So this happened, and I need your help!

[hemmy]

Not only is Monrovia big, but they deal in a lot of premium cultivars and rare plants and trees. Big landscape specimens, etc. They have their own branded nursery pots so if you buy a Monrovia tree it comes in a green pot with their brand name wrapped around it.

Drool factor x10

http://www.monrovia.com/about-us/history/

Interesting:

"Monrovia is the first grower to add mycorrhizae to our 42 nursery soil blends."

And I have to stop throwing those ground lemon and limes away and get the little lady juicing! :

. . .the use of citric acid as a pH water conditioner. . ."

 

[Potawatomi13]

Not only is Monrovia big, but they deal in a lot of premium cultivars and rare plants and trees.

Also charge way too much for most all plants. Be aware your tree is grafted. Plant in yard and leave there for best results.

 

[Adair M]

Read and watch videos lol strive for optimal health.

I honestly have no clue and due to planning a move within the next year to year and a half I'm really not sure.

Leaning towards slip-potting into a bigger container, leaving that bottom area alone until my knowledge and comfort level gap narrows a bit lol and possible air layer on a few of the smaller branches at the top as mentioned by @Joe Shmo

Johnathan, I specialize in JBP. I know you're excited about your pine, but don't waste your time trying to air layer this. First, JBP are difficult to air layer. Second, as I've already said, this cultivar is not the best bonsai material. Even if it works, then you'll just have more poor material!

Really.

If you want something good to work with, contact Jonas at www.bonsaitonight.com. And tell him Adair sent you!

 

[sorce]

Also charge way too much for most all plants. Be aware your tree is grafted. Plant in yard and leave there for best results.

Absolutely.

I have a pretty strict nursery hunt process....
I haven't looked at anything Monrovia for a couple years.

Not just price....

But they seem to grow stuff too well for landscaping....
Which makes most of them suck for us.

It's so bad...when I See a Monrovia pot on here...my first thought is....

Damn!

At least those pots are easy to identify!

Sorce

 

[Johnathan]

Thanks for the sound advice guys. Hirts to hear but I know its all backed by expierence, so thabk you all for the brutal homest truth lol

Okay so now what to do with the tree? I like the idea of it as a "Japanese Garden" someone mentioned, but I will be moving soon, so can't immediately plant in the yard, maybe not for another year or so... so any suggestions on how to possibly improve this tree for future landscape growth? Just slip into a bigger container and let just let it do its own thing?

 

[watchndsky]

Thanks for the sound advice guys. Hirts to hear but I know its all backed by expierence, so thabk you all for the brutal homest truth lol

Okay so now what to do with the tree? I like the idea of it as a "Japanese Garden" someone mentioned, but I will be moving soon, so can't immediately plant in the yard, maybe not for another year or so... so any suggestions on how to possibly improve this tree for future landscape growth? Just slip into a bigger container and let just let it do its own thing?

use it learn jbp techniques before you drop any money on "something good to work with".

its better to learn on something cheap in my opinion

 

[Adair M]

Thanks for the sound advice guys. Hirts to hear but I know its all backed by expierence, so thabk you all for the brutal homest truth lol

Okay so now what to do with the tree? I like the idea of it as a "Japanese Garden" someone mentioned, but I will be moving soon, so can't immediately plant in the yard, maybe not for another year or so... so any suggestions on how to possibly improve this tree for future landscape growth? Just slip into a bigger container and let just let it do its own thing?

Wow! How refreshing for someone to listen to good advice! Most fight it.

Personally, I would take it back for a refund. You won't learn good JBP techniques with this tree because it doesn't have the features we like to see with JBP! Kinda like trying to learn to sail in a motorboat! Yeah, they both float, but...

Meanwhile, begin a search for better material. (That's truely the hardest thing to learn about bonsai!). There auctions on Facebook, you can look at eBay, and other online retailers. But the best way is in person at a bonsai shop. Or by networking by joining a club. (Although, I can personally vouch for Jonas at BonsaiTonight!)

 

[VAFisher]

If you can use it at your new place and don't mind moving it then I wouldn't take it back. Leave it in the pot, water and fertilize and then plant it in the yard at your new house. Let it grow into this.

 

[Johnathan]

Unfortunately @Adair M there was no refunds on this "discounted" materials. I'm considering trying to give it back and just get store credit. I believe I saw some maples and decently large sized chinese elms for under $50

@VAFisher thats exactly what I will do if they won't allow me the exchange. I

 

[Johnathan]

So Monrovia bad... Got it.

