Give the Gift of Bonsai

With the holiday season right around the corner, we’re all on the hunt for the perfect presents for friends and family to show our appreciation. A bonsai tree gift would be the perfect option for a loved one who is a hobby gardener or someone who loves house pants.

In this post we’ll talk about giving the gift of bonsai this Christmas as well as the meaning behind giving a bonsai tree as a present and what bonsai related gifts you can get for a gardening enthusiast. 

Bonsai Tree Gifts Suitable for Everyone

For someone without much experience taking care of a bonsai tree a good option is a bonsai tree gift set. Those come with essential tools and bonsai feed so whoever you’re gifting it to can easily take care of their tree and keep it in shape by trimming back the branches. 

Some of our personal favourite trees for beginners are:

• Chinese Elm

This variety of bonsai is very popular amongst bonsai enthusiasts who are just starting their journey in taking care of a tree. It’s an indoor bonsai although it can be taken outside in spring or summer when there’s no danger of frost. This bonsai type has excellent branch structure and grows rapidly compared to other bonsai trees which makes it a great tree to practice pruning and styling on. 

A great Chinese Elm to give as a Christmas gift is our bonsai tree kit which includes an approximately 12-year-old tree planted in a gorgeous red pot as well as pruning scissors and bonsai feed which are a necessity for every bonsai gardener. Our other option for a Chinese Elm bonsai gift set features a younger, 8-year-old tree. 

• Carmona (Fukien Tree) 

Carmona is an elegant and beautiful type of flower bonsai tree that blooms with gentle white flowers.  It can be grown either outdoors or indoors, this tree would make a fine addition to every room or garden adding a piece of natural beauty. It’s also a great bonsai to give as a Christmas gift as it’s easy to take care of in addition to looking wonderful.

Our Carmona gift set comes in a 15cm ceramic tray together with basic pruning scissors and a bottle of feed to help every bonsai enthusiast get started on their bonsai garden. 

• Podocarpus

The Podocarpus is an excellent bonsai variety, due to its gorgeous dark green foliage. It’s usually found in the tropical mountain regions of Asia, however, it can be kept indoors all year round or outside during the hot summer months. This is a good tree for bonsai lovers of all ages, but it odes require the appropriate amount of care in order to thrive. 

If you want to gift a Podocarpus this Christmas season, one amazing option is our bonsai tree gift set which features a young Podocarpus bonsai with the essential accessories needed to upkeep and care for your tree. 

Bonsai Tree Gifts – Meaning

Giving or receiving a bonsai tree as a present is considered to represent a unique way of expressing friendship, love or respect. Gifting someone a plant represents a living connection between those individuals. Gifting a bonsai should be saved for people with great patience who enjoy expressing their artistic side.

Bonsais represent balance and simplicity in nature. A bonsai gift brings a small piece of nature into the recipient’s home. This could be a great choice for someone who lives in an urban setting. 

A bonsai tree takes years to grow so it would provide its recipient with a lifelong companion. In Japanese society, elders are traditionally honoured and the bonsai tree is believed to symbolise the beauty and majesty of age. It can also represent patience which is symbolised by the time it takes to grow a bonsai tree; some bonsai trees are centuries old. 

Bonsai Gifts That Aren’t a Tree

Gifting someone a bonsai is kind of like giving them a pet, if the person doesn’t have the patience or passion to take care of it, it’s going to start withering. If you know that a friend or relative of yours is interested in getting a bonsai but they aren’t sure if they’ll be able to take care of one, or they’re picky in what kind of bonsai they want perhaps a better idea would be to get them a book on bonsai care or a gift card so they can choose a tree to suit their taste. 

On the other hand, if you know someone who loves bonsai but already has a considerable collection of bonsai trees, they might not want yet another tree so it may be a great choice to gift them bonsai tools instead. Every bonsai enthusiast would be happy receiving a new tool kit to help them take care of their bonsai or a pot for their precious trees. 

Before buying a bonsai tree for Christmas you might also want to check out our Care Hub where you can find lots of useful tips on how to take care of your bonsai. You can also go through the rest of our blog for a deep-dive into all bonsai-related topics. 

If you need help selecting a tree or have any questions that need to be answered don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team!