GrimLore
Bonsai Nut alumnus... we miss you
Sorry to strike nerves on the Bonsaiboy place, I would never buy anything unseen myself but I know a minimum of 7 people that have very good luck with them consistantly. 
Do you think this JBP is worth the money?
- Thread starter Nybonsai12
- Start date
Nybonsai12
Masterpiece
Thanks,
I sent an inquiry to International Bonsai last week, still waiting to hear back.
I have done business with Brent before and agree that he is great. I actually have some small plants coming from him next week.
Thanks for the info on meehans.
The link you posted is the ebay seller for Brussel's near Memphis. Brussel's is probably the largest importer of bonsai in the USA. He does it legally, and is a certified quarantine operation.
He also is a supplier to many retail bonsai shops. Huge nursery. He grows his own as well as imports.
There are probably dozens of other trees similar to that one at his place.
Now, it that one worth it? I've seen worse. You mentioned the possibility of reverse taper. In my opinion, the bigger problem is NO taper! And the long straight section of trunk above the first or second branch.
Could you style it and make a "presentable" bonsai out of it? Most certainly. Would you ever be able to make a "world class" bonsai out of it? Maybe in 30 or 40 years.
That tree would teach you how to grow JBP. It will need to be totally repotted out of the Brussel soil and into "Boon Mix". Branches shortened, wired, decandled, etc. In about 4 or 5 years, you'd have something that would look decent branch-wise, but you will be unhappy with the trunk. By then, you will have discovered whether you like JBP or not, and whether you do well enough with them to spend the money to get a really nice one.
Really nice ones will be expensive.
Many of us have aquired stock from Brussels. No worries about their packaging, they've been doing it for years.
He also is a supplier to many retail bonsai shops. Huge nursery. He grows his own as well as imports.
There are probably dozens of other trees similar to that one at his place.
Now, it that one worth it? I've seen worse. You mentioned the possibility of reverse taper. In my opinion, the bigger problem is NO taper! And the long straight section of trunk above the first or second branch.
Could you style it and make a "presentable" bonsai out of it? Most certainly. Would you ever be able to make a "world class" bonsai out of it? Maybe in 30 or 40 years.
That tree would teach you how to grow JBP. It will need to be totally repotted out of the Brussel soil and into "Boon Mix". Branches shortened, wired, decandled, etc. In about 4 or 5 years, you'd have something that would look decent branch-wise, but you will be unhappy with the trunk. By then, you will have discovered whether you like JBP or not, and whether you do well enough with them to spend the money to get a really nice one.
Really nice ones will be expensive.
Many of us have aquired stock from Brussels. No worries about their packaging, they've been doing it for years.
jkd2572
Masterpiece
I have purchased many trees from the seller of the tree that started this thread. Very good to deal with. Packs well. Gets his stuff through Brussels or is Brussels.
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
+1 Adair.
It looks small for the money, and lots of space between branches, which becomes an unfortunate realization that you don't have much to work with once it's sitting in front of you.
Then it becomes a decision of either spending a few years hoping for (or grafting) more branches, or developing something rather sparse.
It looks small for the money, and lots of space between branches, which becomes an unfortunate realization that you don't have much to work with once it's sitting in front of you.
Then it becomes a decision of either spending a few years hoping for (or grafting) more branches, or developing something rather sparse.
