3 gallon or 7 gallon

[SouthernMaple]

So I finally found an Orange Dream JM, however I am told the nursery only has them in 3 gallon and 7 gallon sizes. Would it be better to splurge and get the 7 gallon or just get the 3 gallon size? Either way i will be air layering and taking cuttings, but I currently don't have a whole lot of storage space.

 

[Woocash]

Will you be seeing them first? No point in blind ordering and spending big if they’re going to be a beanpole with a Pom Pom on top.

 

[sorce]

Depends on the size difference.

Try to get pictures.

There is a day when the 3gallons get uppotted into 7 gallons.

Don't buy right after that day!

Sorce

 

[leatherback]

Don't buy right after that day!

Better yet.. Buy right before that day!

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I am uncertain how well 'Orange Dream' responds to air layering. Some JM are very reluctant to strike roots. Certain JM's are known to be impossible to root. Others root easily. 'Orange Dream' is relatively new, not on Vertree's list, so I don't know if it roots from cuttings or air layers. Anyone have hands on experience with 'Orange Dream'? Does anyone know if it roots from cuttings, or if it can be successfully air layered?

As an alternate, or an additional project; Why don't you go over the list of cutting grown JM cultivars available at Evergreen Gardenworks and by yourself a maple cultivar already on its own roots. Cheaper and less hassle. The cuttings may be small, but pop them into 3 gallon containers in spring. and likely in as few as 2 or 3 years they will catch up to the air layer you would be trying to make from a 3 gallon grafted plant.

https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/availabl.htm

 

[penumbra]

Buy it for the plant, not for the size pot it is in. Either size could be fantastic or it could be crap.

 

[0soyoung]

I am uncertain how well 'Orange Dream' responds to air layering.

Orange Dream readily roots, I've made several layers from my landscape 'specimen'.

Would it be better to splurge and get the 7 gallon or just get the 3 gallon size? Either way i will be air layering and taking cuttings, but I currently don't have a whole lot of storage space.

Buy the 3 gallon, if the tree is being shipped. The tree likely won't be that much smaller, but the shipping cost will be considerably lower.

 

[SouthernMaple]

I am uncertain how well 'Orange Dream' responds to air layering. Some JM are very reluctant to strike roots. Certain JM's are known to be impossible to root. Others root easily. 'Orange Dream' is relatively new, not on Vertree's list, so I don't know if it roots from cuttings or air layers. Anyone have hands on experience with 'Orange Dream'? Does anyone know if it roots from cuttings, or if it can be successfully air layered?

As an alternate, or an additional project; Why don't you go over the list of cutting grown JM cultivars available at Evergreen Gardenworks and by yourself a maple cultivar already on its own roots. Cheaper and less hassle. The cuttings may be small, but pop them into 3 gallon containers in spring. and likely in as few as 2 or 3 years they will catch up to the air layer you would be trying to make from a 3 gallon grafted plant.

https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/availabl.htm

thanks for your concern and I don't want to sound like a jerk but OD has been on my wishlist for awhile, its really the only maple I want to buy anymore, I have about 8-10 different maples currently.

 

[SouthernMaple]

Orange Dream readily roots, I've made several layers from my landscape 'specimen'.

Buy the 3 gallon, if the tree is being shipped. The tree likely won't be that much smaller, but the shipping cost will be considerably lower.

I am going to drive to the guys farm 2 hours away and try to comfortably stuff it into my hatchback, 89 and 135 are the prices, hes going to send me pics tomorow

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Orange Dream readily roots, I've made several layers from my landscape 'specimen'.

That is really good to find out, it is a beautiful cultivar. I had been tempted to get one myself.

 

[James W.]

I am going to drive to the guys farm 2 hours away and try to comfortably stuff it into my hatchback, 89 and 135 are the prices, hes going to send me pics tomorow

Since you will be there you can look them over pick one out to best fit for your needs. For my money $135 would be a little much for anything not suitable to become a bonsai. And when planted in the ground for a couple of years one might not be able to tell the difference between the 3 gallon and the 5 gallon starts.
Oops, re-read it. Might be that a 7 gallon plant is big enough to take starts from right away where 3 gallon might be too small.

 

[M. Frary]

7 gallon pots are somewhat heavy when filled with wet dirt.
I have a couple jack pines in them and they're heavy.
Finger stretching heavy.

 

[SouthernMaple]

So if I had to choose between these two I would do the 3 gallon, the 7 gallon is 150 not 135

 

[PABonsai]

Dang, $89 for that spindly stick? I'd try to talk him down! It's only 4' tall. Around here for $100-200 you can get Japanese maples that have full canopies. His ask for that 7 gallon one is even more ridiculous.

 

[leatherback]

89USD is VERY overpriced I would say. I would certainly not be willing to spend that sort of money on such a young plant.
Have you tried reaching out to maple specialists for the cultivar? It is not a very rare one, is it?

 

[JoeH]

If I had to choose I wouldn't drive 2 hours for that. Sticks in pots at those prices? Nuts

 

[SouthernMaple]

beggars can't be choosers. I have been looking for an Orange Dream for a year now and no other nursery in America will send me pictures of their stock. This is the first nursery to do so. I would love to be choosey but I see no other offers on my table.

 

[SouthernMaple]

If I had to choose I wouldn't drive 2 hours for that. Sticks in pots at those prices? Nuts

someone already came by this morning and bought 3 of the 3 gallons.

 

[0soyoung]

Like I said before,

Buy the 3 gallon, if the tree is being shipped. The tree likely won't be that much smaller,

89USD is VERY overpriced I would say.

It is about par, based on what I've seen in garden center nurseries in my area over the past year.

 

[PABonsai]

beggars can't be choosers. I have been looking for an Orange Dream for a year now and no other nursery in America will send me pictures of their stock. This is the first nursery to do so. I would love to be choosey but I see no other offers on my table.

Based on the picture that's no nursery. It's a dude's home. I would go to a nursery before some dude doing it in his backyard, especially for such a premium. After all that's normally the point of buying anything private, to avoid the retail markups. Aside from some folks here where we actually see them raising stock, I wouldn't trust some guy who is doing this out of his home. It doesn't have leaves or anything so you're taking his word on the cultivar. You've been looking for this tree, but based on his photo you are only hoping it's actually what you're looking for. Does he actually have licenses and everything to call himself a nursery?