roadside bonsai vendor. awesome experience.

[bonsaiBlake]

As many of you know I'm brand new to bonsai. My intrest turned to action a couple months ago when I ordered approx. 100 seeds of various species. It just so happens that last week there was a truck in a parking lot selling bonsai. My girlfriend found him first and she bought me my first bonsai. Yester day we drove by and he was still there so we stopped, and let me tell you the stuff this guy had was breathtaking. He even had a 100+ yr fukien tea (sadly a couple grand over my budget) it was stunning. Since there are no clubs or bonsai carrying nurseries in my area, this was my first opportunity to see real bonsai and penjin in person. I'll post pictures of what I procured and the other trees he had soon. He was fantastically helpful, despite our language barriors.I found out his family's nursery was in LA. He helped me pick trees that will tolerate the extremes of where I live. Informed me of the age of my trees, when to repot(next spring I'm excited) and even threw in some wire and fertilizer for me. I think he realized I wasnt some shmoe looking for a houseplants.

Over all a great first vendor experience. So if u ever see a big box truck with a huge yellow BONSAI sign. Stop by you might be surprised.

heres a pic of the penjin I picked up, and that beautiful Fukien tea. I know the penjin is hoaky looking but I love the tree. better pics tomorrow.

 

[jk_lewis]

You were very lucky. Most roadside vendors of "bonsai" sell essentially dead trees.

 

[Poink88]

I can understand the excitement.

The bonsai trucks I see around my area are the same...they have several nice trees to attract people (it is a bait) and sell cheap over priced "bonsai" that are most likely potted a week or so using cheap Home Depot stock. No matter which you choose (the low end or high end), you will pay so much more than anywhere else in my mind.

You will have much better luck at eBay IF you know what to look for. Me, I'd buy a $10 or $15 "S" shaped mallsai from Walmart, those are at least established and just need the soil replaced, a haircut and maybe a chop. They do have some amazing tree (for the price) if you get lucky. YMMV.

Most people see the "S" as pure faults and they usually are correct but I see those as "learning opportunities". Challenge yourself to improve it in anyway you can...if you lose it, you are just out $10 or $15 and have to keep a pot so it is not a total loss. If you experiment and airlayer or propagate via cuttings, your tree may become 2.

 

[johng]

I appreciate your excitement and remember my first Trunk Vendor experience 25 years ago...I was just as excited! There must be an army of these guys across the US...it seems that they pop up in nearly every state at one time or another.

Overtime I have learned that these guys are really not doing bonsai much of a favor...as other have pointed out above...but, don't let this step on your enthusiasm. There are many good bonsai vendors and teachers in the Northwest...now that you have the bug, you should probably spend some time seeking out some real bonsai nurseries.

Perhaps some of the members here from your neck woods will chime in and point you in the right direction. In the meantime, do some research and figure out what you need to do to successfully take care of your trees and then do it! That's the first step!

John

 

[bonsaiBlake]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I plan on going to some nurseries next time i make it back over to visit family in the vancouver/portland area.

Im excited about getting started in this hobby. And im glad i found this site, it has been an absolute wealth of helpful and inspirational information. and the memebers have been fantastic. thanks again guys