Paying $2000 for this Shishigashira... big brain or dumb af?

[Veebs]

My plan would be to air layer it into little trees to my heart's content. Obviously the best stuff would come at the beginning, but then each season there's a ton of additional potential.

It is about 10 ft tall, trunk is probably about 5" though I'm not planning anything for the main tree for a long time from now. The tips have some beautiful ramification and would make fantastic little trees right away.

But dayum.... $2000.

I gotta give it up to the guy though... his yard is a tragedy, he can barely walk from his surgeries, he wants to sell this thing to pay for an upcoming surgery, and he's been trying to sell this tree for about a year, but he will NOT budge on price. I mean, good for him for sticking to his principles?

 

[vancehanna]

I'd just ask him if you could airlayer a few branches and 'how much' does he want for such? (Personally I'd not pay any more than $25 an airlayer to do it...cuz yah never know with the airlayer...if it will take).

 

[Veebs]

I'd just ask him if you could airlayer a few branches and 'how much' does he want for such? (Personally I'd not pay any more than $25 an airlayer to do it...cuz yah never know with the airlayer...if it will take).

Yeah, he's not game for that.

 

[Kanorin]

Seems like way too much to spend on an airlayering project. Reach out to Brussels - when I was down there last year they had a bunch of Shishigashira for sale and several more airlayer projects hanging off a mother tree.

 

[leatherback]

I do not see a lot of value there to be honest. Yes, it is fat but..

 

[Wulfskaar]

Maybe if you were going to keep it as a yard tree, and the cost includes digging it up, transporting, and replanting.

I got mine from Lowes for $129. Yes, it would take a decade or two to get that large, but at least you'll save a grip of cash.

 

[vancehanna]

Again, I’d go with what leatherback pointed out. Not really worth much of a potensai.

 

[River's Edge]

My plan would be to air layer it into little trees to my heart's content. Obviously the best stuff would come at the beginning, but then each season there's a ton of additional potential.

It is about 10 ft tall, trunk is probably about 5" though I'm not planning anything for the main tree for a long time from now. The tips have some beautiful ramification and would make fantastic little trees right away.

But dayum.... $2000.

I gotta give it up to the guy though... his yard is a tragedy, he can barely walk from his surgeries, he wants to sell this thing to pay for an upcoming surgery, and he's been trying to sell this tree for about a year, but he will NOT budge on price. I mean, good for him for sticking to his principles?

View attachment 571199 View attachment 571200

I see a large gangly landscape tree that has little sign of value for Bonsai. Given the work involved in trying to complete your plan I would pass if the price were $150.00. Just another perspective.

 

[yenling83]

I think that price seems a bit steep. I'm sure you can find another Shi Shi landscape tree to air layer for much less with same potential.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

These are sold in local nurseries for about 50-80 euros each, for about a meter tall trees.
So calculating if you're getting your money's worth, would be 20 or so air layers.

I would give this a pass. Simply because it's not worth the trouble.

 

[namnhi]

I'll pay for 300 or 400.00 but no more than that.

 

[Cadillactaste]

You could seriously buy a nice bonsai for that kind of cash. Just saying...

 

[Veebs]

Maybe if you were going to keep it as a yard tree, and the cost includes digging it up, transporting, and replanting.

I got mine from Lowes for $129. Yes, it would take a decade or two to get that large, but at least you'll save a grip of cash.

You got a Shishigashira from Lowes??

 

[dbonsaiw]

Sounds expensive. I’d pass.

 

[Wulfskaar]

You got a Shishigashira from Lowes??

I got it as a gift but it came from Lowes. Here it is...

https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/wulfskaars-shishigashira-maple-lions-head.50792/

I tried 2 air layers and one worked after nearly a year. The main tree has a bad graft, so I'm not sure what to do with it other than take air layers. Maybe one day I'll be brave enough to try a ground layer.

 

[WEI]

dumb af, to answer your question

 

[brentwood]

Factor this in, it's a very slow tree to layer - you will be waiting a while before you have trees to sell from it.

B

 

[pmalelis]

Ill go with dumb AF lol

 

[Dav4]

Dumb AF x 3... the tribe has spoken!

Truthfully, I'm not sure what the tree is worth but definitely not 2k, and never mind the fact you're gonna use it as a mother tree for sir layering. I'd be looking for smaller, way cheaper material to plant in the yard, THEN use it for layering material once established.

 

[doc spring _work]

I understand his pricing based on the nursery industry, we call those lions Maine Japanese Maples at the nursery I was working at, lovely trees but it was 500 dollars for a very small one (3ft) so I never bought one...

Id honestly pass on it unless he'd let you pay less to come collect an air layer