Choosing the right pot

[Rob_phillips]

Hi all i sometimes find it hard to choose the correct shape and size pot for my trees i know alot of it is down to experiance and personal taste and also tradition and rules. Etc. Etc.
But what do other people do to make sure you get it right?
What procedures do you follow when having a pot commissioned for one of your trees.
Here is an example.


This is one of my shimpaku's it has been showen on here before.
These pics are from when i first purchased the tree in 2016 and is an entire growing season of growth behind from what it looks like now.
But my question is what steps would you take on deciding a pot for this tree.
I know its not the best example because it has a few years of growing before its first styling and then a few years development there after.
But just humour me going from the shape of the trunk and size of the tree and imagine what its final shape may be etc. etc.
What steps would you take and what would your thoughts be on deciding a pot?

 

[amcoffeegirl]

I try to think about what size I want the overall tree to be. I think about the rules.
The pot should be about the same length as the canopy.
The depth of the pot should be about as thick as the trunk is.
I also search my species online and look at what pots others are using online.
Colors and shapes
There's so many things to think about- the feet are important.
Any horizontal lines on the pot will make it look more shallow.
I love looking at pots and thinking about this topic
I will watch this thread closely.

 

[amcoffeegirl]

http://bonsai4me.com/AdvTech/ATChoosing the Right Pot for your Bonsai.htm

 

[Rob_phillips]

Thanks @amcoffeegirl.
Thats a good read and is a good referance point i have all harrys books he explains things very well.
The main reason i started this thread was weigh up others opinions on the matter.

I find some times even though following the rules is important and necessary most of the time in this hobby i also find and belive that as this hobby gets more popular and technology makes sourcing materials easier people may start twisting some of those rules to suit them and there styles alot more.
Thats why i put the example in there to see the different thought processes people have and see how others decide how much individuality and slight rule bending they may be prepaired to put into decision making and choosing pots. There is such a wide influx of diferent styles and access to a lot more potters nowadays does that also influence decision making.

But at the same time dont get me wrong the traditions are very important and i understand and do stick to traditions lol.
I would not just go and chuck say that juniper tree in a bright yellow pot to be different thats not what i mean you still have to follow the guidelines

 

[petegreg]

This is probably my best reference if I don't bother http://www.bonsai-keramik.com/en/teorie.html
...and right pot is very often very personal matter and preference. Round pots often help for a while.

 

[Rob_phillips]

Thank you another great source of info and ideas

 

[Anthony]

It is perhaps safest to simply use a basic over sized plastic rectangle, until you get
the refinement you want and then just take time to choose the pot you want in
stoneware or other.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[Nwaite]

When I'm trying to decide on the right pot I think of thing like, I'm I going to bed, going to work, am I smoking for back pain or a head ache, so i want an upper buzz or a sit on the couch all day and don't move buzz....
Good luck in finding the right pot for you.

 

[Rob_phillips]

When I'm trying to decide on the right pot I think of thing like, I'm I going to bed, going to work, am I smoking for back pain or a head ache, so i want an upper buzz or a sit on the couch all day and don't move buzz....
Good luck in finding the right pot for you.

Fair enough lol i cant tell if your taking the piss lol

 

[clevetromba]

This is probably my best reference if I don't bother http://www.bonsai-keramik.com/en/teorie.html
...and right pot is very often very personal matter and preference. Round pots often help for a while.

Pete, what do you mean that round pots help for a while? What do they help with?

 

[petegreg]

Pete, what do you mean that round pots help for a while? What do they help with?

They suit some styles or trees...
Truly, they might not help in a right meaning of the word, but as Anthony stated...till the tree gets closer to refinement state...we can simply change the front just rotating the pot.
In case of OP's tree, we don't even know whether he's going for tall feminine tree or going reduce the height by half to get optically heavier trunk. And it makes a big difference.

 

[just.wing.it]

They suit some styles or trees...
Truly, they might not help in a right meaning of the word, but as Anthony stated...till the tree gets closer to refinement state...we can simply change the front just rotating the pot.
In case of OP's tree, we don't even know whether he's going for tall feminine tree or going reduce the height by half to get optically heavier trunk. And it makes a big difference.

Good point!

I like the round freeze fired ceramic flower pots at my local home depot, for training.

For that tree....as you said, it's a ways off from its final image....makes it hard to envision a proper pot.
I would think rectangle though.. .
Unless you knock it over and make a cascade

 

[sorce]

The first pics roots suit a round, oval, very soft rectangle.

