Bonsai Trees

Here are some nice trees for sale (Note: Junipers are outdoor trees).

Here are some nice bonsai that can be grown indoors:

Some notes about ordering a bonsai over the web:

It is probably better to order your bonsai or prebonsai in a plastic pot. I have seen a lot of reviews where the customer received a nice tree in a broken pot. Packing an empty bonsai pot is a lot easier than packing one with a tree in it, and trees seem to ship better in plastic pots (need less protection, and lighter package). If you have your heart set on one that is in a ceramic pot, do not assume that it will arrive with the pot intact. Have soil and a backup pot ready when the tree arrives, in case it needs to be repotted.

Consider geography when you buy a tree over the web. The farther the seller is from you, the longer the tree will spend in transit, without light or water. Ask about shipping times. Any tree that spends longer than three days in shipping is likely to arrive severely stressed unless it is shipped while dormant. Also consider the time of year. Shipping trees is easier when they are dormant.

Read the fine print. Unless you see wordage that says you are receiving the tree pictured, expect something different. No two bonsai are ever exactly alike, and for sure your tree will look different from the one in the photo if it is a different tree. You may also get a different pot. A pottery kiln may run out of one type of glaze or clay, and change or end a production run of pots, so the pot pictured may not be available.

Once you receive your tree, unpack it carefully. The best method is to cut the box open with a box cutter, and then very carefully remove the packing material from around the branches, so as not to damage the branches.

After you have the tree unpacked, pull it out of the pot (I know, this feels traumatic) and check the roots and the soil. If the soil is too dry, then put the tree back in the pot and give it a good watering. If the water does not drain well or drains too quickly, then repot the tree and replace the soil. If the soil is gloppy wet (it should not be after a couple of days in shipping) then it probably drains really badly, and should be replaced with good bonsai soil. If you do not know what good bonsai soil is, then see my soil page.

If the tree looks like it has been recently potted, then there is probably no need to disturb it, but if it is potbound, then you will need to prune the roots and replace the soil to ensure the tree’s health.

Now you can put your tree in its place of honor and enjoy your new bonsai.