SoCal Group Order

[J.J.]

Hi all,

I am trying to put a group of people together with common interest of ordering few trees from nursery. Trying to create a group order to save shipping costs and get bulk discounts. I have a few JM and tridents as well as pines in development. Trying to jump start expansion of my collection.

I am interested mainly in Japanese maples cultivars that are heat tolerant but also some other trees.

DM me if interested or post here and we can connect. Tentatively should order by end of December for arrival prior to spring.

Not sure group ordering is still a thing but thought I’d try see if there is interest. I am in inland empire and don’t mind driving throughout SoCal to coordinate this and make it happen.

Thanks and cheers!

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Japanese maples in the Inland Empire? A tough task. I couldn't even keep them in the OC close to the coast.

 

[J.J.]

Thanks for chiming in.

I was hesitant and did only tropicals. Guava, Bougan, Ficus last year.

This year though I have had great success with 6 Japanese maples and 3 trident maples. Just the standard variety and not specific cultivars. I'll share some pictures in a bit.

I recently visited the nearby bonsai nursery in Chino and saw a lot of JMs. Of course shared and other cares needed for them to thrive here are given but seeing them did inspire me to get into heat hardy cultivars. I have seen Katsura, Sango Kaku, Tamukeyama and some other cultivars being sold in local big box stores. Seen similar cultivars in people's backyards as well.

I have explored local nurseries and none of them carry small to medium size trees, most have large containers with a huge markup. Hence the idea of group ordering 3 to 5 years old trees grown in a small container. Other options I've found for the group order are:
Liquidamber and it's semi-dwarf cultivar.
Dwarf magnolia cultivar.
Maybe Red maples?
Maybe one of the smaller leaves Oak?

I won't be moving for at least 3 more years, may be even longer. Hence the urge to start some 15 more trees or so. What do you think? Any other suggestions?

 

[Wulfskaar]

Coast Live Oaks, Valley Oaks, etc grow well around here and work well as bonsai.

 

[J.J.]

Here are the pics. All JMs and trident were started from 2mm thickness seedlings this Feb. All are in substrate of 30% akadama + 30% coco + 40% from prior years mix(perlite pumice horti charcoal orchiata fine pine bark).

JM is 6 inch net pot. Roots that have come out has been pruned multiple times. The netpot stays in a dollar tree 6inch plastic pots that you see behind in light brown color.

Same JM. Will pruned leaves start of December.

3 more JMs in net pots which are in Anderson flats. Side roots have been pruned once in July by lifting the net pots. Bottom roots get air pruned.

JM in 8inch colander, very vigorous growth. Colander wrapped with cling film in early May to preserve humidity. Will likely go to a Anderson flat coming Feb with Ebihara board.

Trident in colander, same technique. I did report one of similar trident couple weeks ago, saw some surprisingly fibrous root structure with minimal thich or crossing root and good nebari.

Guava grown over 2+ years. Gets lifted from Anderson flat for a trim every 4 or so months. Last full repot was 6 months ago has developed fibrous horizontal root structure.


Thanks

 

[J.J.]

Coast Live Oaks, Valley Oaks, etc grow well around here and work well as bonsai.

Looking into these. Thanks