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How do they survive?

10 years ago

Typical post on this forum: "I just bought a [ficus/juniper/unknown] bonsai from the store and it is dying. Please help!"

[Insert photo of dead/dying plant in a soggy 90% peat brick with glued-on pea gravel.]

Typical response: "Try changing the soil, watering when the plant needs it, giving an appropriate level of light, etc."

My question is, how do these plants survive and look so nice when they are at the store in such bad media? Do they water less, use better lighting? It seems strange to me that so many bonsai (and houseplants for that matter) do fine at the store and die at home...

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Comments (2)

dethcheez
10 years ago
Because they rotate out the dead stock & replace it with new plants

The bonsais you see at stores like WalMart & HomeDepot etc. are c**p

Just because you put a cutting or plant in a small pot doesn't make it a bonsai
LOL
JimK1940
10 years ago
Right on dethcheez, there is a term for these plants, called Mallsai, not Bonsai. People that sell this c--p have only one interest, that being the MONEY in your pocket. They could care less if the plant lives or dies.

The best advice I can give you is this, if you purchased or was given one of the Mallsai, take it out of the pot it's in and plant it in a training pot. (large pot) with good Bonsai Soil.

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