Brussel's Sale

[ml_work]

I will be headed up to Brussels Bonsai this Friday for the Sale on Saturday. I was looking at some pictures from last years trip (ok, I am excited about the trip) and thought I would share some of the pictures. These are just some of the thousands of trees they have, I take hundreds of pictures of single trees to look at when I get home. If you have never been there, it is worth the trip. It is about 5 hour drive for me, wish they were closer, but I would $pend too much time there if they were . Have my hopes for a JM Arakawa, but most of the time I come back with something different than I had planned.

 

[ml_work]

Brussels - More Pictures

Few more pictures

 

[Poink88]

Wow. I am envious.

Hope you find & get good ones!

 

[quietobserver]

I stopped by last week to browse. They have some nice toyo nishiki & a few pomegranates that were incredible. I bring those up only because I don't run across nice ones that often in the areas I frequent.

 

[sam]

hello ml

can you tell me what kind of junipers are in the big plastic pots 2 tables back of the bald cypress ?

best wishes, sam

 

[quietobserver]

hello ml

can you tell me what kind of junipers are in the big plastic pots 2 tables back of the bald cypress ?

best wishes, sam

Fyi, just trying to be helpful, if you go to their rendezvous workshop sign-up page the material being used for the workshops was being set out. Said they wound up with more material than needed for limited slots. Lots of kishu and ito with lotsa wood on them. 2, 3 " + caliper in varying heights.

 

[Poink88]

Lots of kishu and ito with lotsa wood on them. 2, 3 " + caliper in varying heights.

What I would give to get my hands on one of those...

 

[ml_work]

hello ml

can you tell me what kind of junipers are in the big plastic pots 2 tables back of the bald cypress ?

best wishes, sam

Sam, sorry but I do not remember what kind of junipers they are. I do remember looking at them, they were really Nice. Feel free to copy and paste the picture and send email to Brussel Martin, he will get you more pictures and price. Give them a call and tell them your email is coming. If you cannot get the picture, let me know I will email it to you.

Hope this Helps

 

[Beng]

I bought a tree from Brussels and the root system was poor to non existent. The tree did live but I think their soil mix is junk and I will never buy another tree from them again. I bought my tree from 3017smith on eBay.

Here's some pictures before when I pulled it out of Brussels muddy soil and after 2 years in pure kanuma. As you can see the root ball is solid and stays together now since it's all roots in the right soil mix. I was surprised it was even alive in Brussels soil and to think they said I could leave it in that pot for another year... Glad I knew better and didnt listen.

 

[jkd2572]

I'm thinking you bought the tree before they ever repotted it. They get those satzukis in and are quickly turned over. I copy their soil for all of my trees and have great results. I have also bought many trees in their mix and they did great. I have bought imports that they have not had long enough to repot and the soil is what it is.

 

[quietobserver]

I bought a tree from Brussels and the root system was poor to non existent. The tree did live buheir soil mix is junk and I will never buy another tree from them again. I bought my tree from 3017smith on eBay.

Here's some pictures before when I pulled it out of Brussels muddy soil and after 2 years in pure kanuma. As you can see the root ball is solid and stays together now since it's all roots in the right soil mix. I was surprised it was even alive in Brussels soil and to think they said I could leave it in that pot for another year... Glad I knew better and didnt listen.

I don't grow azaleas, but that's not the first complaint I've heard or read regarding azaleas not doing well in their mix.

edit to add: the black heavy soil (not their mix) sounds like an import that went from quarantine to sold like jdk said. I had a problem with an import with them 3 years ago but they worked with me on it. But living 15 minutes away it makes for an easier situation. Speaks highly of your horticulture skills though that you were able to rehab it!

 

[Beng]

I'm thinking you bought the tree before they ever repotted it. They get those satzukis in and are quickly turned over. I copy their soil for all of my trees and have great results. I have also bought many trees in their mix and they did great. I have bought imports that they have not had long enough to repot and the soil is what it is.

