Beginner Workshops
Hands-on experience that teaches you the basics of bonsai care, pruning, and styling
If you’re new to bonsai, this $95.00 beginner workshop is a great way to get started. Each participant will receive a pre-bonsai tree, a suitable pot with soil. Prior to your hands-on session, an educational online Zoom meeting will be held to help you prepare for the class. After successfully registering and completing your Novice Workshop, you will have a first come first served basis chance to sign up for Novice 2.0 at no extra cost.
Novice 2.0 class will be available to attendees after the event. Registration will be sent from the instructor.
If you are not sure which tree to select, read here >>
INSTRUCTOR
David Weiss
MBS 2nd vice president and former president
david.weiss@minnesotabonsaisociety.org
April 2026
April sessions are Juniper only. Please scroll to the bottom of the page on how to select your tree. Zoom link will be provided from instructor before the ent. Please contact the instructor with any questions.
July 2026
July sessions are tropical trees only. Species is subject to availability. Please scroll to the bottom of the page on how to select your tree. Zoom link will be provided from instructor before the ent. Please contact the instructor with any questions. Novice 2.0 class will be available to attendees after the event. Registration will be sent from the instructor.
September 2026
In the September workshops you can choose either tropicals or junipers. Please scroll to the bottom of the page on how to select your tree. Zoom link will be provided from instructor before the ent. Please contact the instructor with any questions. Novice 2.0 class will be available to attendees after the event. Registration will be sent from the instructor.
How to Select your tree guide
TROPICALS
Apartment dwellers might be happiest with a tropical species of tree. Although it would enjoy a summer outside if you have a balcony, tropical trees can be considered indoor bonsai and should be kept indoors during the winter. The type of tropical provided will vary depending on availability. Note: Tropical trees are only available for July and September workshops, since they can only be re-potted after Spring. 2022 Tropicals provided are typically a Ficus.
JUNIPERS
If you enjoy conifers then a juniper is a good choice. This tree needs to live outside and go through the change of seasons. It will need some winter protection, such as an unheated garage. This tree will not survive inside a warm house. This is often thought of as a “classic” Japanese bonsai species and is very common. Note: Junipers are only available for May and September workshops, since they can only be re-potted at certain times of the year.
Novice 2.0 Followup care
After successfully registering and completing your Novice Workshop, you will have a first come first served basis chance to sign up for Novice 2.0 at no extra cost. There will be 25 slots available where you can come back and go a little deeper into your bonsai tree knowledge at one of the later workshop dates. Participants will have time to talk about and work on pruning, wiring, fertilizing, and winter care among other topics. The MBS Novice 2.0 will only be available on a Sunday afternoon session (1-4pm) of the July and September workshop weekends. See the workshop schedule below for more information.