What do you do with mallsai gifts?

[karen82]

I figure a lot of people here must have this problem - gifts of bonsai from well-meaning friends and family, who might be insulted if you just plant their bonsai tree out in the backyard to thicken up.
I'm at a bit of a loss as to what to do with this little guy. I got it as a gift last Feb., so I put it out in the greenhouse and it's just been sitting out there since. It's a tiny little thing, not much to work with.. any ideas that don't involve just putting it in the ground for a few years? I do plan to repot it into better soil next spring.

 

[Rivian]

This is part of why I will tell ppl Im very picky before they get any ideas. Rejected a banana and a cactus recently. Though I was nice about it.
I have no interest in this kind of juniper but if I wanted to use it, Id show the person a picture of the kind of bonsai Id like to turn it into, explain the rough steps in 3 sentences. If they wouldnt care to listen then dont even talk about it, just do as you please.

 

[sorce]

I don't think doing right by a gift should be insulting, regardless of their knowledge of the art.

It's kinda like someone buying you a puppy that has never cared for one and leaving it chained on the 4 ft leash they handed it to you on.

Better to educate I reckon.

Perhaps with a "I've been dying for a grow-out project, but never found one so healthy!"
With an added, "It's good to know our friendship will last as long as it takes to make this thing worth a million bucks!"

Or cut it into a ball, place a model house next to it and send them a picture.
But the dog dies in that scenario.

Sorce

 

[WavyGaby]

Put some wire in it and twist it up while it is small.

 

[Cajunrider]

If I receive a mall-sai gift, I tell them that those are like flowers and aren't meant to be alive for very long. They may last a while but eventually die. It's a statement of truth for 99.9% of them. If asked why I would tell them that these are young plants that were jammed into a pot with poor soil which retains too much water and the roots rot eventually and the trees die. Once I set the expectation, they don't get insulted if the tree die or if I plant it out in the yard to save it.

 

[Godschick]

I got a similar gift as well It was super thoughtful. I am thinking of just putting it in a grow box or the ground. I am just going to tell him that I am doing that to keep it alive and help it be a better tree. I think they would understand and appreciate that we are doing that instead of letting it die in its current conditions.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

A gift is a gift - I always receive it in the spirit intended. Then I try to make a better tree out of it... but I could say the same thing about all my trees.

My daughter once gave me a "grow your own bonsai" kit for Christmas. She saw it at World Market, and it only cost a couple dollars, so she bought it as a joke. However the joke was on her when I actually followed the instructions and got a small tree to sprout

 

[Paradox]

I figure a lot of people here must have this problem - gifts of bonsai from well-meaning friends and family, who might be insulted if you just plant their bonsai tree out in the backyard to thicken up.
I'm at a bit of a loss as to what to do with this little guy. I got it as a gift last Feb., so I put it out in the greenhouse and it's just been sitting out there since. It's a tiny little thing, not much to work with.. any ideas that don't involve just putting it in the ground for a few years? I do plan to repot it into better soil next spring.

View attachment 453892

In October, get some copper wire #8 or #10 should be sufficient and wire the trunk and put some bends in it. It's a good size for that.

Repot next spring as you plan to and let it grow.

The first tree I ever bought for myself was a similar mallsai that I rescued from the grocery store. I still have that tree. It's much bigger now and although it's not a great tree, we have been through a lot. It has survived my learning curve so I feel it still deserves a spot on my bench.

 

[cishepard]

You can create a tanuki or a little penjing on a rock scene for some instant gratification, and then gift it back to the original giver!

 

[Mikecheck123]

I received a bonsai seed kit for Christmas. It was so rage inducing that such there are such soulless scammers in the world who just keep getting away with it.

I have lots of seed growing experience, but from that kit, only ONE SINGLE SEED germinated. I.e. not only is the idea terrible, but the execution is also absolutely horrible. God knows where those seeds have been kept or in what condition.

But hey--free flame tree!

 

[Tele]

My mother will visit next friday after 3 years. My gift still looks healthy and I´ll have to explain bonsai. Explain plans and ideas for the tree for the coming 10 years. I imagine a 10 year plan looks like I am grateful (and I am) and she´ll understand she can´t gift trees.

Next to that this tree has problems I do not see how to solve. I would just put yours every 2 years in a bigger pot and it could be perfect.

 

[Paradox]

@karen82

Just as an example of what your tree could become:

Here is a picture of the mallsai I mentioned above when I got it. Actually this was after I almost killed it and it recovered from the "its an inside tree syndrome that new people often have with these".
This was in April 2012.


Fast forward few years and this is what it looked like through time:
2013


2014


2016


I havent been good at updating pictures so I dont have a more recent one.
Yea its not the greatest tree but it has sentimental value since it was my first tree.
But the tree is still alive and bushy again. It needs a trim.

 

[ShadyStump]

Frankly, I WISH my friends or family would get me a crappy mallsai for a gift. My sister did ask me about one of those bonsai seed kits once, and I explained, so the idea was dropped.

If they know anything at all about what you do in bonsai, they'll understand that you're going to change the look over time, repot it, things like that. Maybe suggest that you might be just as happy with a weird looking clearance tree from the garden center because you just have to work them yourself because it's that's best part! Then they'll understand why you changed up their gift. It's like someone who loves building models doesn't want a prebuilt display piece. Most people will get it.

 

[Wulfskaar]

I would love to get one as a gift. If I got one, I would try my best to keep it alive for as long as possible and develop it until one of us dies.

 

[SgtPilko]

I get ficus, which is the worst in my opinion as they take up my minimal window space and the milky things don't seem to suffer however much I neglect them! Will try some experiments on them next year

 

[karen82]

If I receive a mall-sai gift, I tell them that those are like flowers and aren't meant to be alive for very long. They may last a while but eventually die. It's a statement of truth for 99.9% of them. If asked why I would tell them that these are young plants that were jammed into a pot with poor soil which retains too much water and the roots rot eventually and the trees die. Once I set the expectation, they don't get insulted if the tree die or if I plant it out in the yard to save it.

Well I am hoping it will survive. It was healthy when I got it and is still reasonably healthy now. I'm just worried about it surviving the winter in that soil, I know they are hardy here but I'm afraid that soil might keep it too wet.

 

[karen82]

You can create a tanuki or a little penjing on a rock scene for some instant gratification, and then gift it back to the original giver!

That's a really good idea. I'd forgotten about tanuki, that's a good way to make it look better while I wait for it to grow out.

 

[Carol 83]

My brother gave me the most awful Ginseng ficus. I cut off the tubes and chopped the crap out of it. It's still ugly but he asks to see it every Christmas, so I have to keep it alive. He thought he was doing a good thing, so I do appreciate the thought.