Inbloom 8 Pack Bonsai Tree Kit Review (2026)
The inbloom 8 Pack Bonsai Tree Kit is aimed at beginners who want more variety than the usual four-seed starter box. The current Amazon listing identifies it as a 40-piece set with eight seed types—Wisteria, Crape Myrtle, Locust, Spruce, Black Pine, Jacaranda, Pigeon Pea, and Flame Tree—plus jute grow pots, coco-coir discs, tools, a spray bottle, markers, instructions, and a woven basket. Amazon currently shows a 4.5/5 rating from 27 ratings. That is encouraging, but the review base is still small, so I would treat this as a promising starter kit rather than a proven long-term bonsai system.
+Biggest Strength: Eight seed varieties and 40 total pieces give unusually broad starter-kit variety.
−Biggest Weakness: Germination outcomes are inherently variable and independent long-term data is limited.
Bottom-Line Verdict: A feature-rich beginner kit with strong variety, but buy it for the growing experience—not a guaranteed eight-tree result.
Quick Overview and Specifications
| Brand / Model | inbloom / IB-BONSAI TREE 8 |
|---|---|
| Seed varieties | 8: Wisteria, Crape Myrtle, Locust, Spruce, Black Pine, Jacaranda, Pigeon Pea, Flame Tree |
| Kit size | 40 pieces |
| Core supplies | Jute pots, coco-coir soil discs, hand tools, spray bottle, plant markers, woven basket, guide |
| Dimensions / weight | 12 × 8 × 3.5 in; 2.46 lb |
| Amazon rating | 4.5/5 from 27 ratings at time of research |
| Manufacturer / origin | inbloom / listed as USA |
First Impressions
The strongest first impression is completeness. Many seed kits stop at four varieties and a pair of basic shears. This one doubles the species count and adds the small setup items that first-timers otherwise have to hunt down. The woven basket also makes more sense as storage than decorative packaging alone.
The important caveat is that “bonsai seeds” are really seeds of tree species that can be trained as bonsai. The kit gives you the starting material, not miniature trees on arrival. If you are comparing complete beginner packages, our guide to the best indoor bonsai tree kits gives useful context on what a starter set should include.
Performance and Feel
For day-one usability, the kit is well specified. The included booklet covers soaking, preparing the coco coir, sowing, and seedling care, while the listing says the manual offers both a simpler soak-and-sow path and species-specific stratification guidance. That two-track approach is more realistic than pretending every species wants identical treatment.
The physical supplies are sized for germination and early growth, not mature bonsai work. Coco-coir discs are convenient because they expand quickly and make a clean seed-starting medium. Jute grow pots keep the setup light and breathable, while the spray bottle is useful for keeping the surface moist without blasting newly sown seeds. Once seedlings develop, however, you should expect to move beyond the starter materials.
Germination Range and Species-Specific Care
This is the section that matters most. inbloom claims screened seeds and sprouting in roughly one to two weeks, but that should be read as a seller claim, not a promise for all eight species. Temperature, seed freshness, moisture, light, and dormancy requirements can change the result dramatically. Black pine and spruce are also not managed exactly like tropical Jacaranda or Flame Tree.
The eight-species assortment is still the kit’s biggest advantage because it spreads your chances across very different trees and makes the project more educational. If some seeds lag behind others, that is not automatically a failed batch. For troubleshooting after sprouting, our guide on why bonsai leaves wilt is a useful next step.
Durability
There is not enough independent evidence yet to rate the included hand tools as professional grade, and the listing does not publish blade-steel specifications. I would treat them as seedling-stage tools: suitable for light trimming and handling, but not a substitute for quality concave cutters or heavier pruning tools later. The jute pots and coir are consumables by design, while the basket and markers should remain useful longer.
If the hobby sticks, upgrading selectively is smarter than replacing everything at once. Our bonsai tool kit guide for beginners explains which cutting and wiring tools become important as trunks and branches thicken.
Value for Money
Amazon did not show a featured offer during research, so a fixed “great value” claim would be misleading. The better way to judge value is against current rivals. Planters’ Choice sells a four-variety starter kit around the low-$30 range, while Garden Republic lists its four-tree seed starter kit at $32.99. Avergo’s five-variety Classic kit is listed around the $50 range depending on the storefront.
That makes the inbloom kit attractive if its available price lands near mainstream four- and five-variety kits, because you are getting eight varieties plus a larger accessory count. If it costs substantially more than those alternatives, the value case depends on how much you care about species variety and gift presentation.
Comparison to Similar Bonsai Starter Kits
| Kit | Seed variety | Standout point |
|---|---|---|
| inbloom 8 Pack | 8 species | 40-piece bundle and widest species range here |
| Planters’ Choice Starter Kit | 4 species | Simpler established format with pots, soil, clipper, and guide |
| Garden Republic Bonsai Seed Starter Kit | 4 species | Wooden gift box, soil pods, burlap grow bags, and video guidance |
| Avergo Classic | 5 species | Extra seed packets and complete indoor starter positioning |
The inbloom kit wins on breadth. Garden Republic is appealing if presentation and a video-guided four-tree project matter more. Planters’ Choice is a simpler benchmark, while Avergo emphasizes extra seeds to improve the odds of getting viable starts.
Pros and Cons
- Eight distinct tree varieties
- 40-piece, beginner-ready bundle
- Simple and advanced germination paths
- Compact gift-ready storage basket
- Strong early Amazon rating
- Only 27 Amazon ratings so far
- Germination cannot be guaranteed
- Tool steel/grade is not specified
- Starter pots and coir are temporary
- Different species need different care
Who Should Buy This?
- First-time growers: You want one box with seeds, media, labels, light tools, and instructions.
- Gift buyers: The eight-species selection and basket make it feel more substantial than a minimal seed set.
- Curious hobbyists: You like comparing how tropical, flowering, and conifer species germinate and develop.
- Skip it if: You want an instant display bonsai, guaranteed germination, or professional-grade shaping tools.
Extended FAQ
Does the kit really grow eight bonsai trees?
It gives you eight species of seed, but eight successful trees are not guaranteed. Germination is biological and varies by species and growing conditions.
How fast should the seeds sprout?
The seller says selected seeds may sprout in about one to two weeks, but some species or stratification methods can take longer. Use the guide for each seed type rather than applying one deadline to every packet.
Can I keep all eight trees indoors?
Not indefinitely under identical conditions. Some species tolerate indoor starting, but long-term light, temperature, dormancy, and outdoor needs differ. Treat “indoor starter kit” as the starting environment, not a universal lifetime care rule.
Is coco coir enough for long-term bonsai growing?
No. It is convenient for germination, but developing bonsai eventually benefit from a structured, fast-draining substrate. See our comparison of bonsai soil vs regular soil before potting up seedlings.
Are the included tools all I will ever need?
No. They cover early handling and light trimming. More advanced bonsai work eventually calls for sharper shears, wire tools, and specialized cutters.
Is this better than buying a live bonsai?
It is better if you want the learning process from seed and enjoy patience. A live bonsai is better if you want immediate form, faster styling practice, and less uncertainty around germination.
Final Verdict
The inbloom 8 Pack Bonsai Tree Kit is one of the more ambitious beginner kits because it combines eight species with a 40-piece setup instead of the more common four-tree format. Its 4.5/5 Amazon rating is a positive early signal, but the small review count and limited independent long-term coverage mean expectations should stay realistic. Buy it for variety, learning, and the pleasure of raising trees from seed—not because every packet is guaranteed to become a finished bonsai.
If the price is competitive with the better four- and five-species kits, I think the broader assortment makes it a worthwhile beginner or gift option.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases…
