Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden — Bonsai Beyond the Basics with Nova Plantae

Category: Learning Also called: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden bonsai workshop; Nova Plantae at Fairchild; Bonsai Beyond the Basics (Miami, Florida)

What it is

Bonsai Beyond the Basics: Refining Technique with Nova Plantae is a paid, hands-on intermediate bonsai workshop at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami, Florida, taught by Matias Cabrera, founder of Nova Plantae. The Fairchild ticket page says the class is for practitioners looking to refine skills with advanced styling, structural refinement and long-term tree health. It is a class, not a club or a nursery.

Official URL

December 6, 2026 ticket / event: https://ftbg.ticketapp.org/portal/product/31/event/63f57771-fa2f-4397-80df-599d1dc1b8d2

Fairchild ticket events index: https://ftbg.ticketapp.org/portal/product/31/events
Workshops hub: https://fairchildgarden.org/workshops/
Visit / location: https://fairchildgarden.org/visit/
Home: https://fairchildgarden.org/

Last checked

2026-11-06.

Who it’s for

Intermediate Miami and South Florida growers who already have some bonsai experience and want a three-hour refining session with wiring, pruning and root-work guidance—not a first-tree beginner make-and-take.

Why it’s listed

It is a dated, priced workshop on Fairchild’s own ticket portal, with address and instructor bio. Checked on 2026-11-06:

Date / time: Sunday, December 6, 2026, 11:00 am–2:00 pm (ticket page header).
Price: $69 members / $79 non-members (ticket selection).
Format: hands-on intermediate refining of pre-bonsai material; precise wiring, directional pruning, advanced root-work, seasonal repotting strategies and soil/fertilization/watering regimens. Bring your own medium pot (6–10″ wide, 2–4″ deep, ceramic or plastic, with at least one large drainage hole); limited vessels available for purchase; all other materials provided.
Instructor: Matias Cabrera, founder of Nova Plantae; ticket bio says he grew up watching his grandfather’s garden and bonsai, founded Nova Plantae during the pandemic, and now has over 2,500 bonsai in training.
Venue: Fairchild Visit page prints 10901 Old Cutler Road, Miami, Florida 33156; ticket Location block matches that address.

Location

Class venue: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Road, Miami, Florida 33156 (Visit page and ticket Location).

Notes

Finn flags: Fairchild’s general /workshops/ hub did not list this bonsai title in plain text on the check date—registration lives on the ftbg.ticketapp.org portal (Fairchild’s own ticketing host). Confirm seat availability on the live ticket page before traveling. Class is intermediate, not beginner; students must bring a pot. Florida already has several Learning listings (Heathcote, Leu Gardens, Morikami); this is a separate Miami garden and Nova Plantae instructor.
Geography: first Fairchild / Nova Plantae Learning listing. Avoided NYC / TX / Fresno Learning used earlier this week.
Listing image: Fairchild’s official wordmark logo from its site theme (logo-fairchild.png), saved as fairchild-tropical-botanic-garden-bonsai-beyond-the-basics-logo.png (380×84).
Not affiliated with Bonsai Plaza. No registration, payment, form or contact was made.

FAQ

Q: When is the Fairchild bonsai workshop? A: Sunday, December 6, 2026, 11:00 am–2:00 pm, per the Fairchild ticket page.

Q: How much does it cost? A: $69 for members and $79 for non-members.

Q: Is it for beginners? A: No. It is framed as intermediate “Beyond the Basics” refining. Absolute beginners should look for a beginner make-and-take instead.

Q: What do I need to bring? A: A medium pot or vessel 6–10″ wide and 2–4″ deep with drainage. Limited vessels may be for sale on site; other materials are provided.

Q: Where is it held? A: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Road, Miami, FL 33156.