• dwhite@blackriverbonsai.com
  • (440) 409-7219
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Black River Bonsai
Black River Bonsai
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Bonsai Boarding

Secure, professional boarding for your trees year-round

Boarding & Overwintering Services

Whether you’re heading out of town, remodeling, or preparing for the long Ohio winter, Black River Bonsai offers secure, professional boarding for your trees year-round.

Each bonsai is cared for individually according to its needs — with appropriate light, water, and seasonal conditions — by people who actually understand bonsai.

We provide:

  • Short-term and seasonal boarding

  • Winter dormancy storage for hardy species

  • Professional monitoring and environmental control

Seasonal Bonsai Boarding

Need care for your trees while you travel or handle other obligations? Our seasonal boarding service provides hands-on attention to keep your trees healthy and stable until you return.

Includes

  • Individualized watering schedule

  • Monitoring for pests, health, and moisture balance

  • Light exposure suited to species (indoor or shaded outdoor space)

  • Preventative pest treatment (with owner consent)

  • Daily observation and prompt response if issues arise

Rates (Seasonal Boarding)
SizeWeekly RateMonthly Rate
Small
(< 12″)		$15$35
Medium
(12″-24″)		$20$50
Large
(24″-48″)		$25$65
OversizeQuoted individuallyQuoted individually

Payment Terms: 50% deposit required at drop-off; balance due at pickup.
Discounts available for multiple trees or extended stays.

Overwintering (Dormant Storage)

When temperatures drop, temperate bonsai species need a stable cold environment — not a garage corner or a plastic tote.

Our overwintering program maintains safe, consistent dormancy while protecting your trees from severe cold and temperature swings.

 

Environment

  • Double-walled hoop house with thermostatically controlled heater (~35°F target)

  • Maintains dormancy while avoiding deep-freeze damage

  • Vented on warm days to prevent premature bud break

  • Generator backup ensures heat continuity

  • Inspected at least every 10 days

  • Mouse bait stations deployed and checked regularly

  • Watering adjusted by species and soil conditions


We protect your trees from the worst of winter while allowing nature’s rest to continue undisturbed.

Tree Eligibility

  • Temperate species hardy to USDA Zone 7 or lower

  • Trees must be alive and in reasonable health at intake

  • BRB reserves the right to perform a scratch test to verify vitality

  • Tropical and subtropical species are not accepted for overwintering

 

Overwintering Rates & Estimator

All overwintering space is billed at $25 per square foot of occupied floor area.
Actual billing is based on measured space at drop-off, with a $50 minimum per collection.

Quick Estimate

Step 1: Measure the widest point of each tree (in inches).
Step 2: Add those widths together.
Step 3: Multiply the total by 2.5 — that’s your estimated seasonal cost in dollars.
(Example: total width = 168″ → 168 × 2.5 = $420)

If the result is less than $50, the minimum seasonal charge of $50 per collection applies.

Examples

CollectionSum of Widths (in)× 2.5 ($)Actual Measured CostNotes
1 small juniper12$30 → $50 min$21Minimum applies
5 mixed smalls76$190$146Slight overestimate (+30 %)
10-tree collection168$420$438Very close (–4 %)
15 trees incl. large elm274$685$720Very close (–5 %)

The estimator is typically accurate within ± 5 %, and errs slightly high on small collections — keeping estimates fair and predictable.

Payment Terms

  • 50 % deposit required at drop-off; balance due at pickup

  • Late pickups after May 15 accrue at regular Seasonal rates

  • All drop-offs and pickups are by appointment only

Cleveland Bonsai Club Transport Program

Members can drop their trees off at the November club meeting for complimentary transport to BRB. Trees are returned at the April meeting, weather permitting.

Space is limited for transport and reservations are required.

This partnership allows club members to avoid winter travel and ensures consistent, professional care throughout the cold months.

Fill out the Form below to get started!

Your Name
Service Type
Regular boarding covers active growing-season care; overwintering covers dormant storage during winter months.
Requested dropoff date
Anticipated pickup date
Widest measurement: Less than 12"
Widest measurement: 12"-24"
Widest measurement: 24"-48"
Widest measurement: Greater than 48"
Include watering preferences, soil or pest notes, or treatment restrictions.
Preventative Treatments
Owner understands that bonsai may be exposed to pests in an outdoor environment and agrees to reasonable preventative measures.
Payment Terms
  • Boarding: billed weekly or monthly by start date interval.
  • Overwintering: billed at $25 per square foot, based on measured space at drop-off, with a $50 minimum per collection.
  • Deposit: 50% due at drop-off; balance due at pickup.
  • Drop-offs and pickups are by appointment only.
Condition Verification
  • All trees must be alive and in reasonable health at intake.
  • BRB reserves the right to perform a scratch test to verify vitality.
  • BRB assumes no liability for trees that were unhealthy, non-viable, or dormant beyond recovery when received.
Winter Care

BRB exercises due care in protecting trees during winter dormancy, including:

  • Inspections at least every 10 days
  • Heated, thermostatically controlled hoop house (~35°F)
  • Airflow and rodent control systems
  • Generator backup for heater
Terms & Conditions

This agreement is between Black River Bonsai, LLC (hereafter, “BRB”) and the above named owner of the bonsai trees being boarded (hereafter referred to as “owner”).

  1. BRB will exercise due care to protect and care for the owner’s trees
  2. Owner understands and accepts that, due to the outdoor environment, there is a known presence of potentially harmful or lethal pests in the area.
  3. Owner agrees that BRB will make every attempt to contact the owner in the event of disease or insect infestation requiring treatment; but if the owner is not responsive, BRB will take whatever action is deemed appropriate, unless specifically prohibited by the above Special Instructions.
  4. Owner agrees to pay the the rate for boarding as stipulated.
  5. Monthly rates are calculated by day of the month. Weekly rates are calculated by day of the week. Passing each date interval incurs the entirety of the next sequence (month or week). Final payment is due at pickup.
  6. BRB shall have, and is hereby granted, a lien on owner’s tree(s) for any and all unpaid boarding and/or other charges resulting from the boarding of said tree(s) with BRB. If owner fails to pay all charges and/or claim said tree(s) within 30 days of scheduled pick-up, BRB has the right to sell said tree(s) or otherwise dispose if it/them, at its discretion. Scheduled pick-up date may be changed with mutual consent.
  7. Owner understands that drop offs and pick ups are by appointment only.
  8. Owner understands that BRB is not responsible nor liable for loss of trees due to pest, disease, or theft. Owner further explicitly agrees not to claim any damages against BRB of any nature whatsoever, either by way of contract, equity, negligence or otherwise.
  9. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties. Any changes to this contract must be agreed to in writing by both parties. All terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be binding on the heirs, administrators, and assignees of the owner of the within listed tree(s).

Typed Signature Acknowledgment

Certification
By typing my name above, I agree that this electronic signature is the legal equivalent of my handwritten signature and signifies my intent to enter into a binding agreement with Black River Bonsai under the terms outlined herein.