Hello friends . Please help me since I don't know if this bonsai cost too much or I got a good deal (I have not purchase yet). It is about 3feet wide x 5 feet tall (from bottom of base to the top leaves) (The base itself is about 3feet wide x 20" depth) I don't know what kind of bonsai (please see pic). I would say it is so beautiful and looks strong green. Do you think it is a good deal ? Please help. Thank you.
Looks beautiful to me. I haven't a clue of the value of these plants but I would have bought it if I felt reasonably confident I would be able to keep it alive.
I don't mind to pay that much or more.. for this beautiful bonsai .. I just don't know if its worth that much or I got a good deal ... Thanks for your comment.
Like I said, it's beautiful to me. I'd simply be afraid of killing it after spending $800. I do have a habit of buying what I want if it tickles my fancy... within reason. I simply don't have any experience with these types of plants and for me to start out with a plant in that price bracket would be pushing it for me. I'd probably put up chain link fencing around it inside my home to protect it from kids and pets. Have you any others?
Bonsai are expensive, the older the more so. Before you buy, and waste money, do you have lots of experience with bonsai? I will be a waste of money if you haven't a clue, as they require a fair amount of experience.
Hi, that's a LOT of money no matter how terrific the tree is, and unless you KNOW 100% how to take care of it from the second you bring it home, you could be flushing that money away very, very fast. Many trees react badly to being moved from wherever they're living (the store) and even very experienced people can have trouble keeping them going until they recover. Do NOT depend on the store owner or clerks to tell you about care - such trees are imported from China or Japan and given as gifts to corporate 'friends' or as business obligations, but may not last long without expert care - and the clerks do NOT know what to do either, though will try to convince you they do. That tree may belong outdoors for life, and only looks good now because it's gone dormant for winter, but otherwise has no business indoors. Do NOT spend your money (however much you can afford it) on this kind of bonsai without knowing very well not only what it is, but what to do with it - it cannot be treated like a house plant and may need a very expensive set-up to survive in anyone's home even with very knowledgable care.
Since I had no clue as to what kind of value the tree you are interested in buying is worth at the retail level I did some checking and my conclusion is: YES! I would estimate that its value is in excess of $1,500 and probably much higher. Much depends on its age. However, just because the tree may be worth the purchase I definitely agree with Rima. You need to ask yourself if you really want to invest this kind of money in something that would need exacting care and if you have the time or the resources to provide or farm out that kind of care for it. Much depends on your own particular situation. Are you experienced with bonsai, your age, the demands on your personal time, etc. I personally think that if you only have some experience with bonsai that you may want to invest in several different trees that cost much less but will give you more for your dollar in variety and in being able to become involved in helping the bonsai and shaping it to suit your own inclinations. I am attaching the links I checked. Carefully browse and I think that there is a great deal of variety of some very good looking bonsai that will not cost you an arm and a leg to purchase. I am including a UK site and so don't forget to multiple the price shown by roughly $1.80 to get an approximate US price. Whatever you decide. Do not hurry your decision or let yourself be pressured into acting rashly. Best of luck. http://www.joebonsai.com/shop/index.php?cPath=1&gclid=CJTy-O79w4kCFRZXFQodP3uSUA http://www.bonsaiofbrooklyn.com/index.html http://www.easternleaf.com/cat_bonsai2.asp?Click=33 http://www.kaizenbonsai.com/shop/index.php?cPath=52 english. in pounds x 1.80 http://www.hollowcreekbonsai.com/productCat25256.ctlg
A slight digression may be permissable. I love Einstein's theory of relativity. A long time ago I had realized all things are relative to something: your attachment, your knowledge and skills, your quest and even your life. You may ask "How is this related to this thread?" It surely is most relevant. Let's us examine the title more closely " $800-Is it too much? Relativity comes very much into play. The answer is rather personal. Are you asking "Is it too much for me or for you?". All the replies are relative to your own financial position. Why? $8,000 is paltry to one like Bill Gates but rated as a small forune to many of us. I hope readers can appreciate what I am driving at: that too many of us are enforcing our will or mind over others without realizing our folly. So Longlesj, there is only one good answer: Only you alone is qualified to make the decision. (On passing I suspect you can well afford the investment, right?) Let me now venture into my weak territory. Your specimen could be a type of ficus (judging by the aeriel roots) or a type of jade (judging by the thickness of the leaves, though the aerial roots point otherwise). Maybe the experts may want to chip in. Another point on relativity. Don't worry if you miss this purchase. How often I have bought something only to discover another specimen is better or a better buy. The golden rule in life is Never Hurry When Shopping/how ladies love this. If you want classy and expensive bonsai, take a look at Jim Smith's collection which had only recently come on the selling block. http://jimsmithbonsai.com
A beautiful, living creation is difficult to put a price tag on. Often times it is not the plant, itself, that is of value, but rather the time, commitment, knowledge, and care that is to be respected and honored. An impressive, mature bonsai tree is, in my opinion, something that should not be bought and sold...but rather something that should be passed on to family or a dear friend that will honor and respect the original owner enough to adopt and care for it. It is a life that needs one's involved care, not an object to be looked at. As beautiful as it is, I would never purchase it for any price, as it would hold no personal value to me. I find far more enjoyment and pride in my bonsai that started out as 5-dollar nursery plants in the "quick sale" lot. I apologize if my statements appear a bit too spiritual, but the art of bonsai is very spiritual. Very few art forms have a life of their own, both for the creator and the creation. How can one put a price on that?
A specialty plants value is based on what it is worth for you to have it. For bonsai it is the above along with the age of the tree and type of tree and how long it has been manicured or hand worked on. It has to be your decision, not ours, whether the tree is worth the money being asked for it. I've seen $1,500 Maples in boxes ready to go into a landscape that I felt were easily worth the money being asked for them as I pretty well knew how old those plants were. Time has a value all its own especially when many other Maples of the same form did not get that far along in years before they perished. If you are not well versed in the art of bonsai or real familiar with bonsai plants and know or have a good idea what it will take for the hands on upkeep and care for this tree, then it makes the decision for you much more difficult. If you are looking at the tree solely as an investment, then check around to known bonsai specialist web sites, people with some history in bonsai and get an idea what this same type tree, the same age and size normally sell for. Jim
I, for one, won't buy that bonsai for 800 dollars. I do not like the shape of it and it needs a lot of work to make it worth 800 dollars.
