Bonsai
Bonsai trees are a craftable item in inZOI that Zois can grow and prune into decorative shapes using the Gardening skill. Pruning bonsai provides Gardening experience and produces finished trees that can be sold on the Pocket Market for Meow. At high Gardening levels, bonsai sales are one of the most profitable creative activities in the game, with Perfect-quality bonsai fetching over 1,000 Meow after fees.
Getting Started
To begin pruning bonsai, a Zoi needs two things:
Gardening skill Level 2 or higher: The Bonsai Pot Stand becomes available for purchase at Gardening Level 2.
A Bonsai Pot Stand: Purchase one from Build Mode for 100 Meow. Place it on your lot indoors or outdoors.
Once placed, interact with the Bonsai Pot Stand and select a design to begin pruning. The Zoi will shape the bonsai into the selected style over a period of time. Each pruning session costs 15 Meow in materials.
Bonsai Designs by Gardening Level
Twelve bonsai designs unlock across five Gardening level thresholds. Higher-level designs are more intricate and produce higher-value trees.
Gardening Level | Designs Unlocked |
|---|---|
Level 2 | Basic bonsai pruning available (no named designs at this level) |
Level 4 | Perfect Form, Nature's Cradle, Winter Fantasy |
Level 6 | Layers of Hope, Graceful Breath, Curves of Time |
Level 8 | Dance of the Wind, Everlasting Love |
Level 10 | Serene Balance, Direction of Life |
All designs can be selected when interacting with a Bonsai Pot Stand. Designs that have not been unlocked appear locked in the selection menu. Higher-level designs tend to produce more valuable output, but quality is the bigger factor in determining sell price.
Quality and Sell Prices
Each completed bonsai is assigned a quality rating that determines its sell value. Quality depends on the Zoi's Gardening skill level and their emotional state during pruning. Higher skill and a positive mood (especially Elated) produce better results.
The following prices are based on Gardening Level 10 output sold through the Pocket Market:
Quality | Base Price | Pocket Market Range | Net Profit (after 15 Meow pruning fee) |
|---|---|---|---|
Medium | 75 Meow | 90-97 Meow | 75-82 Meow |
Good | 150 Meow | 196-223 Meow | 181-208 Meow |
Excellent | 225 Meow | 338-382 Meow | 323-367 Meow |
Perfect | 750 Meow | 1,280-1,495 Meow | 1,265-1,480 Meow |
The Pocket Market applies a markup to the base price, and the final sale value falls within a range. Even Medium-quality bonsai turn a small profit after the 15-Meow pruning fee, but Perfect-quality bonsai at Level 10 are among the most valuable single items a Zoi can produce.
Pruning Speed
Pruning time decreases significantly as the Gardening skill increases:
Gardening Level | Approximate Time per Bonsai |
|---|---|
Early levels (1-2) | ~17 minutes in-game |
Level 5 | ~9 minutes in-game |
Level 8+ | ~5 minutes in-game |
At high levels, the combination of faster pruning and higher-quality output makes bonsai production extremely efficient. A Level 10 Zoi can produce multiple Perfect-quality bonsai per in-game day.
Leveling with Bonsai
Pruning bonsai is a solid source of Gardening skill experience. Each pruning session provides moderate XP regardless of the quality outcome. Bonsai pruning can be used alongside daily crop maintenance (watering, fertilizing, harvesting) for a well-rounded Gardening leveling routine.
The overall time to level Gardening from 0 to 10 is approximately 1 hour 20 minutes to 2 hours 10 minutes per level, depending on mood. The Elated mood accelerates progression compared to Content or Joyful states.
Mood Effects
A Zoi's emotional state during pruning affects the quality outcome:
Mood | Effect |
|---|---|
Elated | Best mood for pruning. Highest chance of Excellent or Perfect quality. Also accelerates Gardening skill gain. |
Content / Joyful | Standard moods. Produces a mix of Good and Medium quality with occasional Excellent. |
Negative moods | Bored, Uncomfortable, or Sad moods reduce quality outcomes and slow skill progression. |
Before starting a bonsai pruning session, ensure the Zoi's basic needs are met and they are in a positive emotional state for the best results.
Bonsai and the Plant Lover Ambition
The Plant Lover ambition is connected to the Gardening skill and unlocks at Level 10. Zois with this ambition gain the ability to instantly grow plants and can give plant care advice to other Zois in conversation. The Plant Lover path pairs naturally with bonsai cultivation since reaching Level 10 maximizes both bonsai quality and pruning speed.
Money-Making Strategy
Bonsai are one of the best passive income sources in the game. A recommended strategy:
Level Gardening to at least Level 4 through daily crop watering, fertilizing, and harvesting.
Purchase a Bonsai Pot Stand (100 Meow) and place it in a convenient indoor location.
Prune bonsai between crop maintenance sessions. Choose the highest-level design available.
Sell completed bonsai through the Pocket Market on the Smartphone.
At Level 10, focus on producing Perfect-quality bonsai (Serene Balance or Direction of Life) for maximum profit.
A Level 10 Zoi producing Perfect-quality bonsai can earn over 1,200 Meow per tree after fees. With pruning taking only about 5 minutes at that level, this is one of the highest Meow-per-minute activities available.
Tips
Start pruning bonsai as soon as you hit Gardening Level 2. The XP and income are valuable even at low levels.
Each pruning session costs 15 Meow. This is trivial compared to the sale value of even a Medium-quality bonsai.
Pruning gets dramatically faster with skill level. At Level 8+, each bonsai takes only about 5 minutes.
Mood matters. Trigger the Elated state before a pruning session for the best quality and fastest XP.
Bonsai Pot Stands can be placed indoors, making pruning a convenient rainy-day or nighttime activity.
Reducing the in-game day length to 48 or 96 minutes speeds up the Gardening skill loop since plants mature faster.
Perfect-quality bonsai at Level 10 sell for 1,280 to 1,495 Meow on the Pocket Market, making them one of the most valuable single items in the game.
Combine bonsai pruning with crop harvesting for a dual income stream: crops for Cooking ingredients and bonsai for direct Meow sales.