Thoughts?

drew33998 · Dec 15, 2013

Looking to acquire a kishu juniper. Something that will prob be put in the ground to grow and also take cuttings from. Eventually to become a bonsai. Prob looking to spend no more than $150. What are your thoughts about this material at it's price point? Any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pre-Bonsai-...846?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a352f9776

Brian Van Fleet · Dec 15, 2013

Check with Brent first, you can do better. This one from Brent was $150 back in '08, good base, movement, and compact growth.

If it's eBay or nothing, I think this one is a better bet: http://www.ebay.com/itm/190993955330

Smoke · Dec 15, 2013

Brian Van Fleet said:
If it's eBay or nothing, I think this one is a better bet: http://www.ebay.com/itm/190993955330

I'm trying to track this guy down. He is shipping out of Fresno and his soil is of turface, lava and small calidama and some charcoal.

Brian Van Fleet · Dec 15, 2013

Smoke said:
I'm trying to track this guy down. He is shipping out of Fresno and his soil is of turface, lava and small calidama and some charcoal.

You're the only Fresnoite that comes to mind when I see a bonsai associated with the town, but this didn't strike me as one of yours, and seems to be in potting soil or something dark, and I thought you were out of the kishu trade...?

jk_lewis · Dec 16, 2013

"North Florida" is a big area, but it also has some of the finest, largest, and most varied (in terms of varieties of plants stocked) nurseries in the USA. I can't believe you won't do better with a more-or-less home grown juniper from one of them than you will with anything mailorder, and particularly from e-bay.

drew33998 · Dec 16, 2013

Yes, specifically Jacksonville fl. There are several mom and pop that do have some decent material however most do not carry a large variety of junipers as they are not very popular in the landscape as they were many years ago. The only varieties that can be found are chinesis, procumbens, parsons, blue rug, Virginiana. But I am always looking for something promising in any of these species. I will try to contact Brent to see what he has. I've heard lots of good from him

drew33998 · Dec 16, 2013

Smoke said:
I'm trying to track this guy down. He is shipping out of Fresno and his soil is of turface, lava and small calidama and some charcoal.

Smoke, I didn't think you did much with junipers. That one is nice indeed

drew33998 · Dec 16, 2013

Thanks for the help guys. I appreciate it especially Brian searching eBay for one. As an aside, what are your thoughts about a noob like me trying to graft Kishu onto the "trunk" of shimpaku? What is the success rate of someone experienced doing this? I'm always looking to better myself but not sure if this is the correct "first step" one should take when starting grafting on junipers. I would like to have a Kishu as a mother tree to pull grafts from for future material

Brian Van Fleet · Dec 16, 2013

drew33998 said:
Thanks for the help guys. I appreciate it especially Brian searching eBay for one. As an aside, what are your thoughts about a noob like me trying to graft Kishu onto the "trunk" of shimpaku? What is the success rate of someone experienced doing this? I'm always looking to better myself but not sure if this is the correct "first step" one should take when starting grafting on junipers. I would like to have a Kishu as a mother tree to pull grafts from for future material

I will be starting to graft junipers in the spring (Itoigawa to RMJ), but in your case, I don't know that you'll find so much difference between shimpaku and kishu to make it worth the effort.

drew33998 · Dec 16, 2013

Brian Van Fleet said:
I will be starting to graft junipers in the spring (Itoigawa to RMJ), but in your case, I don't know that you'll find so much difference between shimpaku and kishu to make it worth the effort.

Yea you are right. I don't think I am at the stage yet.

Brian Van Fleet · Dec 16, 2013

I didn't mean that as a comment about your experience, in case it came across that way. It was a comment about the similarity between kishu and shimpaku. I have both and it wouldn't bother grafting one to the other because they really aren't all that different from one another. Kishu is denser and has slightly smaller foliage, but to me, not enough different to warrant the effort.

If you are like me, and want a particular cultivar, definitely go for it, grow it out and start lots of cuttings.

Paradox · Dec 16, 2013

Maybe its just me, but I think that $125 would be a bit expensive for a tree that you just want to use for cuttings. Even as a bonsai, that trunk has some pretty noticeable reverse taper.

I know shimpaku can be expensive but I personally would look for something better even if I had to spend more for it. The one that Brian posted is a much better tree imo.

Smoke · Dec 16, 2013

Brian Van Fleet said:
You're the only Fresnoite that comes to mind when I see a bonsai associated with the town, but this didn't strike me as one of yours, and seems to be in potting soil or something dark, and I thought you were out of the kishu trade...?

No not in the juniper trade at all and definately not one of mine. I just found it interesting after going to his home page store and seeing all this stuff for sale and I don't know about it. This has to be someone I know. I am thinking its the Vargas Boys. They have a bonsai soil on the page. I got a couple bloodhounds on it.

drew33998 · Dec 17, 2013

Paradox said:
Maybe its just me, but I think that $125 would be a bit expensive for a tree that you just want to use for cuttings. Even as a bonsai, that trunk has some pretty noticeable reverse taper.

I know shimpaku can be expensive but I personally would look for something better even if I had to spend more for it. The one that Brian posted is a much better tree imo.

Yea I guess I need to get my priorities straight. Either buy material to train into bonsai or something cheaper but same species to use as a parent tree.

drew33998 · Dec 19, 2013

Went ahead and bought 9 shimpaku in 6 inch containers for $5.95 a piece on the bay. Will ground plant all and we shall see what the future holds.

drew33998 · Sep 27, 2017

Updates. 4 years later. Some of these may be up for sale soon. The largest is about 1" trunk.

drew33998 · Sep 27, 2017

Tree 2

drew33998 · Sep 27, 2017

Tree 3

drew33998 · Sep 27, 2017

Tree 4

drew33998 · Sep 27, 2017

Tree 5

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