Sharps Pygmy #1

[dbonsaiw]

I have been looking for a sharps Pygmy. The pre bonsai I’ve seen with some size are surprisingly expensive. I came across this one for a relatively good price. It is grafted, so not ideal. But the graft so far looks ok - I will wait and see. Truth is, I couldn’t even tell it was grafted in person, but it shows in the photo. The nursery already repotted it this season, so no airlayer until next season in any event. With or without a graft, I think this will make for a nice broom, but still have plenty of time to stare at this tree and make decisions.

I’m not liking the soil, but will just work with it this season and get it into better soil next year.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

One of my favorites cultivars however be aware that the name "pygmy" is well-deserved. It is a slow-grower.

 

[dbonsaiw]

It is a slow-grower.

Indeed. I got a similar cultivar from Valavanis last year (but not a Sharp's Pygmy) and it's slow as molasses. I've been eyeing the ones on Brussels, but they seemed pricey. So when I saw this for $250 I jumped at it, even with the graft.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

It has an excellent graft, but you can see the dissimilarity in the bark. Wouldn't matter in landscape... but as a bonsai artist that's all you would see any time you stepped into your garden

 

[dbonsaiw]

Agreed. I will watch it for the next year or so and decide about a ground layer. Actually the second tree I picked up this year with a graft. All I see is the graft. A layer of the Pygmy won’t really change the tree, but the other will.

 

[johnl445]

Agreed. I will watch it for the next year or so and decide about a ground layer. Actually the second tree I picked up this year with a graft. All I see is the graft. A layer of the Pygmy won’t really change the tree, but the other will.

I have a Pygmy as well, why are the roots black on these trees and will that black color disappear with time?

 

[dbonsaiw]

Not sure about black roots. They seem regular roots on mine. Perhaps marks from the soil? Dead roots?

 

[PaulH]

I have one I bought at a local big box nursery a couple years ago. Last year I air layered above the graft and it grew great roots and I was able to separate it last fall. Its almost ready to bud out now.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

That tree looks pretty good considering Sharps Pygmy!

One thing to watch, in my experience, is they tend to really fatten their branches, chunky like …creating poor taper.

Cheers
DSD. Sends