jeremy_norbury
Omono
Shohin are absolutely cheaper. You can get championship quality, country-level standard shohin trees for €1500/$1600 - you'll pay 5 to 10x that for a similar quality "full-sized" bonsai.
Five reasons I like shohin.
- Thread starter Smoke
- Start date
erb.75
Chumono
Jeremy, I see that you are from Amsterdam...I love Amsterdam! I visited there a couple years back and had a great time. The Van Gough museum might be the best art museum in the world.
have you ever had the opportunity to meet Morten Albek? He's not that far away from you in Denmark. I follow his blog and enjoy his trees (and yours too).
Do you do mostly shohin?
have you ever had the opportunity to meet Morten Albek? He's not that far away from you in Denmark. I follow his blog and enjoy his trees (and yours too).
Do you do mostly shohin?
jk_lewis
Masterpiece
You will never convince the dabblers in little trees of the difficulties in and the time spent being involved in the production of good small or tiny trees. There's little point in wasting the effort, because they won't believe you.
jeremy_norbury
Omono
Amsterdam is a really special place; glad I live here. Not met Morten - he's not travelling around much as far as I can see and I'm not going all that way to see little trees when I have 300 in my back yard
Yes - mostly shohin and the next size up. I have limited space and almost unlimited access to smaller trees at cheap prices here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/norbury/sets/72157650760876789/
erb.75
Chumono
One thing I thought of: bark. It takes time for a tree to bark up, whether large or small. Japanese maple trunks that are still green won't make a good shohin.
I like both large and small trees. I find working with shohin much more challenging than working with the big boys.
I like both large and small trees. I find working with shohin much more challenging than working with the big boys.
Vin
Imperial Masterpiece
I'm impressed! I'd be like a kid in a candy store.Amsterdam is a really special place; glad I live here. Not met Morten - he's not travelling around much as far as I can see and I'm not going all that way to see little trees when I have 300 in my back yard
Yes - mostly shohin and the next size up. I have limited space and almost unlimited access to smaller trees at cheap prices here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/norbury/sets/72157650760876789/
Vin
Imperial Masterpiece
.. and any mistakes are much more obvious.
Nybonsai12
Masterpiece
It's my understanding that shohin is most popular obviously in Japan. Supposedly love for shohin is growing in the US now and made up a quarter of the national exhibit last year. I know I'd like to see more here.
erb.75
Chumono
That's very interesting...do you just think that the design aspect is more challenging? or keeping the tree healthy? or all of the above? I'm curious!
jk_lewis
Masterpiece
If it is growing in the US, why oh why have three (fairly recent) attempts to start a national shohin society failed so miserably? I think it is our bigger-is-better mentality that prevents us from fully understanding the requirements of tiny trees.
Nybonsai12
Masterpiece
Possibly JKL. I don't know enough about it to speak well on the matter. But i have talked to some folks much more in the know than I and the opinions about shohin were
1)that shohin is growingin the US as evidenced by the larger display in last years nationals, maybe not at the speed you hoped for.
2)Shohin is not as expensive.
3)Shohin take less time to develop if you know and can execute proper techniques.
4)Shohin was not initially as popular in the US because the folks who started american bonsai preferred big trees. (I do not know who this refers to)
just repeating what was stated to me and frankly i don't have an opinion on the matter other than that I like little trees.
erb.75
Chumono
I do think there is a bigger is better mentality, and it is disappointing to hear that there have been multiple attempts to form a shohin america organization that hasn't been successful.
I for one like shohin size material....I can appreciate bigger trees but around 8 inches is the real sweet spot for my tastes. Have there been any attempts at a show devoted entirely to shohin in the US?
I for one like shohin size material....I can appreciate bigger trees but around 8 inches is the real sweet spot for my tastes. Have there been any attempts at a show devoted entirely to shohin in the US?
Shohin are more likely to suffer winter damage due to their small pots. You do have to water more often. Often, for show, they are stuffed into smaller pots than what they really need. So, we have to swap pits back and forth.
Shohin display is beyond ridiculous. There are no "rules", per se, but there are many suggested (and expected) conventions. Shohin display is supposed to be seasonal. So you need trees that are peaking right when the show is presented. No two similar pots, or similarly styled trees... The list of "non-rules" goes on forever! LOL!!!
All that aside, Shohin are a lot of fun. And you can't have just one... They're like potato chips...
erb.75
Chumono
[QUOTE="All that aside, Shohin are a lot of fun. And you can't have just one... They're like potato chips...[/QUOTE]
I think that applies to all of bonsai for me! but shohin especially encourages this behavior I feel like
I think that applies to all of bonsai for me! but shohin especially encourages this behavior I feel like
jk_lewis
Masterpiece
There is a very active shohin society in California that has (or had) an annual show. There are several large shohin groups (large groups, not trees) in Europe and the UK that are successful.
jeremy_norbury
Omono
I think it's a lot about having space to grow stuff. In densely populated countries - many apartments etc, it's a damned sight easier to grow shohin on a small balcony.
Smoke
Ignore-Amus
First rate. What are the dimensions of the box stand?
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