Is Buying a Bonsai Tree Kit Worth It?

Bonsai Tree Kits Can Be Disappointing, Here’s Why!

Buying a bonsai tree kit is one great way to introduce and encourage anyone to grow their first bonsai. It helps people kick off their journeys by providing the basic and necessary tools and supplies.

However, many bonsai tree kits are falsely-advertised. Many of them are just overpriced regular seed growing kits. Some are great starter kits that do not include seeds or trees.

Read on to learn:

• Whether bonsai tree seeds exist.
• How long it takes for a seed to grow into a bonsai.
• What are bonsai tree kits, and whether they are worth it.
• 6 main reasons why bonsai tree kits can be very misleading.
• 5 important features to look for when buying a bonsai tree kit.
• And much, much more…

What is a Bonsai Tree Kit?

Think of bonsai tree kits as a gift box for aspiring and beginner bonsai growers. It’s mostly advertised as a “starter kit” for anyone who wants to start growing bonsai. 

Depending on the kit, it may contain the following:

• Soil
• Fertilizers
• A few pots
• Booklet guide
• Plant markers
• Training wires
• Bonsai material(s)
• Pruning & repotting tools

You can buy these bonsai tree kits in local nurseries or online at around $20 to $50.

There are three types of bonsai tree kits you can buy:

1. Kits that only include some tools and supplies.
2. Kits that include some tools, basic supplies, and tree seeds.
3. Kits that include some tools, basic supplies, and a young tree.

Does a bonsai tree kit work?

Regardless of what type of kit you buy, it’d work as long as you used the tools properly and provided your bonsai material with proper care.

However, whether these kits are worth it is debatable. Some would argue it isn’t worth buying because many kits are falsely-advertised. Read below to find out why.

6 Reasons Why Some Bonsai Starter Kits Can Be Misleading

There are several reasons why some bonsai growers don’t recommend beginners to start their bonsai growing journey by buying bonsai tree kits, particularly those that come with tree seeds.

Here’s why:

1. There’s no such thing as “bonsai seeds.”

Does the bonsai starter kit you’re eyeing mention that it contains several bonsai seeds? Then, stay away from it because there’s no such thing as “bonsai seeds.”

Bonsai is a Japanese term that refers to the art form of making a tree smaller by containing it in a small pot. Any tree, even a lemon tree, can be trained as a bonsai as long as it can grow or has a good trunk.

Those “bonsai seeds” on many starter kits are just regular tree seeds that can grow tall like normal trees. It’d only become bonsai trees after undergoing several years of proper bonsai training.

2. Seeds take several years to grow.

Unfortunately, most bonsai tree kits sold on the market contain tree seeds and not actual pre-bonsai material. 

While that isn’t necessarily bad, growing a bonsai from seed takes many years, potentially discouraging some beginners. 

Generally, it’d take about ten years until a sapling can develop into good pre-bonsai material. 

You can loosely wire some 3-year-old species to form initial movement, but that’s about it. You’d have to wait several more years before you can create a classic-looking bonsai tree.

3. Seed germination can be very challenging.

Apart from the fact that seeds take years to grow, germinating seeds can be very challenging, especially for first-timers.

It’s much easier to maintain a trained bonsai than to germinate seeds, given the low rate of successful germination.

Depending on the tree species, you may need to scarify and stratify your seeds to help them germinate. You should do these processes properly; otherwise, the seeds won’t grow.

You should also perform this if:

• The seeds aren’t local to your region.
• It’s out of season (germination is best done in spring).
• The tree species thrive in a climate that’s different from yours.

Additionally, having low-quality or non-viable seeds is another factor that makes seed germination difficult for beginners. That’s especially true for bonsai tree kits bought online and abroad.

If seeds are shipped from another state or country, you can’t always assure the viability or shelf-life of the seeds. 

Also, there’s no way you can check whether the seeds would work until you’ve already tried to germinate them. That process takes several weeks or months, depending on the tree species, making it impossible for you to complain about a defective product.

4. Not all trees thrive in all regions.

One of the most concerning problems with bonsai starter kits with seeds is that they don’t allow buyers to choose the tree seeds they want to plant.

The tree seeds on these kits are pre-selected, and you can’t always guarantee that those will thrive in your region unless you’ve studied the species beforehand.

Aside from that, some kits also advertise their seeds as suitable for workplaces or office spaces, which is untrue for most bonsai tree species as most can only be kept outdoors year-round.

5. The tools that come with some bonsai tree kits can barely support the tree’s needs.

Some bonsai tree kits with seeds come with low-quality or non-suitable tools and supplies. 

Some are just regular seed growing kits disguised as “bonsai kits,” where the items included in the package won’t be of any use once the seeds you’ve planted grow into a pre-bonsai material.

They often come with peat pots and peat or coir pellets that are only useful during the seed germination phase. After that, you’d have to buy your own proper bonsai tools and supplies. 

