Selecting The Right Bonsai Pots Is Very Important
As with all types of plant pots, Bonsai pots are available in a huge array of sizes, shapes and colours – but making sure you select the correct pot for your Bonsai tree can make the difference between a good-looking Bonsai and an incredible looking Bonsai. Be warned, though, the pot you pick can have either positive or detrimental effects to the growth of your beloved Bonsai tree.
What type of Bonsai pots should I be considering?
Firstly, if you have a juvenile Bonsai that is still growing quite rapidly you will need to consider several training pots before you decide on a final show pot to exhibit your Bonsai.
However, when selecting a Bonsai pot you should never pick one that means you will need to drastically trim the roots.
If you do want to reduce the size of your pot or the roots then you need to take it in gradual steps, moving down a pot size at a time before eventually reaching the size you want.
Make sure the pot you are considering has very good drainage and is entirely frost proof, this will help keep your Bonsai safe and healthy all year round whether it is kept indoors or outdoors.
If you are selecting a glazed pot, be sure that only the outside of the pot is actually glazed, because the Bonsai will need the rough surface on the inside for the roots to grab onto and establish themselves.
What pot for what tree?
The type of pot you should buy is indicated by the kind of tree you are growing as well as the style you want. Conifers lend themselves brilliantly to naturally coloured, unglazed pots whereas deciduous trees look good in glazed or unglazed and in just about any colours.
Experiment a little to find the right pot for you, and especially consider pastel colours for your deciduous trees or a bright coloured pot for a flowering tree.
Also, consider how much room the roots will need for your particular choice of tree. Cascading trees will require a deep pot with plenty of room for the roots to grow down but also that the branches can hang over the side without draping on the floor.
If you have a heavily glazed pot, remember that the colour of the glaze will age and ware off slightly over its lifetime.
Many people wipe the glaze with French polish in order to speed the process up, giving your glazed pot a slightly more natural and aged feel.
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I have a couple of witstinkhout seedlings, approximately 6cm in height that I would like to replant in pots and eventually, though I have never tried it before, grow them into bonsai. As I make the pots myself, I was wondering about the size and especially the depth of the pots for a starter bonsai?I would appreciate your guidance! Looking forward to hearing from you. Regards
Hi Juna,
Apologies for the late reply. I can remember many years ago my dad gave me a few Witstinkhout trees to plant on a small holding I had at the time – beautiful trees!
Go with your feeling and a pot you like. I would start with a pot at least 25cm wide and 7-9cm deep. As the trees mature and the pots seems to small, you can always replant them in bigger ones. All the best with your new Bonsais and keep us posted. Feel free to forward us pictures as they progress!
Cheers,
James