A better mallsai

[Sansokuu]

That’s right, mallsai! You have seen them everywhere. Gravel topped little junipers in generic pots sold out of parking lots, shopping centers, garden centers. People who might be interested in bonsai buy them, kill them, and never give bonsai another thought.

This Is A Problem.

Why?

Bonsai as we all know is an incredibly small and niche hobby in the United States (I live in Oregon so this is my perspective on it).

Mallsai does not help bring people into the hobby, once they kill this cool little tree they bought, they lose interest.

Nao gave a recent talk on bonsai pots that touched on the accessibility to this hobby/art. In Japan you can buy amazing styled bonsai at the local hardware store for $10 usd. Pots are plentiful. Material also. Even japanese tv will have cute little shows on how to care for them. It is as ubiquitous in Japan as peanut butter and jelly stateside. Not to mention, Japan, being a smaller country has pretty consistent weather across the board (other than the extremes of being more tropical in the very far south and heavy snow in the very north).

However, bonsai in the U.S. seems to have a high bar of entry. People are enamored by Ryan Neil and the styled trees of the pros and serious enthusiasts here and there. The cost for these trees start in the triple to 5 digits. Handmade bonsai pots have buy it for life pricetags. Akadama is being sold at retail for $45 a bag. Average people can’t afford this.

So, enter the mallsai.

If you could pick 6 species to represent the growing climates of this ridiculously large country eg the pacific northwest (hot dry summers, cold wet but rare freeze winters), Southern California (No real winters year round sun) etc that are beginner hardy with some very simple instructions, what would they be and why? No snobbery please, I am open to hearing about ficus and portalucaria (whatever the spelling is, the toddler is using me as a pillow so cut me some slack )

 

[rockm]

“Outdoor” specie east/southeastern U.S. to east Texas and Midwest— cedar elm. Underused species that excels as a bonsai subject. Outperforms Chinese Elm and many native elm species. Not readily available but should be

Bald cypress. Unnusual form naturally but very adaptable. Not easy to kill can’t be overwatered

Any apple cultivar crab apple in particular. Insect and fungal magnets but hardy fast growing and charming with fruit and fall color. Very cold hardy

Boxwood. Mature specimen quality yard trees are a dime a dozen around here and many places in the middle Atlantic states. Hardy and tough once acclimatized to pots

Trident and Amur maple. Both tough fast growing (Amur is invasive in some parts). Can take heavy root and top pruning and bad conditions

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Chinese elm... easiest tree to keep alive, puts up with all sorts of abuse, can be brought back from near-death experiences, easy to fix problems.

Procumbens juniper... probably hardiest conifer, grows in a naturally weeping style, looks like a bonsai to many people without any styling.

Ficus... as long as you know it's a tropical, and can provide winter protection where needed, it is very hardy, easy to maintain, and responds well to container culture.

 

[rockm]

That’s right, mallsai! You have seen them everywhere. Gravel topped little junipers in generic pots sold out of parking lots, shopping centers, garden centers. People who might be interested in bonsai buy them, kill them, and never give bonsai another thought.

This Is A Problem.

Why?

Bonsai as we all know is an incredibly small and niche hobby in the United States (I live in Oregon so this is my perspective on it).

Mallsai does not help bring people into the hobby, once they kill this cool little tree they bought, they lose interest.

Nao gave a recent talk on bonsai pots that touched on the accessibility to this hobby/art. In Japan you can buy amazing styled bonsai at the local hardware store for $10 usd. Pots are plentiful. Material also. Even japanese tv will have cute little shows on how to care for them. It is as ubiquitous in Japan as peanut butter and jelly stateside. Not to mention, Japan, being a smaller country has pretty consistent weather across the board (other than the extremes of being more tropical in the very far south and heavy snow in the very north).

However, bonsai in the U.S. seems to have a high bar of entry. People are enamored by Ryan Neil and the styled trees of the pros and serious enthusiasts here and there. The cost for these trees start in the triple to 5 digits. Handmade bonsai pots have buy it for life pricetags. Akadama is being sold at retail for $45 a bag. Average people can’t afford this.

So, enter the mallsai.

If you could pick 6 species to represent the growing climates of this ridiculously large country eg the pacific northwest (hot dry summers, cold wet but rare freeze winters), Southern California (No real winters year round sun) etc that are beginner hardy with some very simple instructions, what would they be and why? No snobbery please, I am open to hearing about ficus and portalucaria (whatever the spelling is, the toddler is using me as a pillow so cut me some slack )

At a recent show saw APL (akadama pumice and lava) mix for $60 for mostly a two quart bag maybe a little larger. I almost picked up one of those small bags and smacked that vendor upside his head. Sorry. Thats gouging.

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

I hesitate a bit to answer, as my experience is minimal. But the high desert needs representation.

(Honey) Mesquite. Thrives in very dry conditions. Natural movement in trunks and branches. Needs no winter protection. Smooth, graceful bark matures into a more rugged, aged appearance. Huge taproot could be an issue (as stated, my experience is minimal), and may be a hindrance to forming good nebari. Also, I'm not sure how conducive the compound leaves are for bonsai culture. Watch out for very strong, rigid thorns. They can be a feature that you love to look at and hate to work around.