Here’s an example of peat pots that can’t be reused as they decompose after a certain time:

Some kits also come with a few pruning or wiring tools. However, those won’t be used until several years later if you’re starting from seeds. By the time you’d have to use them, those tools will probably be already dull and rusty.

6. Bonsai tree kits with seeds are quite expensive for what they are.

Bonsai tree kits with seeds are just overpriced seed-growing kits.

How?

Let’s review some of the things we’ve discussed above:

• Seed germination isn’t considered part of bonsai art.
• “Bonsai seeds” don’t exist; they are just regular tree seeds.
• Peat pots and peat pellets can’t be used for actual bonsai growing.
• It’d take about ten years before a seed can turn into good pre-bonsai material.

Given these, it’s safe to say that selling bonsai starter kits with seeds is somewhat just a way for them to sell regular tree seeds at a higher price.

To further prove my point, let me give you a quick example…

Buying a bonsai tree kit with juniper seeds can cost about $30. However, if you buy normal juniper seeds that aren’t advertised as bonsai seeds, you can get them for as low as $1 per pack! That’s even less than a third of the price of the kit.

Also, small-quantity peat pots and peat pellets can be bought at around $5 and $10, respectively. 

Try to add the costs of each item, and you’d realize that buying bonsai tree kits with seeds is a complete ripoff. 

So What Should You Buy Instead?

If you want to buy a bonsai tree kit to do actual bonsai training, stay away from kits that come with tree seeds (unless you want to start from scratch & you want a decades-long journey).

Instead, buy a bonsai tree kit with an actual young tree. That way, you can learn and practice how to properly grow and maintain a bonsai tree right away.

Another option is to buy a young bonsai tree from your local nursery or online and order a bonsai tree kit with basic tools and supplies. Just make sure your kit includes the bonsai pot, soil, fertilizer, and a wire kit with shears.

Buying tip: When buying a pre-bonsai material in nurseries, ask for a “young plant or tree.” That’s because nurseries tend to price “bonsai trees” more expensive.

5 Important Things to Look for When Buying a Bonsai Tree Kit

Are you still eager to get a bonsai tree kit? Then, continue reading this section to keep yourself away from buying falsely advertised bonsai tree kits.

A “real” bonsai starter kit should supply materials that would allow you to perform basic bonsai techniques: repotting, pruning, and wiring.

To help you out, here are what a good and real bonsai tree kit should have:

1. Healthy young tree with good features

When buying a starter kit that includes a tree, ensure it comes with an actual pre-bonsai tree, not just seeds.

Here are some features you should look for in a pre-bonsai material:

• Good taper
• Attractive nebari
• Undamaged bark
• Thick and strong trunk
• Free of pests and diseases

Tip: If you want to ensure that the tree you’re getting will thrive in your region, choose a species native to your area.

2. Good quality soil

The best bonsai trees thrive because of good quality soil. 

That said, ensure that the pre-mixed soil that comes with the kit is free-draining, retains enough moisture, and has good aeration. This type of bonsai soil can be achieved using coarse components like lava, pearock, calcined clay, and pine bark.

3. Appropriate-size pot with drainage

Having well-draining soil won’t make any sense if the pot you’re using has no good drainage and isn’t appropriate for the size of your tree. 

That’s why you should check whether the bonsai pot is suitable for the tree and has 1-2  drainage holes on the underside. 

Also, choose a kit that offers a shallow ceramic pot so that you can train your material better as a bonsai.

4. Basic bonsai maintenance tools

Look for a kit that allows you to at least do one of the basic bonsai techniques. 

Most bonsai tree kits include a few pruning tools like a pair of bonsai shears or leaf trimmer. Others contain bonsai wires and a wire cutter for styling and shaping.

When buying one, ensure that the tools are high quality so that you can use them for several years. Also, look for a wire set that includes several gauges, so you have enough for various size branches.

5. Comprehensive guide for the specific tree

Most bonsai starter kits only include one type of tree in the package. This allows the buyers to practice and master certain bonsai techniques on their specific tree species.

That said, if you’re buying a bonsai starter kit with a young tree, ensure it includes a booklet guide specifically made for the provided tree.

Here’s what the guide should have:

• Wiring instructions
• Pruning instructions
• Repotting instructions
• Overwintering instructions
• General information about the tree species

Conclusion

Bonsai tree kits can give you a good push in growing bonsai trees, but only if you buy a high-quality one with proper soil and fertilizer, an appropriate pot for your tree, and a good wire kit.

Sadly, many bonsai starter kits on the market come with tree seeds, which can mislead people about what bonsai growing is. 

More than that, it can discourage beginners from pursuing bonsai art as those kits don’t disclose how long it takes to grow a bonsai from seed.

Thus, if you want to buy a bonsai starter kit as a gift for yourself or someone else…

Get one that comes with a young tree, or buy the tree separately. That way, you won’t have to wait for several years before you can learn and practice growing and maintaining a bonsai tree.

You might also be interested in: Are Bonsai Trees Expensive to Grow?