To buy or not to buy

[dazz]

1.2metres tall. used as a potted landscape feature.

juniper Holger.

 

[John Ruger]

how much is it?

 

[jkd2572]

I would buy it as we can't get stuff like that here. I found one once, but it was sold and waiting pickup. It was priced at $959. It was a bit bigger and more refined. Nuserys in Europe have great stuff like that.

 

[jkd2572]

Only thing like that I can find around here is poorly designed Hollywood junipers with bad branch placement and poodle pads.

 

[Dav4]

For me, it needs to have a great base and trunk (and I can't tell from the picture what you have there). Just because it's big doesn't make it good material.

 

[dazz]

its only for $250NZD bucks!! so about 220ish USD? yeah i agree. i would expect for this tree at least to have good nebari and good taper from the soil up.

hmmm so tempted to buy it...

 

[Redwood Ryan]

As I have said before, if I have to ask whether or not I should buy a tree, I don't want it. I've never heard of holger before, so for that reason I'd pass on it. A quick Google search doesn't show much in terms of bonsai.

 

[buddhamonk]

I wouldn't buy it...

 

[dazz]

its a juniperus squamata.

Description
Juniperus squamata, known as Single seed Juniper, is a juniper native to Himalaya and China, from north-eastern Afghanistan east to western Yunnan in south-western China.This juniper has striking blue-gray foliage that spread out like a 'blue carpet'. This prostrate variety that is especially suitable for cascade and semi-cascade styles. It has a slow to medium growth rate, of about 10' in ten years.

http://guide.makebonsai.com/bonsai_species_guide_training.asp?SpeciesID=5010

 

[milehigh_7]

I never buy anything from regular nurseries at full price. It is normally the stuff that won't sell for landscape that is appealing as bonsai and I only buy if it is at least 50% off, normally I will haggle them down to 75% or more off.

 

[Fangorn]

I never buy anything from regular nurseries at full price. It is normally the stuff that won't sell for landscape that is appealing as bonsai and I only buy if it is at least 50% off, normally I will haggle them down to 75% or more off.

I agree.
Unlike when I first started, I find that the longer I do bonsai the less regular nursery stuff appeals to me, and even the end of the year sale stuff rarely comes home with me.
But I still enjoy the hunt
And to answer the OP's question I wouldn't buy it

 

[Poink88]

its only for $250NZD bucks!! so about 220ish USD?

...not at that price. Then again, I do not know the price of goods there.

 

[rockm]

I'd pass. If it were $75 or so, yeah, might be worth it. As it is, the branches are gangly and not placed very well, trunk has no real character or worthwhile movement...

 

[elliott]

I would pass also. If it was cheaper, and you wanted to practise how far you can bend a branch or trunk before breaking and wiring pads out and that kind of thing, but not for a quality tree.
keep your eyes open and you will find the good stuff!
Good luck

 

[geoff hobson]

to buy or not

Sounds like a hell of a lot of money for what it is, no I would not buy it.
Geoff.