AusBonsai

I want to give a plug to a local garden nursery I frequent (not Bonsai specific and no bonsai trees,tools, pots, wire etc for sale). But, before I divulge the name and location, I would like your opinion on what you would pay for these two stock trees. I believe they are bargain basement prices for stocktrees that have age and initial styings. The owner is very keen to support local bonsai growers and has a small personal collection amongst his nursey stock. The variety of plants is limited to juniper varieties and azaleas varying from 20cm - 1.5mtrs.
These trees are not grown at the nursery but are purchased from a local wholesaler and are being passed on to enthusiasts for minimal profit .

No 1 - Juniperus Squatmata Prostrata

4cm Trunk
30cm high from base of trunck to highest branch
Branch spread 40cm x 32cm
No 2 Azalea ?? ( maybe someone can identify it correctly)

Branch spread 28cm
18cm high
2cm base

Hello,

You would expect to pay between $25 - $35 for stock like this.

Yeah I'd agree with the estimates Leigh has given
I paid $30 for a sao-to-me azalea roughly the same as yours fairly recently

I have a feeling the trees look much bigger in real life than in your photos. The junipers are slow growers and Ive seen them go for quite abit in Sydney nurseries. As much as $650 for your size pots and also depending on the trunk shape and girth. The cheapest Ive seen in your pot size was $195 (last year).

I think I would agree with Leigh, would expect about $30ish in a nursery, could be up to fifty, they are nice starters. As this hasn't had any specific styling or prep for bonsai, I wouldn't think the bonsai nursery should charge more for it.
If you will pay $650 Edward, then I will go and pick up a dozen tomorrow and send em to ya!

I agree , the stock is ok, nothing special, i would be very reluctant to pay any over $50 for the Juniper,,

the Juniper is the eye catcher of the two, but you do find plenty near this standard in an ordinary nursery.

Greth wrote:I think I would agree with Leigh, would expect about $30ish in a nursery, could be up to fifty, they are nice starters. As this hasn't had any specific styling or prep for bonsai, I wouldn't think the bonsai nursery should charge more for it.
If you will pay $650 Edward, then I will go and pick up a dozen tomorrow and send em to ya!

Greth, I really wouldnt let you have the pleasure of ripping me off like that. But the photo above has a 4cm trunk diameter so I would think it would be difficult to find them for $30 to $50 a piece at the nurseries. Although I could be wrong.

Is the pot that it is in a 200mm pot? I based my price on a 200mm pot. If it is a bigger pot, then the price could be higher.

how can it be a 4cm diameter trunk when it's not even near as thick as half the bottle? maybe a 4cm circumference of the trunk,, maybe

I think the trunk diameter is around an inch. Just a guess from the scale of the pot, needles etc. No I would never rip off a fellow gardener, Edward, all was in jest there.

I actually have a similar Juniper, I Prob would have difficulties parting with it for $40. Not because I couldn't replace it for that money, but because I have rescued it from near death and bonded with it now, and am very much looking forward to its bonsai life. When you have patted and talked to a plant for 2 years daily, it means more than just replacement cost sometimes.

I can get them direct from the local wholesaler. They have quite a range of juniper varieties. They are about an hour's drive from me. This is one I couldn't resist when I dropped in to pick up a tree or two for a new member. This gives you an idea of the size.
They have this size too
They also have Satome azaleas and Kingsville box. Penny.

It seems that what I considered excellent value is the norm. Anyway these are the best value for money stock trees I have seen in the Newcastle area and as I don't venture to the big smoke very often I haven't been able to make true comparisons.

The Juniper is in a 300mm pot and I took some more accurate measurements this morning the trunk is 3cm with a circumference of 10cm. Any way I paid $20 for the azalea and $60 for the juniper. As I said, I think good value for money.

For those interested they were purchased from

David Chambers at 'The old Farm Nursery'
6 old Farm Road Medowie 2318
ph 02 4982 8209

Not bad considering other nurseries but he is still making quite a good profit.
Penny.

one problem with the increase in bonsai popularity is at nurseries their usual reject and bargain tables have been renamed "bonsai starters"-and instead of $8 or $10--they're bumped up to $30