There is a ton of discussion here on what type of material to purchase and big box trees tend to get a bad rap. So I thought I'd start a thread singing the praises of big box maples and see what the experience of others has been.
I have found that, with the exception of pricier trees grown specifically as bonsai, there is little difference between run of the mill "pre-bonsai" and a big box maple. There has simply been no root work or other bonsai-related work actually done to the trees. Much of what is sold as "pre-bonsai" is simply younger trees in potting soil - perhaps a worse version of the big box tree. The downsides of the big box trees are that they tend to be pot bound and have no lower branching. Neither of these have presented an actual issue. Roots will need to be hard pruned in any event and the tree repotted into bonsai soil. The pot bound issue is therefore solved rather quickly. I also purchase the big box tree to chop them down, so I am depending upon back budding and not existing branches (although that would obviously be better).
On the upsides, the price is right. Early season seems to be about $60, going down to $30 in the summer and then to $15 in the fall. I've purchased most of these at the $15 level and overwintered them, and the one other was "defective" so they gave it to me for like $15 as well. I get the sense that these trees are displaying survival of the fittest. No one is caring for these trees anywhere near the way we do. The ones that make it to the store tend to be tanks that aren't that easy to kill (and I seem to be trying). What draws my eye is the trunk - they are easily 1.5" in diameter and I've found larger. I will need to grow my "better stock" seedling for years to get them to this point. I question how much further along, if at all, I will be with the seedling once it has a 2" diameter. I could very well be wrong on this, but I believe in 5 years the big box tree will be further along than the quality, more expensive seedling.
I will also note that many of the nicest trees I've seen here had a good deal of grafting done to get the nebari and branching to that point. I plan to do the same on the big box trees.
I firmly believe that there is no substitute for practice and learning from mistakes. Although I don't like to lose any trees, I'd rather lose a cheaper tree than a more expensive one. I can buy a number of big box trees for the price of one quality seedling and practice to my heart's content without fear. As Drago said, "if he dies, he dies". But they haven't. And I now have more confidence to work on better material. There's only so many questions one can ask on Bonsai Nut - at some point you gotta just chop a trunk and see for yourself what happens.
Finally, it is a great source of additional material. Although I have not yet done this, many trees can be layered off the $15 big box investment. Not to mention all the cuttings that can be had (this I've done).
I have found that, with the exception of pricier trees grown specifically as bonsai, there is little difference between run of the mill "pre-bonsai" and a big box maple. There has simply been no root work or other bonsai-related work actually done to the trees. Much of what is sold as "pre-bonsai" is simply younger trees in potting soil - perhaps a worse version of the big box tree. The downsides of the big box trees are that they tend to be pot bound and have no lower branching. Neither of these have presented an actual issue. Roots will need to be hard pruned in any event and the tree repotted into bonsai soil. The pot bound issue is therefore solved rather quickly. I also purchase the big box tree to chop them down, so I am depending upon back budding and not existing branches (although that would obviously be better).
On the upsides, the price is right. Early season seems to be about $60, going down to $30 in the summer and then to $15 in the fall. I've purchased most of these at the $15 level and overwintered them, and the one other was "defective" so they gave it to me for like $15 as well. I get the sense that these trees are displaying survival of the fittest. No one is caring for these trees anywhere near the way we do. The ones that make it to the store tend to be tanks that aren't that easy to kill (and I seem to be trying). What draws my eye is the trunk - they are easily 1.5" in diameter and I've found larger. I will need to grow my "better stock" seedling for years to get them to this point. I question how much further along, if at all, I will be with the seedling once it has a 2" diameter. I could very well be wrong on this, but I believe in 5 years the big box tree will be further along than the quality, more expensive seedling.
I will also note that many of the nicest trees I've seen here had a good deal of grafting done to get the nebari and branching to that point. I plan to do the same on the big box trees.
I firmly believe that there is no substitute for practice and learning from mistakes. Although I don't like to lose any trees, I'd rather lose a cheaper tree than a more expensive one. I can buy a number of big box trees for the price of one quality seedling and practice to my heart's content without fear. As Drago said, "if he dies, he dies". But they haven't. And I now have more confidence to work on better material. There's only so many questions one can ask on Bonsai Nut - at some point you gotta just chop a trunk and see for yourself what happens.
Finally, it is a great source of additional material. Although I have not yet done this, many trees can be layered off the $15 big box investment. Not to mention all the cuttings that can be had (this I've done).