A tree, a coach, and a year of the magazine.
Most first bonsai die in the first ninety days. Not because the practice is hard — because nobody checked in. A Beginner Bundle is our answer: a prepped starter tree, a year of coaching that quietly nudges you at the right moments, and a year of Nebari Mag (digital) so you begin to see the practice, not just the plant.
Free U.S. shipping · USPS Priority Mail · packed for live plants
Sprout
Dwarf jade (Portulacaria afra)
A hand-propagated dwarf jade in a 4.7" square training pot. The most forgiving tree we know — a good first practice.
Grove
Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia)
A repotted Chinese elm with a light first wire. Deciduous, small-leaved, and one of the most well-behaved species for a first serious tree.
Heritage
Ficus retusa
A styled ficus starter — trunk selected, first branches set. A tropical for the windowsill, evergreen and steady.
Beginner Mode is a coach in your pocket.
Beginner Mode is a free-tier profile on bonsaitracker.com with one difference: it checks in on you.
A gentle photo request every couple of weeks. A watering nudge in the first heatwave. A prompt in month three — have you shown this tree to anyone yet? The point isn't the software. It's not being alone with a plant you don't want to kill.
- Week 1First-watering check-in. "Send us a photo."
- Week 3"How’s the leaf color? Any drop?"
- Month 2Seasonal task list for your zip code.
- Month 3"Have you shown your tree to someone?"
- Month 6First light pruning walkthrough.
- Year 1You're ready to graduate — or renew for another year at $29.
The First 90 Days.
A one-page printed guide ships with every bundle. Watering, light, when to repot (spoiler: not yet), and — most importantly — when to not panic. Read it online before your tree arrives.
Read the guide →- Do I need an account to buy?
- No. Checkout is guest — we'll create a lightweight Tracker account from your email so your Beginner Mode coaching and TID™ record work. No password required.
- How is the tree shipped?
- USPS Priority Mail in a padded flat-rate box with the root ball wrapped, a moisture pad, and a "live plant" sticker. Free within the U.S. Canada is a $35 flat rate; live plants across other borders require phyto paperwork we don’t do yet.
- What happens after year one?
- Beginner Mode auto-renews at $29/yr — you'll get an email 30 days ahead and can cancel with one click. Nebari Mag digital access ends unless you subscribe directly.
- Can I gift this?
- Yes. On checkout, pick "This is a gift" — you can set a ship window (e.g. spring) and include a printed card. The recipient’s Tracker account is created from their email, not yours.
- What’s a TID™?
- TID™ is your tree’s permanent identity — its origin, age, and every check-in from here on. Scan the QR card that ships in the box to see it.