Bonsai Nursery Rant (no names)

[Bonsai_hope]

I’ve been doing Bonsai for a few years and last month my well-meaning brother sent me a birthday gift of two bonsai. It was from a commercial seller who puts “bonsai” in nice pots for the general public but not something anyone serious would buy. Nonetheless it was a thoughtful gift. He purchased something called a Barbados Cherry and a Ginko Bilbao. They looked nice for a few weeks when the Ginko started drooping. I chalked it up as a loss and started thinking about where I could use the glazed pot it came in. I unpotted it and was horrified that there was a thin layer of what looks like bonsai soil over nursery potting soil. The soil was sopping wet and most of the roots seemed dead. I figured I had nothing to lose by removing all the wilted leaves and cutting back to the few live roots and repotting it in my normal mix. I’m interested in seeing if I can save it.

I’m so angry that this vendor with the word bonsai in its name would ship a tree like this. It goes against everything I’ve learned over the past few years.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

If they looked nice for a few weeks, then declined…it may not be entirely the nursery to blame. Bonsai can be very challenging.

 

[Bonsai_hope]

If they looked nice for a few weeks, then declined…it may not be entirely the nursery to blame. Bonsai can be very challenging.

Oh I know, but when I unpotted it and saw the sopping wet soil and rotting roots I think I have the culprit.

 

[shohin_branches]

These mass produced bonsai are intentionally disposable. It's similar to how Venus Flytraps are tissue cultured at a large scale and then put in an environment that will allow it to just survive transport but not live long term. Then poor information is given to the purchaser and you end up with low success rate. Especially for new trees where I'm unsure of how well they're draining I like to use a bamboo skewer to check if they need water before watering.

At least you still have a pot!

 

[Ruddigger]

Eastern Leaf?

 

[Cajunrider]

I’ve been doing Bonsai for a few years and last month my well-meaning brother sent me a birthday gift of two bonsai. It was from a commercial seller who puts “bonsai” in nice pots for the general public but not something anyone serious would buy. Nonetheless it was a thoughtful gift. He purchased something called a Barbados Cherry and a Ginko Bilbao. They looked nice for a few weeks when the Ginko started drooping. I chalked it up as a loss and started thinking about where I could use the glazed pot it came in. I unpotted it and was horrified that there was a thin layer of what looks like bonsai soil over nursery potting soil. The soil was sopping wet and most of the roots seemed dead. I figured I had nothing to lose by removing all the wilted leaves and cutting back to the few live roots and repotting it in my normal mix. I’m interested in seeing if I can save it.

I’m so angry that this vendor with the word bonsai in its name would ship a tree like this. It goes against everything I’ve learned over the past few years.

Those companies are banking on the fact that the majority of people treat the bonsai they sell as extended life flower/decoration display, not meant for long duration keeping.

 

[Michael P]

The perpetrator of crimes like this must be identified!

 

[Nybonsai12]

 

[Bonsai_hope]

The perpetrator of crimes like this must be identified!

I won’t say it in public. I don’t have enough experience with this vendor to say this is the way they do business. All I know is this was the case with this Ginko. DM me and we can chat there.

 

[Bonsai_hope]

Eastern Leaf?

I have another ginkgo with a much larger leaf. This was a small leaf variety.

 

[Wulfskaar]

I got a dwarf pomegranate from one of these places.

It was obviously plopped into a bonsai pot, with the rootball in dirt, and then some bonsai soil sprinkled on top.

I just have to water it less until next spring when I'll do a proper repot.

 

[Bonsai_hope]

I got a dwarf pomegranate from one of these places.

It was obviously plopped into a bonsai pot, with the rootball in dirt, and then some bonsai soil sprinkled on top.

I just have to water it less until next spring when I'll do a

 

[Bonsai_hope]

Sounds similar. I’m smarter now.

 

[leatherback]

It was from a commercial seller who puts “bonsai” in nice pots for the general public but not something anyone serious would buy.

If you know this, you also know you have to check the substrate and the roots as soon as you get a plant from that place.

In fact, I would say that the substrate the plant was in was actually good if a store is selling to the general public, who have no clue about growing bonsai, let along will water them daily and fully. For general potted plant sales open coarse bonsai substrate is a bad idea.

 

[Cajunrider]

If you know this, you also know you have to check the substrate and the roots as soon as you get a plant from that place.

In fact, I would say that the substrate the plant was in was actually good if a store is selling to the general public, who have no clue about growing bonsai, let along will water them daily and fully. For general potted plant sales open coarse bonsai substrate is a bad idea.

Agree. At the big box stores like Home Depot or Lowe’s or Walmart, a bonsai with well drained substrate will die of thirst.