you go to a real bonsai nursery, a 140$ can buy you a very decent starter tree with a big trunk and 100 times more potential..

^ I bought the plant based on looks alone.. I certainly did not buy it because I thought it was a bonsai. I was only lead here for help because that's what I thought it was.

I can now see I probably should've looked for help in a non-bonsai specific forum, didn't realize my post was going to stir up a bunch of hostile bonsai fans.

On a side note, I did find a local bonsai nursery on Google just now that appears to have a gigantic selection of starter kits available.

Does anybody see any potentially good first choice for a novice user? I remain dedicated to TRYING to let my tiny tree grow.. But if I can also cut to the chase by buying a more mature tree in an exotic species, I'd totally spend the money on it



Anything here NOT look like just another cash grab?

Thanks in advance

personally, i'd get the tiger bark ficus or the chinese elm..

they are a bit over prised, but you have to do with the available things, right.. unless you find one that does shipping in your region..

the trees on that page are refered to as mallsai.. mass-produced in china.. but come a lot closer to bonsai than your juniper..

for a first tree you can get one of those to gain experience in most basic care and styling..

when you get more into the hobby and your knowlegde grows, you'll automatically find what to look for and where to find it..


hostile? no.. just trying to open up the eyes of a beginner in a very direct way ..

they choice is your completely.. you either just keep that one plant and care for it to your desire..
or you want to get to know more and start in the hobby, in which case, the replies helped you and thought you a first lesson.. which you seem to have undertood..

Eh, half still look like a cash grab. The curly-Q trees aren't good - how many curly-Q trees to you actually see in nature? A bonsai should give the illusion of an aged tree. Buy it only if you like, but be wary of calling it bonsai.

If you'd rather stay indoor, research the ficus. They're a tropical and do well indoors. Take them outside when the weather is good, because plants love outdoors.

If you're really wanting to do bonsai, best advice is to be patient and take your time. Do some more research into what bonsai is, how to take care of trees (even some simple biology study on your specific material), and learn to keep it alive in a pot.

It is a shame that what beginners think of bonsai aren't bonsai (you're not the only one), and part of it is because of growers making a quick buck off of cuttings like these. It's now in the broader culture that this is what a bonsai is.
BUT! It got the conversation started (though a little more aggressively than you intended). If you wish to pursue this great hobby, keep it up with an open mind. Search your questions in the forum before asking, and again, be patient. Keep it up, & good luck!

Thank you both for the helpful and speedy replies, nice to see some civility on here without being condescending

It turns out there are a bunch of local bonsai nurseries throughout the Toronto area, so I am not limited to just that site I linked back to. Just discovered several more on Google.

Is there a certain term I should look for if these "mallsai" mass produced ones in China are less desirable?

Ontario is a huge place and there is guaranteed to be some really reputable nurseries out here.

Again I really appreciate the help and I thanked you both for your posts

rolex wrote: Not so sure I agree with the intense elitist sentiment on these forums

An expected, but flawed response. There is nothing elitist about stating what is true.

I don't care if it's a $5 dollar plant or a $50 dollar plant. I like the look of it and that's all I care about.

That is absolutely fine, I have no problem with that. Enjoy your baby plant. Take proper care for it, and it'll grow.
Let it grow for many years and study bonsai, and maybe, eventually, you may develop it into something that is worthwhile.

Frankly I don't understand why everyone is so hung up on the semantics, but I do appreciate the comments both negative and positive.

I think it is important to understand what bonsai is to use the proper word for the proper things, so we understand eachother when we talk about bonsai.

No need to make selling these "against the law"

One can dream, right? I don't know what you paid for this tree, but I have seen real examples of fake bonsai for prices that I consider almost criminal - making abuse of the lack of knowledge of gullible people.

I do have another question as everybody keeps mentioning to keep it outside -- is that an absolute must?

Yep.

If I keep it outside can I keep it in that small pot?

Yes, you can, if you like it as it is and have no plans developing a bonsai. You will eventually need to repot.

PS - the pot was on the glass sunroof

Oh... my bad. Scratch proof?

Do you guys really let things like this ruin your day?

No, it does not ruin my day. It is the endless stream of fake bonsai, the fact that people do not know what bonsai look like, and the fact that a false image of bonsai continues to be propagated that annoys me.

BTW: If you paid more than 10 USD for this plant, the 'nice old man' has ripped you off. I have one large juniper (not bonsai) in my garden and can make such plants from cuttings, in no time, by the dozens. Without costs for me.

rolex wrote: Lol, so you are upset that I paid $4 instead of 50 cents?

$4 would be acceptable - if it includes the pot.

Auk wrote:
An expected, but flawed response. There is nothing elitist about stating what is true.

Incorrect, and I anticipated this generic excuse -- you can be helpful and cordial without taking the high and mighty approach. It's clear I'm a novice so would it pain you to explain your answers instead of dictating them?

That is absolutely fine, I have no problem with that. Enjoy your baby plant. Take proper care for it, and it'll grow.
Let it grow for many years and study bonsai, and maybe, eventually, you may develop it into something that is worthwhile.

I plan to. I don't give up so easily

I think it is important to understand what bonsai is to use the proper word for the proper things, so we understand eachother when we talk about bonsai.

Yeah I get that.. I was under the impression that's what I had, before realizing bonsai is not a species but rather an idea

One can dream, right? I don't know what you paid for this tree, but I have seen real examples of fake bonsai for prices that I consider almost criminal - making abuse of the lack of knowledge of gullible people.

A few bucks, and a few moments of conversation with a struggling Italian senior citizen that I quite enjoyed. It was nice to stop and admire something simple, whether it be just a clipping or not

Yes, you can, if you like it as it is and have no plans developing a bonsai. You will eventually need to repot.

If I tried to develop it into bonsai (yes, over the course of many years, I get that) then it would need to go into the ground is what you are saying then?

Oh... my bad. Scratch proof?

Shit, I sure hope so!