The second pic roots fit an oval, soft rectangle, and if shortening the tree by removing that ? Top Wang section, a harder edged rectangle.

Any traditional nonglazed clay colors should work.
Allow your stand, accent plant/pots, jita's, etc....
To further fine tune color selection.
As it will matter there more than with the tree alone.

I think you can get this narrowed down to 2 rounder pots if leaving it tall.
And 2 more rectangular pots if shortening it.

And have the perfect pot in the end no matter which direction you go.

Love the movement on this.

One thing for sure, the base is so great the wrong pot can keep eyes there too long. Plain plain.

Sorce

 

[rockm]

I would NOT commission a pot for this tree at this point. It would be a mistake as it needs a few more years of refinement towards a design objective--those branches are all pretty long and need reduction and further ramification work for instance.

Commissioning a pot now would take a lot of money for a container that will probably be temporary. Like Anthony said, I would look for a "stock" tokoname in the approximate size range you envision for the final tree's proportion. Doesn't have to be exact, just in the ballpark. Mica pots aren't as expensive as ceramic and can be re-used as intermediate training containers for decades for all kinds of trees. They come in standards sizes and won't wrack or twist when moved, as many temporary plastic bonsai training containers do.

I'm in the U.S., so I don't have a great idea of sources over there, but here's one that came up in an initial search:
http://www.britishbonsai.co.uk/bonsai-pots/mica-bonsai-pots

 

[TomB]

Some good sources posted so far.

The tree is a long way from being finished, and we don't know your design goals, but based on some guesses about its likely future:

- it's a Juniper, so an unglazed pot will work. Maybe a mid to light coloured clay rather than a really dark one, especially if you clean the bark eventually.
- it looks likely to have a feminine, sinuous form. Therefore, the pot should have rounded (feminine) contours, rather than being heavy and angular. Probably an oval or a soft rectangle.

I think that's about all one can say at the moment. Look at other junipers with a similar form in high standard exhibitions (e.g. pictures from Kokufu) and see what 'works'.

 

[Anthony]

I am not sure if the original poster asked for a critique ??

 

[Rob_phillips]

Sorry i think i may have confused things a bit lol.
This tree as stated in the original post is miles away from being ready for a new pot and i have no intention of moving it for years to come or even start planing its future pot.
i was mearly wondering on what differnt views and methods diferent people have on deciding there pots.
My tree was just an example i could have used any tree but that one has a few different options and dicerent people may see it differently just imagine ots a finised tree then describe what steps you take to choose a pot.

 

[Rob_phillips]

I would NOT commission a pot for this tree at this point. It would be a mistake as it needs a few more years of refinement towards a design objective--those branches are all pretty long and need reduction and further ramification work for instance.

Commissioning a pot now would take a lot of money for a container that will probably be temporary. Like Anthony said, I would look for a "stock" tokoname in the approximate size range you envision for the final tree's proportion. Doesn't have to be exact, just in the ballpark. Mica pots aren't as expensive as ceramic and can be re-used as intermediate training containers for decades for all kinds of trees. They come in standards sizes and won't wrack or twist when moved, as many temporary plastic bonsai training containers do.

I'm in the U.S., so I don't have a great idea of sources over there, but here's one that came up in an initial search:
http://www.britishbonsai.co.uk/bonsai-pots/mica-bonsai-pots

Sorry im not actually going to repot this tree it was just an example on thought processes

 

[Rob_phillips]

I suppose i will say my plans and give some history on the tree pictured above.
I purchased it in 2016 from greenwood bonsai in the uk.
Corrin the owner recived this tree from a lady whos husband had passed away 5 years previous and she didnt want to get rid of all his trees but after 5 years of neglect and no work done to them she just kept them alive the lady decided they needed a new home so someone can look after them properly.

Corrin recived this tree and had to cut it back as it had grown really long and away from the trunk.
When i purchased the tree as a project the first thing we said was we need to get the foliage closer to the trunk and re grow everything apart from its basic shape.

So the plan is grow more compact foliage over the next 2 to 5 years then get rid of the long stragly stuff it has now and give it its first style then.
As for a pot i havent really thought about it too much and as i said i was just using this tree to get a grasp of peoples thought processes when choosi g a pot for the future.

 

[rockm]

Sorry im not actually going to repot this tree it was just an example on thought processes

Sorry. I typed too fast...Nevertheless, using an intermediate pot instead of jumping from an initial training pot to a commissioned pot is very much a part of my thought processes when it comes to buying containers for trees.