Bonsai trees are some of the most elegant, yet expensive trees on the market.
Bonsai is an art form that originated in sixth-century China and requires many years of education and many hours per day of cultivation.
It is the practice of restricting the growth of a regular tree so that it is a miniature piece of nature that fits in a pot.
They are so expensive that prices range up to a million dollars.
Bonsai trees are beautiful adornments to any garden and display a higher socioeconomic status.
One of the main reasons they are so expensive is the careful craftsmanship and curatorship they require.
Keep reading for more reasons bonsai trees are expensive, and afterward, find some tips for keeping your bonsai tree healthy for many years.
Why Are Bonsai Trees So Expensive? (Top 10 Reasons)
1. It Is An Art Form
Like many pieces of art, bonsai trees come at a high price.
Bonsai trees are a form of artistic expression, dissimilar to other types of plants you can buy at the nursery.
It is like a form of sculpture, with more give and take.
The plant is living and will react uniquely depending on its environment and genetics.
The artist can only influence the plant, but cannot control it, unlike many other artistic mediums.
When you purchase a bonsai tree, you are also purchasing a piece of the artist’s vision, but unlike many other pieces of art that are made in days, weeks, or even years, the art of the bonsai tree is created over decades and sometimes even centuries.
2. It Looks Like A Tiny Forest
Bonsai trees have a trademark aesthetic.
They are often placed in large pots with space for other bonsai plants so that they can grow amongst trees and grass to simulate a tiny forest.
It is like a miniature piece of Mother Nature right in your backyard, which is refreshingly beautiful.
While many people think that bonsai trees are a separate kind of tree, that is not the case.
Bonsai trees are the same species as regular trees but are just kept at a very small size.
3. Bonsai Art Is Very Labor-Intensive
To restrict the growth of a bonsai tree, caretakers need to spend several years pruning, wiring, repotting, and grafting every day.
The trees also need to be watered and checked on every day to make sure they are progressing well.
They are grown in shallow pots to keep them small compared to full-size trees and plants.
This also means that it is easier for them to die.
If exposed to not enough water or too much sunlight, the roots can get damaged.
Bonsai trees need daily attention, or they will die.
They need to be watered every day, or even twice a day when it is super-hot outside.
They need at least five hours per day of sunlight (depending on the species).
Bonsai gardeners need to care for their trees daily, for several years, until the trees are strong and healthy.
One bonsai master said that the most important skill is patience because of the immense time and devotion the craft requires.
4. It Requires Very Skilled Workers
All the detailed steps and careful craftsmanship required to raise a bonsai tree mean that not everyone is skilled enough to do it.
It requires several years of education and training.
Many of the trees need to be carefully and methodically bent or positioned around other trees or rocks to create their unique shape.
A lot of these skills contribute to the bonsai tree’s high value.
Bonsai gardeners need to water and prune their trees constantly.
A lot of work goes into making sure they stay strong, healthy, and small.
Gardeners need to make sure that they trim the roots and branches, but it is a tedious and specialized process because one small misstep and the tree can become damaged.
5. Many Are Grown For Centuries
Many bonsai plants are cultivated for several years, and one mistake can completely ruin a plant that has been growing for centuries.
When the trees are older, their trunks are thicker.
Very high-quality bonsai trees are thick and tapered to reflect the ratios of a full-size tree.
When the trunk is strong and large, it will hold more branches that can be bent and turned into impressive designs, that further increase the tree’s value.
The most expensive bonsai tree is an 800-year-old pine tree located in Japan that sold for $1.3 million.
One bonsai master, Chiako Yamamoto, is the fourth in her family line to devote her career to cultivating bonsai trees.
She is based in central Japan and has spent the last 51 years taking care of and selling bonsai trees.
Some of the most valuable trees have been growing for over 800 years, so the price is not going to decrease anytime soon.
6. There Is A Low Supply
Since bonsai trees take so much time and effort to grow, there are not many of them on the market.
By the simple laws of supply and demand, that means that the price for bonsai trees will increase.