What about Seiryu Maples and Seiju Elm from Iseli Nursery?

 

[Nybonsai12]

Johnathan, I specialize in JBP. I know you're excited about your pine, but don't waste your time trying to air layer this. First, JBP are difficult to air layer. Second, as I've already said, this cultivar is not the best bonsai material. Even if it works, then you'll just have more poor material!

Really.

If you want something good to work with, contact Jonas at www.bonsaitonight.com. And tell him Adair sent you!

I agree with Adair's first point about not wasting your time on this tree. You want a pre-bonsai starter black pine to learn how to keep it alive and learn some techniques. You may find this on the facebook auction sites or a Muranaka tree from Ebay.

Jonas does have nice material, most of which I believe he's grown himself, but unless he's changed what he sells, I'm fairly certain it will be several hundred dollars if not more. That's a quick way for a noob to lose several hundred dollars. I've been there and done that and it stings!!

 

[Johnathan]

Okay so I went to the nursery, they agreed to do an exchange. I didn't realize just how many things were in green pots until I'm actually looking for green pots. It was like a sea of green Monrovia. The nursery must have a great relationship with them.

Anyway after eliminating the green pots and deciding against the Seiryu Maples because I fear those lace leaves would fry in the upcomimg OKC summer and the lack of movement or taper on the $65 Seiju Elms (Not to mention having to cough up another $15 )

I decided to go with a 1 gallon Shimpaku and a Mugo Pine. ACTUALLY was about to get cash back when I decided I'd grab a couple marigolds (after all they started all of this)

After paying out my 33 cents I owed them I'm mixed on how I feel about the last 2 days but.... the deed is done.

Thank you everyone. Gonna read up on Vance info on and probably slip the Shimpaku into a pool basket..... Atlesst I have this Redbud Compost tp pot stuff in

 

[Adair M]

You don't need to put the shimpaku in a pond basket. That's for Pines. Junipers form fibrous roots all by themselves.

 

[Johnathan]

You don't need to put the shimpaku in a pond basket. That's for Pines. Junipers form fibrous roots all by themselves.

So you're saying pond basket the Mugo instead?

 

[Johnathan]

So you're saying pond basket the Mugo instead?

No @Adair M dont tell me!! I will read the older threads and Mugo compiled resources here

 

[Adair M]

No @Adair M dont tell me!! I will read the older threads and Mugo compiled resources here

The whole colander thing came about because of a guy in Japan who was growing JBP from seed, and he wanted to make Shohin bonsai. So, the colander allowed him to keep the root system close to the trunk because roots didn't circle the pot (colander), the backbudded instead. This got published in Bonsai Today #20, and republished in the Master's series book on Pines.

Well, everyone has jumped on this and now thinks everything should be grown in colanders. Colanders have their place, but junipers grow different roots than pine. They won't hurt a Juniper, but you will have to water much more often.

You will see pond baskets and colanders in Boon's garden, but only for Pines.

 

[M. Frary]

You will see pond baskets and colanders in Boon's garden, but only for Pines.

You will see every kind of tree in them here.

 

[Johnathan]

@Adair M and @M. Frary thanks for the info guys. I wanted to eventually get everything into pond baskets, but with the 100 degree days on the way and not being able to water between 6am - 6pm it might not be such a good idea given the chance to dry out.

 

[sorce]

@Adair M and @M. Frary thanks for the info guys. I wanted to eventually get everything into pond baskets, but with the 100 degree days on the way and not being able to water between 6am - 6pm it might not be such a good idea given the chance to dry out.

I used to work that schedule.
With sphagnum topper and 8822(similar) you can water again evening OK.
Only the most thirsty slightly wilt.

Of colanders....

Just watched that free Mirai Video....

Health = balance of water and oxygen!

For any tree!

A colander is a tool to accomplish this balance.
Always? Not necessarily.

Detrimental? Only if you don't water!

Sorce

 

[Johnathan]

I used to work that schedule.
With sphagnum topper and 8822(similar) you can water again evening OK.
Only the most thirsty slightly wilt.

Of colanders....

Just watched that free Mirai Video....

Health = balance of water and oxygen!

For any tree!

A colander is a tool to accomplish this balance.
Always? Not necessarily.

Detrimental? Only if you don't water!

Sorce

I watched that video also, good info there. As tempting as it is to dig into that Mugo and find a trunk line I'm not going to do anything until after Father's Day. Although it's close I will wait. Summer solstice and all that jazz