3 gallon or 7 gallon

[Sunwyrm]

I say if it's been on your wishlist that long and is that hard to find just go for it. That's what a wishlist is for - if I find something on mine that's healthy, I'm snagging it immediately, no questions asked.

I think the 3g is the better tree of the two anyway.

After a quick look, $89 doesn't seem to be a bad price for a 3 gallon. Is there additional shipping as well? I thought I remembered seeing Orange Dream on bonsaibob on ebay awhile back, but I don't see it now. Do you have any local nurseries that might be willing to order it in for you?

 

[PABonsai]

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.

You repeatedly point to the fact you found it at nurseries and the biggest issue is they won't send pics, but if you are just using it as a propagator do you need pics? I can see pics if you intend to use the plant as is, but the tiny layers and cuttings you'll be growing into trees won't be much dependent on how the plant currently looks. Basically what I'm saying is, maybe you don't have to be so strict in your searching? Just an idea. Good luck getting one either way. I've been looking into these a little but haven't seen them locally.

 

[TN_Jim]

Do you have any local nurseries that might be willing to order it in for you?

This is an excellent question. I know that if you (op) lived here we could find this tree for you, surely/hopefully you have a nursery around that sources material for clients if you’re willing to drive over an hour. That said, I do not understand why they (nursery(s)) can’t/won’t text you a photo, I do this for customers regularly. Taking a photo and texting it literally takes a moment of time. Perhaps you should ask to speak to a manager in cases such as this or avoid corporate or chain-affiliated nursery’s if this is not their “protocol”.

If I recall, that orange dream we had just before the holidays was in a 7gal, ~3” at base, 4-5’ wide, 5-6’ tall for something like 220

 

[Pitoon]

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

How are you so sure he sold the 3gal? If you showed some real interest when you made contact and willing to drive 2hrs he's could be trying to get you to buy the 7gal.

 

[Pitoon]

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?

You never heard of a backyard nursery? I'm not an "actual" nursery yet I grow and sell plants. @SouthernMaple has even bought a tree from me last year. To be honest those prices are not marked up in my opinion to grow those sticks that big took several years and take into the fact that if they are actually an OD cultivar it's worth it.....and if they are not grafted even more. Going private doesn't have to mean you're going to find stuff cheaper. You usually find it cheaper private is becuase they are most likely not paying taxes nor have any overhead. Some people just like growing plants.

The only thing that I would be wary about is the fact that you can't actually see the leaves. You would basically have to take their word on it and a two hour drive to return a tree is a waste of time and gas.

 

[SouthernMaple]

You never heard of a backyard nursery? I'm not an "actual" nursery yet I grow and sell plants. @SouthernMaple has even bought a tree from me last year. To be honest those prices are not marked up in my opinion to grow those sticks that big took several years and take into the fact that if they are actually an OD cultivar it's worth it.....and if they are not grafted even more. Going private doesn't have to mean you're going to find stuff cheaper. You usually find it cheaper private is becuase they are most likely not paying taxes nor have any overhead. Some people just like growing plants.

The only thing that I would be wary about is the fact that you can't actually see the leaves. You would basically have to take their word on it and a two hour drive to return a tree is a waste of time and gas.

very true, I leave for Georgia tomorow and then California on Wednesday, its about a 15 minute detour from the route I go back to Georgia, the guys house in the picture is right next to 6 hoop houses that aren't pictured in the picture on the other side of the house. I didn't want to include the name of the nursery on here because the last time I did that, I got banned from said nursery and threatened with legal action. I really don't want to go down that road again. Of the 4 nurseries on my way to Athens Georgia this is the only one with Orange Dream. Mr Maple is sold of them and none of the 8 Asheville nurseries carry them. I talked to the lady that runs the spot and we talked for a long time she says the Greenville Bonsai club gets pre bonsai stock from her often. I also talked to the owner of the nursery 6 months ago and asked him to get some as well. I guess you have to trust people at some point that they are telling you the truth. I have gone to Bonsai shops and bought stuff that I was lied to about more times than people from nurseries.

 

[Sunwyrm]

none of the 8 Asheville nurseries carry them.

I still stick by you should go ahead and get it, but this bothers me. Any of my local nurseries, if they don't have something are always willing to call other nurseries, even out of state, and ship me something I want.

I did it last year with my favorite witch hazel. They shipped it from an affiliated nursery in Pennsylvania and they even found me a good deal. When it arrived, I wasn't under any obligation to buy it (except from myself); they would just put it out to sell if I didn't like it, and try to find me another.

And there might not be leaves, but those branches and buds look perfectly healthy to me! Can't find a Bloodgood stick anywhere near that size at Depot for $89!

 

[Atom#28]

I didn't want to include the name of the nursery on here because the last time I did that, I got banned from said nursery and threatened with legal action.

WHAT?!? That's insane.

 

[penumbra]

I don't think you need any help deciding this.
If it is on your want list and you can afford it, screw what other people think about the price or the type of nursery you are dealing with. One thing is certain, if you procrastinate you lose.