So you went to bonsai show with a friend and on the way home you visited a couple bonsai nurseries. You’ve been thinking about it for a while and now you have decided that working with bonsai plants might be a rewarding hobby, now what?

Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the Bonsai Care Weblog. Today we are going to look at the cost of getting started in bonsai. We are going to pay particular attention to the cost of our tools. As in any other hobby there is a beginning cost and as hobbies go the beginning cost of bonsai is on the low to med side. Your “must have” novice grade tools are going to cost you about $150 give or take a couple dollars, maybe a little less with the help from your new bonsai friends via used or hand me downs.

This isn’t going to get you the best tools but they will be adequate for the job. As you learn you can purchase a better grade tools and hand down your old tools to a young novice.

How to get started for five dollars

Now you could get started with even less. I have a friend who wanted to get into bonsai but wasn’t sure if he would like it so his wife suggested a “three month Learning curve.” He bought a set of used tools consisting of three tools, trimming shears, branch cutters and small knob cutters. Basic tools for 30 dollars. For the first three months he spent one day a week with a friend who had all the tools and was willing to coach him and teach him the basics. If he needed a different tool he just borrowed it. Once a month he went to a bonsai club meeting where he learned and meet other bonsai artist. He went to a couple bonsai shows and attended the free clinics. So during the three month learning curve his only expense was bonsai stock which he got at Home Depot and a local nursery.

It has been five years since my friend got started and he now has more quality tools then I do. Oh, bye the way, he sold that set of beginner tools for $25. Total cost to get started Five Bucks!

Of coarse you will also need a little wire, about six sizes, $40 could get you started and some raffia from the craft store $3. Overall tool and supply cost about $200 on average, not to bad. Beginner bonsai stock is another story but even that isn’t to expensive.

I hope this overview helps some of you who are just sitting on the outside looking in. The living art of bonsai is an awesome hobby and every day is a little different. It is also a hobby you will be able to enjoy into your 80’s and beyond.

Now go check out the local nursery, I hear they just put the 1 gal black pines on sale for $9.95 each.