Desert Willow. Loves dry conditions. Naturally graceful movement on trunks with a mostly smooth gray bark. Small, narrow leaves are an attractive mid-green, and seem ideal for bonsai culture. It flowers all season white, pink, purple, or even maroon, depending on cultivar. Related to the Catalpa, its similar flowers produce fluffy seeds in long pods.

Pomegranate. They grow all over town, so they shouldn't need much winter protection, if any. A Mediterranean native, they love a warm (or hot, in this area), dry climate

Mexican Buckeye. This Post in thread 'Native to the Northern Chihuahua Desert' https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/native-to-the-northern-chihuahua-desert.65388/post-1179640 is easier than explaining why it's a great candidate, except for the possibility of the compound leaves being less than ideal for bonsai culture.

 

[RJG2]

Let's say, larch for the frozen North.

 

[leatherback]

Has Yew been mentioned? Or is your cold-winter region too cold?

 

[Hartinez]

I hesitate a bit to answer, as my experience is minimal. But the high desert needs representation.

(Honey) Mesquite. Thrives in very dry conditions. Natural movement in trunks and branches. Needs no winter protection. Smooth, graceful bark matures into a more rugged, aged appearance. Huge taproot could be an issue (as stated, my experience is minimal), and may be a hindrance to forming good nebari. Also, I'm not sure how conducive the compound leaves are for bonsai culture. Watch out for very strong, rigid thorns. They can be a feature that you love to look at and hate to work around.

Desert Willow. Loves dry conditions. Naturally graceful movement on trunks with a mostly smooth gray bark. Small, narrow leaves are an attractive mid-green, and seem ideal for bonsai culture. It flowers all season white, pink, purple, or even maroon, depending on cultivar. Related to the Catalpa, its similar flowers produce fluffy seeds in long pods.

Pomegranate. They grow all over town, so they shouldn't need much winter protection, if any. A Mediterranean native, they love a warm (or hot, in this area), dry climate

Mexican Buckeye. This Post in thread 'Native to the Northern Chihuahua Desert' https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/native-to-the-northern-chihuahua-desert.65388/post-1179640 is easier than explaining why it's a great candidate, except for the possibility of the compound leaves being less than ideal for bonsai culture.

elm (pick a variety), juniper (pick a variety), black pine, ficus (pick a variety), portulacaria. All terribly reliable here in Abq, and barring just the absolute worst of water qualities, they could all easily be grown where you are as well. Until more is done to understand the habits of what you listed there's no way these could be sold in great confidence of mildly quality results, let alone getting them established in the first place.

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

Until more is done to understand the habits of what you listed there's no way these could be sold in great confidence of mildly quality results, let alone getting them established in the first place.

Fair point. Although I have pretty high confidence in Desert Willow, and pomegranate is not especially uncommon as bonsai. Exactly why I'm working with these species. I think they have a lot of potential, but you're right, they're mostly unknowns.
Like I said, I lack experience with those you named, except for my 0% success with elm and ficus. I do want to try JBP soon. I need to start my pine game.

 

[Ply]

Ficus (e.g. tiger bark/microcarpa or willow leaf)

The grow well in a wide range of climates. Rather forgiving in terms of watering, multiple 'insults' possible within one season. You can cut the roots back hard, trunk chop them hard, fully defoliate them. Wiring sets quickly. They propagate super easily and quickly. Can be grown both outdoors and indoors (although preferably at least partially outdoors in summer).

They have a bad rep for some because of the many unappealingly styled mallsai. But when starting fresh and applying proper bonsai techniques Ficus are a great species with many great qualities.

 

[JoeWilson]

I think anything that could be considered beginner-friendly needs to be able to survive indoors. Because let's face it, what do absolute beginners think a bonsai is? A tree grown in a pot on their coffee table. And why do their trees die? Because they grow outdoor plants indoors. This is how I killed my first juniper, that's for sure.

So I would be looking at ficus, jade, umbrella tree, and other succulents and caudiciforms like bursera, etc.

Anything that has to be grown in a pot outside, year-round, I would consider intermediate, more so than beginner.

 

[blackadam]

to be able to survive indoors

*without growboxes, humidity control and external lights

 

[shohin_branches]

Has Yew been mentioned? Or is your cold-winter region too cold?

I think yew would be good since they are cheap and plentiful.

I would also recommend Eastern White Cedar because they're tough to kill and they're cheap. They also root easily from cuttings so you can make a lot of them from one shrub.

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

Would it be more likely to encourage new participants if they were marketed more accurately? A big tag or sign :
THIS IS AN OUTDOOR TREE. IT SHOULD BE GROWN OUTSIDE.
And include a fairly detailed instruction pamphlet or tract. That way, unknowing buyers have a better idea what to expect.

