Best 100 Dollars you ever spent on Bonsai

[Jluke33]

I have been lucky enough to come into 100 dollars that I have been requested to purchase something wanted rather than needed, meaning I will be spending it on bonsai! The question is the title of the thread. What’s the beat 100 bucks you ever spent on bonsai or bonsai related things? It could be a purchase of greater than 100 (if not too much higher) or many small purchases that totalled around 100 USD. If you want to suggest things, I don’t have much (3 trees basically) purchased nursery material, but I do have some aluminum wire, bonsai scissors, concave cutters, soil, and plastic training pots. Interested in suggestions too!

 

[ShadyStump]

Heck. you already have more in the way of tools than I have. My wife yells at me every time I borrow the kitchen sheers for trimming trees.

All in all, I'd suggest a $100 dollar pot, or maybe two $50 pots, that don't match any of the trees you have. Because there's no better excuse than, "but I have this pot already, dear, so what's one more tree?"

 

[Clicio]

I would spend it on a pot.
A good, nice one from @sorce maybe.

 

[zanduh]

pots are great but we pot our bonsai far too early. trainers for years! Pick up some fun trees from Wigerts or from the facebook 99 cent auctions!

 

[ShadyStump]

If I were given that money myself, actually, now that I think on it for real, I'd put it toward a mini-greenhouse or other tree shelter for the back yard. Keeping trees alive to put in pots is as important as having pots to put them in, after all.

 

[Woocash]

No, a tree would be the choice for me. All the extra stuff is for when you’re into it big. Get a $100 tree that you like looking at and it’ll sustain your interest until you decide you need the rest.

 

[Ruddigger]

What about putting it towards a Mirai Live or Bonsai Empire membership?

 

[MrWunderful]

A local lesson, class or video consultation. May be more than 100$, but what you learn (if its a good teacher) will last longer than any 100$ piece of material when new to your bonsai study.

 

[Slippery Pete]

My suggestion: Find yourself some Fagus crenata seeds and then sell them to me at 250% profit margin

 

[Bonsai Nut]

The best $100 I ever spent in terms of advancing my abilities is $100 spent on working with a bonsai professional / master via a class or workshop.

Do not prioritize stock (trees) over skill. Good stock + no skill = dead trees. Good skill + bad stock = there is no such thing as bad stock if you have good skills

 

[Forsoothe!]

Buy a ~$100 tree. Probably all your trees are lower class than that, as a beginner. Having one nice tree early on will perk you up on down days. It will be some time before you have trees are worthy of expensive pots, so put that off until your trees are worthy of such.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Definitely a workshop. Hands down, hands-on.

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

Workshop 1000%!!!

 

[Jluke33]

All in all, I'd suggest a $100 dollar pot, or maybe two $50 pots, that don't match any of the trees you have. Because there's no better excuse than, "but I have this pot already, dear, so what's one more tree?"

There’s a strategy!!

 

[Jluke33]

Definitely a workshop. Hands down, hands-on.

I definitely am saving for when my local club has another event. Everything around Charlotte NC has gone dark since about March I assume due to covid.

 

[Jluke33]

Buy a ~$100 tree. Probably all your trees are lower class than that, as a beginner. Having one nice tree early on will perk you up on down days. It will be some time before you have trees are worthy of expensive pots, so put that off until your trees are worthy of such.

This is true. My trees are just nursery stock that I experimented with after watching YouTube videos. I’ve considered some pre bonsai or Yamadori from eisei-en since it’s not too far from me and the same hardiness zone. I’m leaning towards some quality prebonsai that I can just take care of for some time until I get the hang of things or get some more hands on education. Thank you!

 

[Jluke33]

The best $100 I ever spent in terms of advancing my abilities is $100 spent on working with a bonsai professional / master via a class or workshop.

Do not prioritize stock (trees) over skill. Good stock and no skill - dead trees. Good skill and bad stock - there is no such thing as bad stock if you have good skills

This is great advice!! I will definitely be taking a workshop as soon as one opens up in my area!!

 

[MrWunderful]

This is great advice!! I will definitely be taking a workshop as soon as one opens up in my area!!

If you live near Bjorn, thats a great place to start

 

[Jluke33]

If you live near Bjorn, thats a great place to start

Well! It’s about 5 hours from me. But definitely not a bad weekend drive. Actually I had family that literally just moved away from cookeville TN which is like 30 minutes from Nashville! I figure if I get a tree from him it will already be acclimated to my zone and obviously well taken care of.

 

[MrWunderful]

Well! It’s about 5 hours from me. But definitely not a bad weekend drive. Actually I had family that literally just moved away from cookeville TN which is like 30 minutes from Nashville! I figure if I get a tree from him it will already be acclimated to my zone and obviously well taken care of.

Make a weekend trip out of it. Just make sure you leave room for trees in packing your vehicle.