How do I figure out the size of a grow pot?

[Rhumphres01]

I want to develop the Prebonsai I am starting bonsái with as fast as I can and I can’t plant it in the ground. I have read that pots that are too large can cause problems, so I was wondering how I can figure out what the ideal pot size for growing Prebonsai is. Is there a way to calculate it based on the rootball size? Thanks in advance!

 

[leatherback]

I want to develop the Prebonsai I am starting bonsái with as fast as I can and I can’t plant it in the ground. I have read that pots that are too large can cause problems, so I was wondering how I can figure out what the ideal pot size for growing Prebonsai is. Is there a way to calculate it based on the rootball size? Thanks in advance!

Basically, look at the commercial growers. They take the effort to -sometimes more than once a year- increase pot size. So they take a plant. Put it in a pot one to two sizes larger than the current. Let it grow untill the roots have occupied the pot and there is a stable rootball. Then they up-pot one or two sizes again.

This gives commercial growers the best input/output balance, which would hint at this being the best road to get maximum growth.

 

[Shibui]

There's a lot of variables - species and growth rates, soil type, local conditions, shape of the container, etc but generally I wouldn't go above a 15cm diameter pot for a small seedling or cutting. When the roots have filled that pot it can be upsized to 20cm, possibly 30cm. I've never heard of any calculations that predict what sized containers are good or too large.

I've had good results by simply placing the smaller pot into a larger container of potting soil and letting the roots grow out into the new soil when they can. Don't leave pots like that for more than one season though or roots may block the drain holes and create a little pool inside the smaller pot.
Pots on the ground to let roots escape into the soil also increase growth rates a lot.