I emailed them about it, 3017smith told me he was with Brussels when I complained about the poor roots and that they'd been using this mix for years. It was in a black heavy soil mostly dirt. Trees with roots like this shouldn't be sold in my opinion. This could be a one time exp maybe their other tree are great this was the only tree I ever bought from them. It's a great little tree but I would have expected way more roots from a reputable seller.

 

[jkd2572]

Fair enough. The mix I have always got them in was about 65% decomposed granite, hydite, and 35% pine bark. I bought a white pine one time that had never been repotted by them that was a solid brick. A little root work and it's now super happy. Just saying I have had great customer service from the seller you listed and he was always quick to solve any problem I had. I have had about two problems in 55 transactions with him. They were fixed fast. Not to downplay your experience, but I just want to tell people my experiences, which have been very positive. I just don't want people to limit themselves. I appreciate your input and your experience.

 

[Beng]

Fair enough. The mix I have always got them in was about 65% decomposed granite, hydite, and 35% pine bark. I bought a white pine one time that had never been repotted by them that was a solid brick. A little root work and it's now super happy. Just saying I have had great customer service from the seller you listed and he was always quick to solve any problem I had. I have had about two problems in 55 transactions with him. They were fixed fast. Not to downplay your experience, but I just want to tell people my experiences, which have been very positive. I just don't want people to limit themselves. I appreciate your input and your experience.

That definitely wasn't the mix mine was in, i'd say it was 80% or more decomposed bark and dirt and maybe 10% haydite and 10% granite. Maybe they used a bad batch as they had many satsuki on ebay at that time. Maybe they rushed things with too many trees coming in. Maybe they released them too early. Maybe someone who didn't know what they were doing put it in the wrong mix. Since I emailed him after I had repotted it in pure Kanuma when he suggested i leave it in the dirt the option wasn't there to return the tree. As you know you can't ship a just potted tree like that back to a seller it would certainly die. It shouldn't have been sold like it was in the first place and theres no way I could have known the roots would be that poor when it was removed from it's pot.

We agreed that I'd see how it fared and that's exactly what I did it bounced back about a year or so later. Most of the first year it sulked till fall then sprouted new growth. I'm happy it lived I like the tree it's a unique variety i'd otherwise not have been able to aquire. 3017 wasn't a jerk at all, I just wouldn't buy from him again when he sold me a tree with roots like that, It just shows bad judgement and pre-release care to me. I do agree that we will all have our own exp, yours sound positive and I hope others are also positive. You don't see a hundred people posting bad things like with the growing grounds so i'm sure there are more good exp with them out there after all they are quite successful.

 

[Poink88]

My very first bonsai was bought from 3017smith of eBay (for a steal) and when it arrived it had critters in it. IIRC, 2 roaches and some snails. Turned me off big time but the tree is healthy and the soil is good. Pot is cheap and cracked (you cannot see but can hear if you tap it). Shipping and packing was great too.

All in all I am happy with my purchase but I expect more from them re: the pests. Makes me question the effectiveness of the quarantine procedure. Hmmm

 

[Don Blackmond]

Regarding the soil/satsuki discussion: imported satsuki arrive bare root and there can be no soil or they don't make it through customs.

 

[Adair M]

Don is correct. Brussel's puts the soil on their trees.

Their soil is awful.

Remember what their goal is: keep the tree alive until it sells. As cheaply as possible. They have thousands of trees. Under greenhouses and sprinkler systems. No one can check every tree, every day. So, they use a mix that retains water because they can't be sure the sprinklers will hit every day. Stock shifts around.

Their soil is not optimized for long term health, or nebari development.

So, if you know a tree is sourced from Brussel's, repot as soon as practical. If it is a conifer, do a "half bare root" repot. And do the other half next time.

I don't want to give the impression that Brussel's is intentionally cheating the bonsai community. They have performed a great service to us all by importing trees from Japan. These come in bare root, and are greatly stressed. Brussel's has to quarantine them for two years before he can sell them. So, he's figured out how to 1) keep them alive and 2) do it as cheaply as possible, with minimum maintenance (or ongoing care). But it does not mean that it is the best soil for the serious bonsai enthusiast.

 

[horibonsai]

Sam,
The juniper in the big pots are Prostrada.