Bonsai Pots

The Pot is often referred to as the 'Frame' to the bonsai's 'Picture', Wronnng!!!. A bonsai is the bringing together of both in visual harmony.

Choose the pot carefully and remember that the two of them may be together for a very long time.
Anyone starting a bonsai collection now has a far greater choice of pots than were available ten or so years ago, with some fine potters throughout the world and bonsai traders being driven by customer demand, and their own ever increasing knowledge.

Selecting the pot for your tree if you are developing either a wild, or nursery stock tree can be a hard choice. The illustration below shows a tree (broom style)in three different pots, the pot on the right is wrong, it's only suited to a cascade style tree. The one in the middle is better, a more appropriate width, length but a bit to deep. Perhaps a rectangle is the wrong shape. The shallow pot on the left while drying out quicker when watered I would suggest is the most suitable.

Pot Colour

As a rule, Conifers tend to be planted in plain, often earth coloured pots, however deciduous, or flowering trees may be planted in a pot of a colour that complements the tree at a particular time of year. The maple illustrated to the right, shows the tree with its normal foliage in a pale blue (Cyan) pot. It looks fine in a pot of this colour, however when the tree takes on its autumn tints the blue pot and yellow foliage really come together.

The same rule applies to flowering plants. select a pot that suits the time when they are in flower, but still looks good throughout the remainder of the year.

Choosing a pot to enhance the 'Mood' of the tree

Try to select a pot that suits what the tree is trying to 'say'. The example to the left, in a rectangular pot seems to be isolated from the landscape. This is fine on a more formal, or heavier tree, however if you wish to evoke a tree which is in harmony with the landscape, go for a shallower, oval pot.

deally the width of the pot should be about the same as the spread of the branches, and the depth, about the same as the width of the trunk at the point where the root flare ends.

The width of the pot (a), should be about the same as the spread of the branches (b). The Depth of the pot (c) should match the trunk width, just above the end of the root flare (d).

Selecting a suitable pot for a cascade tree can be difficult, pick a pot that's to wide and it makes the tree seem less substantial than in a narrower pot. Picking a pot that's too deep will have the same effect.

Ideally the pot width should be about half the span of the tree, and it's depth no more than half the depth (hight) of the tree.

Remember that Cascade trees are always displayed on stands, lifting the lowest part of the tree off the surface.