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JerseyBonsai
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Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2010 1:41 am
Location: Paterson, NJ : Zone 6-7

Trusted Online Bonsai Vendor?

Can anyone recommend trusted vendors. They don't necessarily have to be bonsai trained, just a site that has a great selection suitable for bonsai. Also, that the tree is healthy and is shipped suitably.

Thanks!
-Drew 8)

pete1719
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Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2010 6:04 pm
Location: Orange County California

Here are a couple of places I have bought from and found to be very good....


Brussels in Mississippi

https://www.brusselsbonsai.com/

Hollow Creek in New York

https://www.hollowcreekbonsai.com/

Good luck...

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Gnome
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Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:17 am
Location: Western PA USDA Zone 6A

Drew,

https://www.meehansminiatures.com/

https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/viewcat.htm

Meehan's has many small plants as does Brent at Evergreen, he also has more advanced stuff not listed. You may have to E-mail to see if he has what you are looking for.

Don't overlook other sources of bonsai material. Local nurseries that have been around a while often have trees & shrubs that have been hanging around a long time and can make good bonsai with work. The hard part is recognizing which individuals have potential and which do not.

Even more 'turn-over' oriented nurseries like the box stores can offer material to learn with. For instance, a one or two gallon Juniper will be less expensive than a pre-made bonsai with rocks glued on top and will offer you more opportunity to learn something.

Always look around your neighborhood for landscape material that is being replaced. An old Boxwood is always a find.

Are you looking for anything in particular?

Norm

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JerseyBonsai
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Posts: 39
Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2010 1:41 am
Location: Paterson, NJ : Zone 6-7

I'm having some difficulty locating nurseries around my area. Ideally I would like to do exactly what you said. Look for tree/shrubs that have potential to be beautiful bonsai. So I can really see the rewards of my care and training. Unfortunately I only know the internet as a source for material and can't find much.
Specifically I'm looking for a punica granatum(my gf has grown quite fond)lol :lol: After that just something I can work on pruning and wiring on.Similar to the one/two gallon juniper you mentioned. I know not to fall for those expensive "mallsai" anymore, thanks to you guys! :wink:

-Drew

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Gnome
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Location: Western PA USDA Zone 6A

Drew,

Brent offers Pomegranate in nearly a dozen varieties, all cutting grown to assure consistency. Some are dwarfs and some full sized, but he only seems to offer them in small sizes so you better get started. :wink:

Meehan's also has them. Less variety but larger pots.

I have grown my own from fresh seed from grocery store fruit. They will not be dwarfs but I'm OK with that.

You'll surely be able to find a Juniper at nearly any of the box stores, Lowe's etc.

Norm

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JerseyBonsai
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Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2010 1:41 am
Location: Paterson, NJ : Zone 6-7

woohoo! loew's really? I have one nearby. Didn't think they would have anything. I'll b sure to check it out. Also thanks for the great links pete and norm.

-Drew

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Gnome
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Location: Western PA USDA Zone 6A

Drew,

You may not find anything this time of year. The box stores here get new stock in each spring. Make sure to go when you can spend some time digging around in the pots. It may take some 'investigation' to find a good one

Norm

josh1812@live.com
Senior Member
Posts: 144
Joined: Thu Sep 17, 2009 3:12 pm
Location: Florida

An excellent excellent source for bonsai is Miami Tropical bonsai I have purchased most of my bonsai here and are in a warm climate I live a few minutes away and the growth season already started Heres a link:


https://www.miamitropicalbonsai.com/

Marsman
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Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:19 am
Location: Coventry, CT

If you're looking for high-end material, check out my teacher's site, [url=https://www.sanctuarybonsai.com/index.html]Sanctuary Bonsai[/url].

Home Depot is great for basic stock. You just have to poke around. I love going there in the fall, when everything is 50% off.

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djlen
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Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2009 8:37 pm
Location: Just East of Zone 7a

All of the above sites are very good and I agree with these recommendations, but I have a question for Norm since I'm
so danged cheap:
Norm where can I find a Pomegranate in order to get the pit to plant? :) :roll:
I have looked everywhere and most supermarket people look at me like I'm from Mars!!