This is partly because the best bonsai trees are centuries old.
People who are bonsai enthusiasts want trees that look older because they are more established and probably will not grow taller.
The more mature a tree looks, the higher the cost.
However, since there are so few mature trees on the market, bonsai costs are even higher.
7. Bonsai Pots And Tools Are Expensive
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The value of a bonsai tree is more than just the plant itself.
It is also the tools used in cultivation and the fancy pots in which they are sold.
Many of the tools and pots are handmade and can cost thousands of dollars themselves.
Gardeners need to invest in high-quality bonsai tools, to ensure that their potting and growth patterns are precise and effective.
There are also a lot of different tools required in the cultivation process, specifically some dedicated to styling, shaping, and training the trees.
Many bonsai enthusiasts prefer pots manufactured in Japan.
These containers are rare though and can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
8. It Depends On The Kind Of Tree
Some trees are more expensive than others.
If you purchase an older tree, you will inevitably have to pay a higher price.
However, if you purchase a standalone plant, it will be cheaper than a small garden, because of the complicated and labor-intensive process required to ensure the different trees engage with each other.
Some trees are harder to grow or are very rare, so they are more expensive.
Some trees are grown in the wild, which makes their value even higher.
Yamadori is the Japanese practice of collecting bonsai trees that grow organically in nature.
Some trees that are grown in the wild create their own bonsai trees, based on the complex root system beneath the dirt.
It is extremely rare to find trees raised through the Yamadori method since they are grown in very remote locations.
Some trees are grown from high cliffs, so it is dangerous and time-consuming to collect them.
When bonsai trees are collected using the Yamadori method, they have a low survival rate when sold in artificial environments.
They require additional care and attention.
9. Many High-Quality Bonsai Trees Are Imported From Japan
Bonsai plants originated in Asia and are most popular in China and Japan.
Some of the most expensive bonsai trees are imported from Asia, where they have been growing traditionally for many centuries.
People who want the best quality bonsai trees need to pay high prices for the bonsai tree itself, in addition to the cost of labor and high import fees that come with transporting live plants.
It is also popular to grow trees in Indonesia or Thailand.
Cheaper bonsai trees are cultivated in China and start as simple cuttings from other types of plants.
They are kept in the ground for three to five years until the trunks are thick enough (about six feet), to be cut down to a few inches and grown for another year to allow new branches to form.
This is the fastest way to make a bonsai tree get a thick trunk.
However, the trunk will not taper as it does on a full-size older tree, and there are visible scars that decrease the aesthetic.
Bonsai trees grown in Japan take more time to cultivate but are older and do not have scars.
As a result, Japanese bonsai trees are more expensive because of the extensive time and labor costs involved.
When you see an expensive bonsai tree, keep in mind the high cost of shipping a live plant as well as heavy tools and pots overseas.
Sometimes bonsai trees have price tags up to four times higher than the original cost due to shipping fees and import taxes.
10. They Are A Long-Term Investment
As many bonsai trees have been growing for centuries, when they are finally sold, they can keep growing for centuries after.
When you purchase a bonsai tree, you are also purchasing a plant that can last a lifetime.
That is not something you can usually get at the plant shop.
With the right care, you can pass them down for generations.
Since they are a long-term investment, the prices are higher.
Plant sellers want to be sure that people understand the specific needs of a bonsai tree, and higher costs mean that it is less likely people will impulsively purchase them without doing the proper research first.
Since many bonsai trees have a high value, people will research the maintenance required to maintain them before making such an investment.
Things You Need To Know About Your Bonsai
As you make this long-term investment, it is important to note some of the protocols for taking care of a bonsai tree properly.
If you want to buy a premade bonsai tree, there are some things you should know.
1. Bonsai Trees Can Get Sick
When you purchase a bonsai tree, you need to be aware of the responsibility you are taking on with it.
Bonsai trees can get sick, and they will need treatment.
As their caretaker, you should be aware of the signs and symptoms of possible illnesses, and some cures, to make sure that they recover and stay well.
Also, beware of molds that can grow on your tree because mold can also decrease your bonsai’s health.
