Why is bonsai so expensive? I would rephrase this question as: Why is it impossible for bonsai to be cheap? First of all, the main reason is, of course, time. The time that is required to create a bonsai. As a rule, to create a beautiful bonsai, a specialist needs at least 5-8 years, while for a refined piece, it can take 10-15 years. A tree is a living organism; it is not clay that will unconditionally follow the master's hands. Therefore, each seedling has its own nature and, so to speak, its own character, which, if not taken into account, will certainly ruin the tree. Equally important is the time and patience required for a specialist to master the techniques, as the first small results come only after several years of work. Personally, it took me about 10 years to figure out the methods to achieve the desired result. Shaping any tree is also a specific task. You cannot predict how a tree will behave. At every stage of shaping, constant attention and adjustments are needed. It is impossible for two identical bonsai to exist in nature. Therefore, each tree needs an individual approach.
A bonsai specialist's attention does not waver even after the shaping stage is completed. Even a small lapse in attention can dry out the tree. For example, a delayed watering can ruin years of hard work. Trimming to maintain the shape is always necessary. Otherwise, the tree will lose its shape and the beauty that took so many years and patience to achieve. The price of the miniature tree is also increased by the fact that the tools required to create a bonsai are never cheap. A quality, specialized pot or tool is usually much more expensive than other garden tools or ceramic pieces of the same level.
At the initial stage, it is certainly possible to achieve some results with cheap, relatively low-quality tools. However, inexpensive tools will not be durable nor made from the best materials. This complicates the shaping process and, in the end, it will reflect on the appearance of the bonsai.
In recent years, bonsai has become increasingly popular. It has also become a status symbol. In developed countries, many people, including celebrities, buy bonsai to emphasize their refined and unique taste.
The other side of popularity is that many plants have appeared on the market, which are sold as Bonsais. However, they have no connection to this Japanese culture. They are called Bonsais simply because they are small and in pots. These trees are usually commercially produced mass products and are typically sold in garden stores. As a result, their price is much lower, and for Bonsai enthusiasts, they are less valuable due to improper shaping. Therefore, a specialist who decides to sell their work usually asks for quite a large sum. If you search online for Bonsai specimens for sale, their prices typically range from $1200 to $15,000. However, collectors pay much higher amounts to purchase traditional, unique Bonsais.
In conclusion, we can say that a Bonsai can never be cheap, and there is nothing wrong with that, because unique creations, on which a lot of time and energy has been spent, are almost never cheap.
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