Would you buy a "finished" tree?

[Adair M]

Just for fun discussion. Please keep it civil! Lol..

Let's say you wander into the bonsai shop, or go to the vendor area at a show, and there's a beautiful, styled, tree. Would you buy it? The tree is ready to show.

And, I don't want the discussion to be about money. We're not talking about spending yor 401k money, or children's college fund, or taking food off your table! You can afford it.

I'm talking about whether you feel that you can only own trees "you make yourself", or whether you think it's just fine to own a bonsai someone else styled.

Please elaborate on why you feel one way or the other, and please respect the others that feel opposite of you!

 

[Redwood Ryan]

I'm about to buy one of Suthin's trees here shortly, and I'm fine with that. Jerry Meislik and I were talking about this one day and he had mentioned that a tree is never truly "finished." There's always ways you can improve upon it and make it your own.

I figure if I don't buy this tree someone else that is also fine with owning a "finished" tree will buy it and I'll miss my chance. Someone's gotta buy the tree's Suthin is selling.

 

[barrosinc]

There is always room for a mix of trees you have completely styled and other ones you mantain.
I would say yes, but it would have to take up a lesser part of my collection.

 

[fourteener]

I don't have a problem at all with buying a finished tree. I don't feel like I should put it on display until I do some significant restyle or repot it or something that demonstrates my ability to work with a tree.

 

[GrimLore]

I'm talking about whether you feel that you can only own trees "you make yourself", or whether you think it's just fine to own a bonsai someone else styled.

Been there and honest spent a ton of cash in the beginning not knowing anything about Bonsai Only a couple died, and realizing I was over my head I donated the remainder to NPO organizations to raffle and a couple to, lets say, proper homes. Now however I would and will be spending later this year and early Spring to reestablish a lost collection. So - If you know you can handle it and can afford it - hell yes! Save yourself 20 years or more. If however you do not know the plant get a few cheap ones and learn them, it is good experience. I am constantly now trying to learn new to "me" trees for that reason and it is not only worth it but fun!

Grimmy

 

[rockm]

There is no such thing. That's why they're bonsai and not sculpture. They are always outgrowing their designs and the growers efforts. And money is most definitely a part of things, here. The term "finished tree" is sometimes used by "do it yourselfers" as an unintentional or sometimes intentional insult. Somehow, do-it-yourselfers view "finished trees" as somehow inauthentic. That's a fallacy. EVERY tree is a do it yourselfer-unless you're paying someone else to work on it.

You can't buy a "finished" tree. You buy a tree that has had increasingly detailed work done to it. Also, You can expect to have to redo just about all that work in a few years, or completely overhaul it in that same period.

 

[Maros]

Bonsai is about emotions, for me. So I can imagine, as mental exercise, that I fell in love with some tree, and I desperately want it. Probability is higher with species which are not native to my area and I cannot acquire them myself. This way species like Stewartia, Prunus mume, Zelkova serrata or similar - can appear on my bucket list. And as been said in previous post, you still have to work on it continuously.

 

[Cypress187]

I don't have a problem at all with buying a finished tree. I don't feel like I should put it on display until I do some significant restyle or repot it or something that demonstrates my ability to work with a tree.

I would have a problem with buying finished tree's because im completely broke, but if i had one i would display it as much as possible to everyone

 

[coh]

If (1) I really liked the tree, (2) thought it was reasonably priced, and (3) felt it was a species I could manage in my conditions (and with my experience level)...yes, I would buy the "finished" tree.

I like the idea of developing my own trees from basic stock, but am realizing that can take a fair bit of time. It's nice to have a few more developed trees in the collection.

 

[Smoke]

Buying a finished tree for my personal enjoyment is fine. Buying a finished tree and entering it in the artisans cup with my name on it is kinda tacky. Trees without artists name on them is just national exhibit west.

 

[Cypress187]

I was talking about showing it to my pals btw, not a show

 

[erb.75]

i have purchased only one tree that is pretty far along...aka "finished". I enjoy it. That said, I have a lot of other trees that I am developing from raw stock. I feel like there is more satisfaction in developing the tree myself. But I am thinking my next purchase will be a finished elm or maple. It's nice to see something truly beautiful each day rather than "boy, this one needs a lot of work". I think a year or two ago I would have never been happy with buying finished stock, but now I'm thinking "do I really want to wait 5/10 more years?"

 

[Smoke]

BTW, I think there is a good discussion about just what does the title of artisans cup mean. Is the focus about the artisans or the trees? The growth of bonsai in America is going to come from artisans not trees.

 

[jk_lewis]

We've done this before, and my answer is still no.

 

[Cypress187]

I would want to be able to sell all my finished tree's, but reading this threat nobody will buy them. Is it better to sell un-finished tree's?

 

[amcoffeegirl]

The thing about selling trees that you have finished is you won't want to sell to to someone that is going to kill it.
If I spent 25 years with a tree I would want it to go to a good home.

 

[Alain]

If I had the $ I think I would love to have one of the masterpiece you could find on the web or like the azaleas from the Kanuma show (from the thread 'for satsuki lovers').

But I don't have the cash so...I'll do my own masterpiece
(also I'll be kind of anxious to buy a several thousands $ tree, and if it dies?...Imagine )

 

[Adair M]

We've done this before, and my answer is still no.

Would you care to tell us why not?

Remember, this thread assumes you have the money...

 

[Adair M]

Buying a finished tree for my personal enjoyment is fine. Buying a finished tree and entering it in the artisans cup with my name on it is kinda tacky. Trees without artists name on them is just national exhibit west.

So, how long after buying it does it become "yours" and showable?

 

[Mudroot]

Shoot, I'd maybe even pay to get someone to FINISH MINE!