Marsman
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Posts: 650
Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:19 am
Location: Coventry, CT

most supermarket people look at me like I'm from Mars!!
Hey! I resemble that remark!

[url=https://s956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Avatars/?action=view&current=Marvin.jpg][img]https://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Avatars/th_Marvin.jpg[/img][/url]

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Gnome
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Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:17 am
Location: Western PA USDA Zone 6A

Len,
Norm where can I find a Pomegranate in order to get the pit to plant?
I see them at various stores in this area, pretty sure Walmart is one. I think they are seasonal, coming in around Thanksgiving so they may already be done for the year.

Norm

Rosaelyn
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Posts: 244
Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2009 9:40 am
Location: Brighton, Michigan

I agree with Meehan's as a good place for bonsai material. I purchased my Bougainvillea there, and I am very happy with it.

I have also had good experiences with Hirt's Gardens through eBay. They have a number of young plants. That is where I purchased my dwarf pomegranate. It's no huge trunked behemoth, but I only paid $9.99 plus shipping and it flowered through most of the fall and early winter.

By far, I think the best way to go is the nursery route. If you have a local bonsai club, join it, or at least sit in on some meetings. Bonsai enthusiasts, I have found, are some of the most giving people I have ever met when it comes to advising and assisting newcomers to the art. They are sure to know of a good nursery or three in your area.

One of my greatest experiences in bonsai was a nursery trip this fall with my bonsai club. I picked up a few plants I will be working with this spring and I had numerous enthusiasts more experienced than I to coach me. :)

As for Miami Tropical Bonsai, I have to say I am not very impressed with their service. I ordered a very attractive, young Schefflera as a Christmas present for a friend. The communication was not great, but the tree was beautiful. So I decided to order myself a Podocarpus from them. This was back before Christmas, as well, and I have not heard anything about my order.

I have tried to email and I have tried to call and all I get is voice mail with a message saying their closed until the New Year. I can understand that the weather has been quite cold and I have seen a few places online say they were not shipping for a few weeks, but I have received no communication whatsoever from Miami Tropical. Once I actually get a chance to talk to someone, I plan to cancel my order and purchase elsewhere.

Perhaps not everyone has had this same experience, but I am under-impressed.

Marsman
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Posts: 650
Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:19 am
Location: Coventry, CT

where can I find a Pomegranate in order to get the pit to plant?
I think I saw some at my market the other day. I'll look for one and if I can find one, I'll mail you the pit(s). How many of them do you want?

[url=https://s956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Various%20Hosting%20Pics/?action=view&current=pomegranate-open.jpg][img]https://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Various%20Hosting%20Pics/th_pomegranate-open.jpg[/img][/url]

TomM
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Location: Cedarville (SE of Utica) NY, USA

Hey Marsman - You've got to be oneofthefunniestguysontheplanet!!!
Love your posts - and your pics.

Marsman
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Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:19 am
Location: Coventry, CT

[img]https://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Fun%20Stuff/big_grin.jpg[/img]

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StickFish
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Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2010 5:53 pm
Location: Memphis, TN

There's actually a Brussel's Bonsai nursury about 30 minutes from my house. I'm planning on making a trip down there some time in the next couple of weeks.
Has anyone actually been to a Brussel's? It looks like they have a great online stock; I'm hoping they have as much stuff at the nursury. I still haven't gotten any tools or good pots for my new tree. :P

derkap10
Cool Member
Posts: 88
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2010 2:15 am
Location: Mississippi

Hey Stickfish,

If you're planning on visiting Brussel's here's something you may wanna check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmyRdflQu-g . I live about 2 hours South of there in Central MS. and only recently found out about it. They have a workshop there at the end of May that looks awesome. Hope this helps,

Allen

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StickFish
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Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2010 5:53 pm
Location: Memphis, TN

I drove down to MS with my dad last night for some dinner and we actually went past Brussel's on accident. :()
Didn't get a chance to stop, but at least I know where it is now. ;)

Thanks for the video link, derkap. Brussel's looks a lot better than what I was expecting. :)



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