 

[leatherback]

Would it be more likely to encourage new participants if they were marketed more accurately? A big tag or sign :
THIS IS AN OUTDOOR TREE. IT SHOULD BE GROWN OUTSIDE.
And include a fairly detailed instruction pamphlet or tract. That way, unknowing buyers have a better idea what to expect.

or would fewer people buy them and thus not get triggered into learning more?

 

[Sansokuu]

At a recent show saw APL (akadama pumice and lava) mix for $60 for mostly a two quart bag maybe a little larger. I almost picked up one of those small bags and smacked that vendor upside his head. Sorry. Thats gouging.

These are middlemen resellers - I don’t think many people buy direct from Japan, Jonas Dupuich, The Ridgeways, I believe most sellers buy from them and mark them way up to be worth selling. As someone that has bought a pallet from Jonas, a bag of akadama can average $27 ‘wholesale’ from him, Me marking them up to $30-35 is more of a favor to the people who join in on the order. Businesses try to at least markup 50% to make it worth it. Have I mentioned akadama is $2 for a big bag in japan, and this was before the yen dropped?

Would it be more likely to encourage new participants if they were marketed more accurately? A big tag or sign :
THIS IS AN OUTDOOR TREE. IT SHOULD BE GROWN OUTSIDE.
And include a fairly detailed instruction pamphlet or tract. That way, unknowing buyers have a better idea what to expect.

it could be a business move not to do that. They kill it, in theory they get another. How about some bonsai vigilante action? Slapping those stickers on bonsai in nurseries?

 

[Sansokuu]

I hesitate a bit to answer, as my experience is minimal. But the high desert needs representation.

(Honey) Mesquite. Thrives in very dry conditions. Natural movement in trunks and branches. Needs no winter protection. Smooth, graceful bark matures into a more rugged, aged appearance. Huge taproot could be an issue (as stated, my experience is minimal), and may be a hindrance to forming good nebari. Also, I'm not sure how conducive the compound leaves are for bonsai culture. Watch out for very strong, rigid thorns. They can be a feature that you love to look at and hate to work around.

Desert Willow. Loves dry conditions. Naturally graceful movement on trunks with a mostly smooth gray bark. Small, narrow leaves are an attractive mid-green, and seem ideal for bonsai culture. It flowers all season white, pink, purple, or even maroon, depending on cultivar. Related to the Catalpa, its similar flowers produce fluffy seeds in long pods.

Pomegranate. They grow all over town, so they shouldn't need much winter protection, if any. A Mediterranean native, they love a warm (or hot, in this area), dry climate

Mexican Buckeye. This Post in thread 'Native to the Northern Chihuahua Desert' https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/native-to-the-northern-chihuahua-desert.65388/post-1179640 is easier than explaining why it's a great candidate, except for the possibility of the compound leaves being less than ideal for bonsai culture.

I love these suggestions. There is a bonsai club out in Phoenix and I do wonder what they can even keep out there with typical 115F summers

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

I love these suggestions. There is a bonsai club out in Phoenix and I do wonder what they can even keep out there with typical 115F summers

From the landscape trees I've seen during my visits to Tucson and Phoenix, I would be interested to see Palo Verde bonsai. There are also a good number of some species of Eucalyptus planted near freeway exits, so maybe that would be a possible genus to consider in extreme heat conditions. Are you located in a desert region?

 

[leatherback]

APL (akadama pumice and lava) mix for $60 for mostly a two quart bag maybe a little larger.

Every time I hear prices there I keep wondering what is going on.
Not sure what a quart is though. Quarts of what?

17 litre is about 4 1/2 gallon:

SIEVED SUBSTRATES - IBUKI Studio Bonsai & Ceramics

IBUKI Bonsai Sieved Substrate (pumice/bims, akadama, lava, zeolite/chabasai) TAMIZADA GESIEBT SETACCIATO TAMISÉ PRZESIANE SIEVED Substrates IBUKI IBUKI bonsai SIEVED Substrates (17l bags): Sieved SINGLES (17l bags): – Pumice (bims) – Lava – Zeolite – Akadama Chose a few different...

ibuki-shop.com

 

[JoeWilson]

Every time I hear prices there I keep wondering what is going on.
Not sure what a quart is though. Quarts of what?

17 litre is about 4 1/2 gallon:

SIEVED SUBSTRATES - IBUKI Studio Bonsai & Ceramics

IBUKI Bonsai Sieved Substrate (pumice/bims, akadama, lava, zeolite/chabasai) TAMIZADA GESIEBT SETACCIATO TAMISÉ PRZESIANE SIEVED Substrates IBUKI IBUKI bonsai SIEVED Substrates (17l bags): Sieved SINGLES (17l bags): – Pumice (bims) – Lava – Zeolite – Akadama Chose a few different...

ibuki-shop.com

View attachment 609349

A quart is quarter gallon, or about a liter. Please invade us and implement the metric system already. We'll keep fahrenheit, though.

You can get a 2 quart bag of 1:1:1 mix for about $17 on Amazon. That's high too, you can buy the individual components for a lot less. Generally, the small bags of pre-mixed stuff are a bad value.