How to Buy Bonsai Trees on eBay

Buying Bonsai trees from eBay is a quick and economical way to get specimens with which to start your hobby. Buying a real bonsai from a nursery or a bonsai enthusiast can run into hundreds of dollars, and if you are a novice, your money could be wasted. Try the young trees available on eBay to start raising bonsai trees.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Go to eBay and type Bonsai in the search feature.

2. Make sure to view many trees for sale. Prices vary so be sure to look at the many variations in prices.

3. Choose the tree species carefully. Juniper, ficus and cypress trees are good trees for beginners to buy.

4. Contact the buyer with questions. If you are an experienced Bonsai grower, eBay has a way to contact the buyer so that you may ask technical questions. If you are a novice, you may also want to ask about the climates the tress grow in and the basic care they require.

5. Read carefully. Some sellers state that a specific tree is FOR Bonsai. That means that the tree in not a bonsai, just a young sapling that may be made into a Bonsai. Seek out actual Bonsai trees instead.

6. Try to be home when the trees arrive. Once they arrive, quickly get them into a pot and hydrate them. The plants will need a little time before you try to prune and shape them.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to get a chart that tells you what growing climate you live in. You don't want to buy a tree that will not thrive in your particular climate.
• When planting trees, make sure that root systems never dry out. Keep them in water while they are out of the soil.
• Try to stay away from jade plants and money tree plants. These trees can be bought at a department store at much lower prices.
• Don't spent a lot of money on a tree unless you know what you are doing. You may find that the hobby is not as satisfying as you expected, or because you are new at this, the tree may die and so will your investment.
• Don't buy a tree that is described simply as a "Bonsai." All Bonsai trees come from a specific family of trees because it is the shaping that creates a Bonsai. There are elms, maples, pine; just about all species of trees can be Bonsai trees.
• There are a few unethical sellers everywhere, and the sellers of Bonsai are no exception. It is easy to hawk a tea tree as being 60 years old when in reality it is only 10. Let the buyer beware and make sure you don't get burned.

Resources

• Visit the eBay Bonsai section, listing bonsai for sale.
• Bonsai basics for beginners.