Why Are Bonsai Trees So Special? (7 Reasons)

From their beautiful appearance to the effort it takes to maintain them, people have loved bonsais for centuries. 

Thus, they have become known as a ‘special’ plant that stands out against the rest. 

Ultimately, bonsai trees are special because they are representative of an ancient art form. 

Also, it is not easy to create a healthy, beautiful bonsai tree, which makes them even more amazing when a person can create one. 

Other factors that make the bonsai special include their rarity, meditative value, and ability to adapt. 

So, let’s take an in-depth look into what makes these trees so unusual and why people feel so attached to them. 

Why Are Bonsai Trees Special?

You are probably already aware of some of the things that make bonsai trees seem special and appealing. 

For one, they are incredible examples of how a tree can become a piece of art.

And a lot of work goes into this act of creation. 

Even the ones that are easier to grow and shape take lots of time and effort to get just right. 

Overall, there are many things that make a bonsai seem special, including:

• The skill of the artist who shapes them
• The attraction of the perfect miniature
• The remarkable capacity of nature to adapt
• The bond that forms between the creator and the tree
• The meditative value of bonsais
• The amount of time dedicated to creating a bonsai
• Their rarity and delicacy 

We’re going to explore each of these reasons in more detail – but it’s worth being aware that other things can also make bonsai trees seem special.

To some degree, it’s simply about what the individual values and how a bonsai represents that to them.

7 Reasons Bonsais Are Special

1) The Skill Involved

You might not think that growing a bonsai involves enormous skill, but it does.

Miniaturizing a tree requires a lot of work and understanding, as well as an artistic eye to make the right choices on which boughs to trim, which to leave, how to cut the roots, and how to shape the overall tree.

A bonsai, therefore, requires a lot of skill and understanding, and this aspect alone makes the trees special.

Additionally, they result from years of tradition, teaching, learning, and understanding, making the talent that goes into them even more appealing. 

It is even likely that they existed as far back as 500 or 1000 BC, and since that time, artists have constantly been honing the craft.

Thus, bonsai is a difficult craft with a rich tradition. 

2) Perfect Miniaturization

Many people feel a strong attraction to anything miniature – as evidenced by our love of models, dolls, dollhouses, etc.

We experience a romantic draw in these tiny worlds that most people find difficult to describe or explain.

A bonsai tree taps into this love of miniatures.

The small leaves, stems, and branches certainly elicit a “cute” reaction from some. 

Others, meanwhile, just respond with amazement that anything can grow so small.

While it is hard to understand why bonsais provoke these feelings in people, there is no doubt that they are pleasing for us to see. 

3) Nature’s Adaptability

Another reason bonsais seem so special is that they are an unmistakable mark of just how amazingly adaptable nature is.

The idea that something as enormous as an oak or a pine could survive in such a small container is extraordinary.

This sense of awe has led to an extreme fascination with bonsai trees because they represent just how flexible the natural world can be.

Many botanists and other plant enthusiasts are endlessly amazed by the fact that bonsai trees can exist at all.

4) The Bond

Often, a bonsai tree represents a labor of love.

Anyone who has invested time in a plant will feel some degree of affection for it, and bonsais take a lot of care.

That means the growers generally feel a great deal of respect and tenderness for their bonsai trees.

Growers of bonsai trees often handle and tend to their trees daily and can experience a strong bond due to this level of care.

5) Meditative Value

People often view bonsais as objects that can help with contemplation or meditation.

Some enthusiasts have called them symbols of harmony, balance, and patience, and many people use them to promote meditation.

Tending to a bonsai can also be meditative because it involves an absolute focus on a single subject for an extended period.

Many bonsai growers use this focus to relax and take some time to reflect.

And this practice increases the positive associations with the tree.

6) The Time Investment

Bonsai trees take a lot of time to look after, elevating the value that people place on the trees.

We figure that anything we put time and energy into must have some correlative value.

And because bonsai trees need a lot of time and care, they are automatically given more esteem than a plant that is easy to grow or sprouts on its own, with no input from people.

For example, since bonsais do not grow in very natural conditions, they are vulnerable and need constant vigilance.

Also, growers must constantly watch for issues such as pests, drying out, diseases, infections, and other problems that could kill the tree.

Overall, this time investment increases our sense of their value, and almost all bonsai trees will have had lots of time poured into them.

7) Rareness

Every bonsai is unique, and bonsai trees themselves are relatively rare.

Although many people have adopted this form of art in recent years, it presents various challenges, and many who take up the hobby will find it too difficult and drop it.

Bonsai trees are also completely unique because the person who grows them will shape them how they want. 

Thus, no two trees will be identical, even if they grow in similar ways.

The choices an artist makes about which branches to prune, which to leave, and which container to use are all part of creating a one-of-a-kind bonsai.

Conclusion

Many people see bonsai trees as special for a range of reasons. 

Their history, meditative benefits, the time and skill required to keep them alive, and their uniqueness all feed into our love for this unusual art form and the trees it produces.