Why Bonsai Are So Expensive | So Expensive

Bonsai is an art form that requires years of training and centuries of dedication. At the 2012 international bonsai convention, a tree was on sale for 100 million yen, just under a million dollars. And many more of these trees are considered completely priceless. So what is it that makes bonsai so expensive? Bonsai is the art of dwarfing a regular tree to create a perfect miniature representation of nature in a small pot. It has a long history. Originating in China, the practice of creating tiny trees and landscapes appeared as far back as the sixth century. The tree's growth is restricted by years of pruning, wiring, repotting, and grafting, and the plants need to be checked on and often watered every day. The skills required to grow these trees plays a huge part in their value. They're often bent and twisted into shape, positioned around rocks, or even placed with other trees to simulate a tiny forest. Many of these techniques require years to master, and any errors made can result in permanently ruining the shape or even killing a plant that has been growing for centuries. Chiako Yamamoto is a fourth-generation bonsai master based in central Japan. She's been creating and selling bonsai for the last 51 years, and one of the hardest skills to master when growing these plants is patience. The time and devotion this process requires is unlike almost any other form of artwork. While the work is almost a form of sculpture, the plants are living things and will always react in their own way. The extraordinary time this process takes means that just aren't that many trees around. Some of the most valuable bonsai are over 800 years old, and so the supply isn't going to increase anytime soon. Other factors can contribute to the cost. The bonsai pots and the tools used are often handmade and can cost thousands of dollars themselves. Certain types of tree are also harder to grow or require certain techniques and may fetch a higher price. But, more than anything, these trees are works of art valued for their beauty and the vision of the artist.

Channel: Business Insider

Views: 7,688,688

Keywords: Video, bonsai tree, bonsai, planting, tree, sculptures, Business News, japanese, japanese art, Original, UK, so expensive, plants, trees, japan, art, Business Insider, expensive, bonsai master

Id: IYRmHjA1HiA

Length: 5min 48sec (348 seconds)

Published: Sat Jun 29 2019

Reddit Comments

[u/playtoomucho]

That was great. Thanks for sharing!

[u/eNonsense]

I think a main reason it's hard for a regular person to understand bonsai, is that they generally don't have a good idea of how these plants would look if they were just allowed to grow freely. It's an extremely drastic difference. A whole lot of time & work goes into these trees, for very subtle changes (well, aside from being short).

For instance, the 2 miniature bonsai that she held between her fingers. One of was 15 years and the other 25 years. The main difference is the diameter of the trunk at the base of the older one. Trunk taper is a primary challenge of bonsai, and you'll hear it talked about regularly. When only allowing a few needles to grow at a time, it just takes that long to develop that amount of taper. If she allowed more needles, the trunk thickness would increase at the top. Developing a good looking flare where the trunk meets the soil is another subtle but big challenge, which involves a lot of pruning and controlling of roots (which you don't even see!). Trunk to root flare is something people take for granted and hardly notice on big trees, but the lack of it makes a bonsai look like a twig in dirt.

edit: Here's a brand new Bonsai Zone video talking about some of this stuff.

[u/mirkwood11]

BI is an excellent YouTube channel

[u/SaucyPigStick]

Beautiful

[u/Atoning_Unifex]

really cool. thanks for sharing!

[u/evan_peterson12]

So you’re saying I should keep an eye out for a different type of plant around the office?

[u/MizzMurple]

That means my Vietnamese grandma must be rich!

[u/mrjderp]

What kind of tree is she working with @4:23?