Home Depot Selling Curious Bonsais...

[vdeschamps]

I came across these guys at Home Depot yesterday:




They have Ficus, some Fukien Teas and others I couldn't identify. What I cannot fathom is why would the glue the little pebbles and the "moss" together?

If one wants to properly water their tree they would have to break down the glued pebbles.

Vincent

 

[rockm]

"What I cannot fathom is why would the glue the little pebbles and the "moss" together?"

Simple...Seals in the soil so it doesn't spill out, which makes them easier to ship and shelve...

 

[vdeschamps]

"What I cannot fathom is why would the glue the little pebbles and the "moss" together?"

Simple...Seals in the soil so it doesn't spill out, which makes them easier to ship and shelve...

Well I guess that makes sense doesn't it?

 

[lordy]

aside from being butt ugly (or, choose your own bit of anatomy), I cant imagine you would buy those things. You would indeed need to remove the glued on stones and repot into appropriate soil, but Rockm has told you precisely why they do it. Also, being shipped from who knows where in a cold truck during winter: Everyone who thinks the trees will be fine, raise your hand.


Bueller? Anyone?

 

[GrimLore]

We have been surprised 2-3 times but most often disappointed. If they are really inexpensive and you like one try it, just go in with a 50/50 chance and you won't be disappointed as much.
At Home Depot you can usually find a larger "tree" inexpensive that would be a far better investment like a Crab or Plum.

 

[rockm]

"Everyone who thinks the trees will be fine, raise your hand."

Hand raised... I think they are fine -- for what they are. I am guilty for having cut my teeth on a few of these. They taught me a lot without spending a whole lot of $$. I always thought the tubular rooted ficus were aweful, even when I started out. Still do.

They may not be terrific bonsai, BUT they are the cobblestones the path to better trees are paved with...

 

[Poink88]

"Everyone who thinks the trees will be fine, raise your hand."

Hand raised... I think they are fine -- for what they are. I am guilty for having cut my teeth on a few of these. They taught me a lot without spending a whole lot of $$. I always thought the tubular rooted ficus were aweful, even when I started out. Still do.

They may not be terrific bonsai, BUT they are the cobblestones the path to better trees are paved with...

Agreed! I also started with (a nice) fukien tea and couple of these ginseng ficus ...even inherited a couple from my in-laws so I have more now. Anyone need older ginseng ficus? LOL

 

[jk_lewis]

Well, they're labeled appropriately: HOUSEPLANTS

I hope you didn't buy one.

 

[vdeschamps]

We have been surprised 2-3 times but most often disappointed. If they are really inexpensive and you like one try it, just go in with a 50/50 chance and you won't be disappointed as much.
At Home Depot you can usually find a larger "tree" inexpensive that would be a far better investment like a Crab or Plum.

I was thinking the same. Home Depot was selling a pot with 4-5 scheffleras for $10. These guys repotted separately would make for nice, cheap bonsai stock.

 

[GrimLore]

Agreed! I also started with (a nice) fukien tea and couple of these ginseng ficus ...even inherited a couple from my in-laws so I have more now. Anyone need older ginseng ficus? LOL

How old? I am up for a challange PM me a pic and a price

 

[Stan Kengai]

I came across these guys at Home Depot yesterday:

View attachment 30910
View attachment 30911

They have Ficus, some Fukien Teas and others I couldn't identify. What I cannot fathom is why would the glue the little pebbles and the "moss" together?

If one wants to properly water their tree they would have to break down the glued pebbles.

Vincent

If you would have read the instructions, you would have seen that the proper way to water these plants is by submerging the pot (bottom watering). Everyone knows that's how you water mallsai

 

[Poink88]

How old? I am up for a challange PM me a pic and a price

Sadly postage won't make it worth it...even if I give it to you for free.

 

[Anthony]

Since the Chinese have many, many acres under trees, what you may be viewing is simply culling of the many [ and not selected for continued growing to become supplies for real bonsai stock or penjing.]

If you look at the weirdly curved fukien teas, sageretias and so on, age them in your mind, let the bark swallow the curves through growth and see what they fatten into.

Chinese know how to sell in bulk, waste nothing and the West get's purty little [ often already dying] BAnzai trees.
Good Day.
Anthony

 

[vdeschamps]

Well, they're labeled appropriately: HOUSEPLANTS

I hope you didn't buy one.

No I didn't

 

[Fallen_Reality]

While I wouldn't discourage anyone from trying ginseng ficus, I would like to say that in my experience, Walmart (The devil they are) occasionally gets tiger bark ficus in their garden sections. This is quite a bit better suited for bonsai. They have similar leaves to ginseng ficus, but don't have the tuber roots, and can look like a bonsai much quicker than a ginseng ficus.

I will admit I am trying to grow a ginseng ficus to look like a real bonsai, despite being told it is a fools errand.

 

[Poink88]

I will admit I am trying to grow a ginseng ficus to look like a real bonsai, despite being told it is a fools errand.

I usually use that as an incentive for myself to prove them wrong.

If you reduce the root system drastically (say just an inch to 2" high) so it becomes your base/nebari, I think it will work. Been planning on doing this on mine but haven't gotten to it yet.