I am sure the Kinbotan pictures that I have seen are not of the highly prized ones. As a matter of fact, none appealed to me in the least and I feel I am pretty discerning wrt neos. Maybe I’m not, but if that is the case, I am benefiting greatly financially from not being discerning.

Again, personal taste. Some people might not like Kinbotan as much as the growers that drive the price do. Doesn't mean that it's not considered extraordinarily beautiful by those that do.

Similarly, there are people like diamonds, and there are some that don't and think they're overpriced. Just because some people don't like them doesn't mean that there aren't enough people who do to drive the price.

Great discussion. If anything, it has livened up the Board for an hour or two.

I am enjoying it.

Not sure if you saw it but satomi had a kinbotan on her list for 2500. it looked ok I guess. I think a fan and couple growths...

In a general statement let me say that it appears the demand for "fine" things in Asia seem to dictate the high price of various natural things, legal and illegal- elephant tusks, bear livers, variegated haworthias, dudleyas from CA, exotic woods, god knows what else. Oh the mix of market forces and unending flexing of the rich...

Hakumin, as always you're my neo hero!

Shoreguy your gojo/ tenkei fukirin is spectacular! What kind of light are you doing? with the kinkujaku (spl)? The radial arrangement of the leaves coupled with variegation is just stunning! a 30 year relationship that could never go sour!

Patty, thanks for asking, I took photos tonight and will post in a bit, nothing compared to what you got, wow!

u bada,

The gojo/tenkei gets direct sun through a window or through a window and bug screen depending on the sun position. The Kinkujacu always through window and bug screen. Thank you for the compliments on both.