Choosing Port Jackson Fig - Help Needed

[RandomForest]

Hi Everyone,

I am a beginner to bonsai. I have found a seller from gumtree selling his private selection of bonsai tree at Bass Hills. I went there today (Satruday 31 Mar 2018) and there were great variety of fig & black pine which were semi advanced to advanced (40-50cm) and were about 30+ years old according to what the seller said. I am wondering if anyone have been there and have any comment on the trees in terms of quality and price?

I am also looking for an experienced buddy who is also interested and can go with me to have a look.

Please pm me if you want to go as well

Thanks!

Regards,
Michael

[pebble]

I haven’t been there, but I seen the add and was thinking of taking a visit. Some of the trees do look good.
What were his prices?


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[RandomForest]

Their trees are big and several figs I asked price were $350.

[pebble]

Seams very reasonable if it is 30+ years old


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[Pup]

Seams very reasonable if it is 30+ years old

Are you paying for age or quality? I have seen trees purported to be 30+ years old not much more than sticks in pots. Ask how long they have been working the tree. Is it eahibition or stock quality. Just saying.
Cheers Pup

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[shibui]

Wise words from Pup.
For a start, age of tree is hard to verify but in bonsai look is far more important than age. I have also seen trees that were quoted as quite old that had obviously not been looked after and had almost no ramification or taper - just plain ugly.
Some old collections have been neglected for a few years and look tatty but the trees still have a good framework that you can trim back to and resurrect a good tree.
Figs are very good species that will sprout well after pruning so easy to recover overgrown bonsai.
Pines do not sprout readily from bare older wood so you will need to be careful when purchasing overgrown neglected pines.