The size of bonsai

[MichaelS]

There seems to be a funny concept where some people can't seem to go past the size of a tree before they really consider it. This is particularly so with the Vietnamese community here - a couple of which are close friends. No matter how much I explain that size and quality are completely separate, they insist that small trees (less than about 15 or 20 inches) just don't give them the right ''feeling''. So much so that they will by-pass a high quality small tree and pay any price to acquire the big stuff regardless of quality.
What's going on? Is it immaturity? Is it cultural? In my mind they are missing something!

 

[Tieball]

I would call it cultural I guess. “Bonsai” trees are all over Vietnam...just about every home has 3-7 trees. Even business locations have trees. They are all large. Large is considered better. Homes occupy a land space...edge to edge. There is no “yard” space....no trees around. So....Everything is grown on roof tops and balconies. These are their trees. I have 7 trees on my rooftop in Vietnam....my smallest tree is about 24-28”. Most people have trees about 48” and taller. They have many celebrations throughout the year...all are accompanied by vendors setting up trees in parking lots everywhere. People travel and walk around to see the trees....displayed and for sale. I seldom see any smaller size trees.

We just have to understand their tree desires.

 

[GGB]

The bigger the tree the greater the detail right? I've wondered this before, myself. I won't go under 12/13" or above 30"

 

[0soyoung]

An interesting observation, but why do we care?

 

[Tieball]

I’ve seen some smaller trees in the Da Lat area....smaller like 24” tall....that was at a garden park that featured many tropical trees on bench displays.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

In my personal opinion, the larger the tree, the easier it is to portray a sense of age and stature. I have seen some really bad bonsai that because they are large people go nuts over.

I don't have a strong opinion, one way or the other, but I do appreciate the extra work required to make a convincing small bonsai.

I consider it part of the challenge of the art form. After all, if you just take a big tree from nature, and stick it in a pot, is it bonsai?

 

[namnhi]

Im Vietnamese and I have to agree with this observation. They like big trees in general. I am one of the outlier as I like small trees. When I say big... I meant trees that measure in meters not centimeters. Pretty crazy

 

[MichaelS]

Ok, so it is cultural with Vietnamese people, but I also notice beginners are also drawn to large trees and sometimes they never change their view. A friend of mine has only large trees, or mainly large trees. I said to him that if I can't lift it I don't want it and I don't care how good it is. He probably thinks I'm crazy. He is getting older now......

 

[Eric Group]

Seems to be the same way at most shows... the big trees get the most attention/awards for "best in show"... and that is being awarded by the judges and in some shows a popular vote, so I would say it is the common conception to both the trained and untrained eye. I guess it is something to do with the amount of time and work generally being longer and more for the large stuff? It does make a bigger impact in person too...

 

[M. Frary]

Seems to be the same way at most shows... the big trees get the most attention/awards for "best in show"... and that is being awarded by the judges and in some shows a popular vote, so I would say it is the common conception to both the trained and untrained eye. I guess it is something to do with the amount of time and work generally being longer and more for the large stuff? It does make a bigger impact in person too...

The first time I went to a show I couldn't believe how large some of the trees were.
All of mine are all under 24 " tall.

 

[leatherback]

The first time I went to a show I couldn't believe how large some of the trees were.

Yeah, same here.

I personally prefer larger trees. But I guess that goes hand in hand with my hand size.

 

[KiwiPlantGuy]

The first time I went to a show I couldn't believe how large some of the trees were.
All of mine are all under 24 " tall.

Hi all,
As a newbie and a metric ( taught with but can work out some imperial measures) person. The struggle I find is all you guys talk about is 12, 24, 36 inches. So are there 12 inches in a foot ( or 12 inches = 25 - 30 cm). ??
So a small tree is under a foot, medium between 1 and 2 feet ( 30 - 60 cm) and medium to large is 2-3 feet ( or 60-90 cm).
So, am I on the same page as everyone else, or just upside down from down-under lol. ??
Charles

 

[Anthony]

I am getting older ----------- trees at 39 to 46 cm [ see Charles as a former colony we use metric as
well ] 15 to 18 " plus pot -------- heavy.
Plus really like trees at small size.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[It's Kev]

@KiwiPlantGuy
metric is 1000 times better than imperial. I'm also a born and raised southern hemisphere person.

 

[M. Frary]

Hi all,
As a newbie and a metric ( taught with but can work out some imperial measures) person. The struggle I find is all you guys talk about is 12, 24, 36 inches. So are there 12 inches in a foot ( or 12 inches = 25 - 30 cm). ??
So a small tree is under a foot, medium between 1 and 2 feet ( 30 - 60 cm) and medium to large is 2-3 feet ( or 60-90 cm).
So, am I on the same page as everyone else, or just upside down from down-under lol. ??
Charles

Yep

 

[sorce]

I have 7 trees on my rooftop in Vietnam

WTF? For real?

Can't calculate clay shrinkage in inch fractions....
At least it's stupid too.

Kiwi....send me a ruler!

Sorce

 

[jeanluc83]

metric is 1000 times better than imperial.

I would say that centimeters are only 2.54 times better than inches but that's just me.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Seems to be the same way at most shows... the big trees get the most attention/awards for "best in show"... and that is being awarded by the judges and in some shows a popular vote, so I would say it is the common conception to both the trained and untrained eye. I guess it is something to do with the amount of time and work generally being longer and more for the large stuff? It does make a bigger impact in person too...

Actually in many cases the larger the tree the less time it takes. For example I find it much easier to wire a larger tree, and in some species it is easier to keep them maintained. It really depends on the tree and the species (as well as point in development), but size is not directly related to work required. Try to maintain a shohin broom-style elm for example... hoo boy! Compared to a large California juniper that just gets pruned once per year and needs only light finished wiring on occasion.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I have my own bias, no matter what size tree I plan to create all my trees end up 26 cm thru 66 cm, about 12 to 24 inches. I'm bi, worked in a lab long enough that metric is as easy as imperial.

 

[Gene Deci]

Seems to be the same way at most shows... the big trees get the most attention/awards for "best in show"... and that is being awarded by the judges and in some shows a popular vote, so I would say it is the common conception to both the trained and untrained eye. I guess it is something to do with the amount of time and work generally being longer and more for the large stuff? It does make a bigger impact in person too...

You got that right - the first part at least! I overheard the Judge at a show actually confirm it. He said, "If you want to get your tree noticed, go big." But it seems to me the People's Choice awards are seldom the same trees and don't usually go to the huge trees.