Treatments are costly, though, so be prepared to take this on when you bring home your bonsai tree.
You can assess if your bonsai is sick by checking for yellow leaves, brown or dry leaves, or dry soil.
2. Bonsai Trees Dry Out Rapidly
It is more common for bonsai trees to dry out rather than houseplants because bonsais are in shallow pots and often have coarse soil.
Each tree will have its own nutritional needs.
It is important to spend the first few weeks observing how your bonsai tree reacts to different things like food, water, and sunlight, to create the right environment.
Many experts encourage bonsai owners to especially pay attention to the tree’s soil.
When it is even slightly dry, gardeners should add more water.
The rate at which the tree dries out depends on the season, humidity, soil composition, and species of tree.
During the summer, you might need to water your tree twice a day, but in the colder months, it might be closer to once.
If your tree is larger, it may need more water than a smaller tree.
3. Watering Your Tree Is Not Always Simple
It is not too hard, either.
You must be careful about how much you water them because they are grown in such shallow pots and therefore have a delicate root system.
Since their root system is small and restricted, they need to be watered more frequently than most other types of plants.
Since it is in a closed container, it loses its ability to self-regulate its moisture levels, meaning that humans need to regulate it themselves.
Many people make the fatal error of over or under-watering their bonsai tree, which can cause their tree to die prematurely.
When a bonsai tree is overwatered, the leaves may turn yellow, the trunk can look unstable, branches may become small and fragile, or the stems may die.
When you purchase your bonsai tree, there is a good chance that a guide to watering it will come with it, which will be very helpful because different species of bonsai trees have different needs.
You want something specific to the needs of your bonsai tree.
Overall, they need a steady stream of moisture.
Watering your tree is more of an art than a science.
4. There Needs To Be A Proper Soil Mixture
You can’t just use any old plant soil to house your bonsai tree.
You will have to consider the different ratios in the soil mixture.
Bonsai trees require special soil with main components of clay, peat moss, and vermiculite.
All these ingredients help to retain water in the soil.
If your dirt contains a high amount of these items, the soil will be able to hold more water, thus increasing the health and vitality of your tree.
It may even decrease how often you need to water your tree.
Be very careful of adding more components to your soil mixture.
If you add too much of any of these vital ingredients, you could decrease aeration and drainage, thus increasing the risk for too much water that leads the roots to rot.
If you have too much fertilizer mixed in with your soil, which also provides essential nutrients for growth and function, it could cause the soil to dry up faster.
Fertilizers may increase the speed with which the soil’s natural ingredients decompose.
Fertilizer may therefore delay the growth of your bonsai tree.
You can measure the moisture of your soil by using a soil meter.
If you do not have one, you can also use the finger method or the chopstick method.
5. Be Aware Of How The Weather Affects Your Bonsai Tree
Sunlight is a very important determinant of how your bonsai tree will fare.
If it is placed in direct sunlight, the bonsai tree will grow faster (and need more water).
If you want to keep your bonsai tree small, try keeping it in a shadier area.
It is also important to keep your tree away from wind because wind can dry out bonsais and make them vulnerable to breakage.
If you do not acclimatize your bonsai tree to the wind and cold, winters will be especially hard on it.
Winterizing your bonsai tree will decrease the risk of soil freezing.
If the soil becomes frozen, the roots will be unable to absorb water properly and the stem will lose water.
In the cold months, it is more important than ever to water your bonsai tree regularly.
Bonsai trees are especially fond of humidity.
If it is possible to increase the humidity of the environment, your bonsai tree will look noticeably healthier.
This is essential in hot, dry climates.
Conclusion
Not all bonsai trees are expensive.
You can find different types and prices for bonsai trees depending on the species of tree, pot, age, and location.
Some budget-friendly trees go for $20 to $50.
If they are this inexpensive, the trees are probably young and will require more attention to keep alive.
When bonsai trees are expensive, it is largely due to the extensive time and attention put into cultivating them.
It also depends on the tree’s age, species, and origin.
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