AusBonsai

Hello bonsai people,

On the weekend I went passed a nursery near my house I never knew was there...I saw what I thought was a dieing juniper. I was trying to barter the price down claiming that it was dead and in bad shape (I'm a terrible salesman but was trying to save a few bucks on my bonsai habit that has already cost me an arm and a leg[like many here I'm sure])

Now there were a few brown needles which I know is a sign of bad health but what was more alarming was that many of the branches had a bright white tip of needles on the end?!? So as I was trying to half the asking price ( I stress I am not proud of my intense battering methods-probably something in my ethnic DNA ) the lovely old man laughed at me and said 'come on boy, supposed to be like this'

Tell ya what, did i feel like an idiot!! Not only did the old fella put me back in my place but it just goes to show how much more knowledge there is to acquire when it cones to the world of bonsai...

After some Internet research I think it could be a 'fake cypress' or a 'snow juniper' or something along those lines but could not tell 100% has anybody ever seen a juniper looking bonsai with beautiful almost soft white tips? Are they a common bonsai subject? I'd be really happy with a common and botanical name...Or is the old man down at the nursery a better salesman than me, pulling one over my eyes and putting up for sale a neglected bonsai collected from the banks of an radiation infected river?

Thanks folks

We've got to try haven't we FB? I've done similar things myself in various nurseries. Sometimes it pays off - other times it doesn't

Is this photo anything like what you saw? This one is Juniperus Chinensis 'Expansa Variegata' (J. davurica)

Wow....i cant belive it!! that was quick and dear lord I think it is!!! Il march there tomr and double check...Tman, thanks for sharing your knowledge with us

Il also try my bargaining skills again and let you know how I go

fb.

the way to bargain is easy. just bring cash. say u want the tree for 20 dollars.

just tell him u only have 20 dollars. and say it would be nice if u can accept this 20 for the tree.

then u say. cash?
hehehe

folks, I went to check it out and try my bargaining....I go there and could not find it?!? then I was able to remeber the pot and found it but...the old man had cleaned it and heavily pruned it since I complained of its ill health!!!!! then changed the price from $65 to $130!!! Well I am shocked and appaled and my big mouth got me in trouble as usual guess destiny was not on my side...

wow! talk about inflation ! that sucks man, a quick prune and practically double the price, is this at a bonsai nursery? I didnt read through earlier posts os you might have said so already

unbeleivable mate, what a bugger, ohwell, we live, we learn

great looking tree, shame about the new price tho

FB, I see you're in Victoria. Try this nursery if you still want some:

Conifer Gardens Nursery has been operating for more than 30 years at Ferny Creek in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges, 40km east of Melbourne in Victoria.

They have it advertised on their website as 'Juniperus davurica 'Expansa Variegata' and the write-up says:
"A low spreading shrub with thick branches. The greyish-green foliage contains numerous white chunky splashes.. Spreads more than 1M. Good for bonsai."

Their website and the page it's on is:

http://www.conifer.com.au/?pageid=1706

The species Juniperus davurica is used extensively in Europe. The one you saw is a hybrid,Exspansa the brown needles you saw were the white or in some cases yellow dying off.

Many years ago we had them as ornimentals here in the west for gardens. Some people tried them as Bonsai, but gave up because of the browning off and dying of the coloured foliage. Most people that kept them then started to just cut it off and some nice Bonsai were the results.
In the main though,you see them , but always with the dead brown needles. The women loved them.

Cheers Pup

I have six of these. They have been grown in progressive sizes of nursery bags for more than 20 years. This year I planted four in their first bonsai containers for initial training. WOW, did they not take to that. A lot of die back on many of the branches. Some branches have even lost all their needles. The added mistake I may have made is that as a result of the trees apparently suffering, I placed them into the shade. Junipers do not like shade.
Also shade creates poorer drainage. So i have four very unhappy Davurica Junipers. Any ideas how I can fix this. I have already moved them out of the shade into the sun.