canoeguide
Chumono
... because buying pots seems like an addiction to fill the time when it's cold and there isn't much work to do. It's good to keep a stock of unused nice pots around, right? How many is too many? 
How many unused pots do you have?
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Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
I’m sorry, I do not understand the question. Is this a joke, like counting the stars or sand on the beach? Too many pots?How many is too many?
canoeguide
Chumono
I tried telling myself: "When a given tree is ready for a nice pot, then go looking specifically for one." I'll wait for you to stop laughing at the absurdity of that idea.
jonathanvperth
Mame
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I have about 15 nice pots waiting
I may have to go looking for a pot as well if I can’t find one that pairs with a particular tree. You can have hundreds of pots and may still not have that perfect match unfortunately.
penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
That works. Nothing wrong with your approach but things being what they are I probably have somewhere between 50 and 60. I will hopefully make about 100 this winter.
penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
Yeah, I did picture framing for about 15 years and it is the same thing. Especially true of the mat. There is lots that work but one is perfect. Of course it is all subjective.
amcoffeegirl
Masterpiece
I have 40-50 with nothing in them. I could part with 15-20 of them.
Some I will wait for the right tree.
Some will just remain as display items.
All are shohin or smaller.
Some I will wait for the right tree.
Some will just remain as display items.
All are shohin or smaller.
Leo in N E Illinois
The Professor
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I never bother counting. I do think I have over 50 reasonably high quality Tokonome pots, many with free hand signatures in addition to the kiln chops. These are all good quality pots, just waiting for me to have the right tree to come along. They are good enough, that I don't bugger them up by planting just any old stick in a pot into them. I also have another 50 or more pots made by North American and European artists. These too are waiting for the right tree to come along.
I do have maybe 12 nice quality pots with halfway decent trees in them. Most of my trees are in plastic pots and Anderson flats.
It appears my ability to find a good pot is better than my ability to produce a decent tree.
By the way, one benefit of getting old(er) is that you tend to accumulate things. Most of my Japanese pots I purchased between 1980 and 1998, most of my American pots were purchased after 2002. This works out to less than 3 decent pots a year. I did not go out an buy these all at once.
I do have maybe 12 nice quality pots with halfway decent trees in them. Most of my trees are in plastic pots and Anderson flats.
It appears my ability to find a good pot is better than my ability to produce a decent tree.
By the way, one benefit of getting old(er) is that you tend to accumulate things. Most of my Japanese pots I purchased between 1980 and 1998, most of my American pots were purchased after 2002. This works out to less than 3 decent pots a year. I did not go out an buy these all at once.
I am having the opposite dilemma. I have a few pots that I love, but finding a tree to do them justice has been a challenge. And now it's winter.............
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
Title reminded me to hit the bowl.
As far as moving bonsai forward as a whole...
Hoarding pots that could best display a different/someone else's tree, is too selfish.
Walter had to more or less hire/enlist someone to clear his basement of some pots, that's a too many situation.
Of course, I own one, no no, a couple or few of those pots now....lol!
You must be able to enjoy them. Don't be too selfish.
10 pots within possibility of use for one tree is too many when you narrow it down to the best 5 for the tree, I'm the end, 3 per tree tops or we won't be able to make the right decision.
The more human we are, the more we will enjoy bonsai.
Sorce
As far as moving bonsai forward as a whole...
Hoarding pots that could best display a different/someone else's tree, is too selfish.
Walter had to more or less hire/enlist someone to clear his basement of some pots, that's a too many situation.
Of course, I own one, no no, a couple or few of those pots now....lol!
You must be able to enjoy them. Don't be too selfish.
10 pots within possibility of use for one tree is too many when you narrow it down to the best 5 for the tree, I'm the end, 3 per tree tops or we won't be able to make the right decision.
The more human we are, the more we will enjoy bonsai.
Sorce
penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
I hear that. I have two pots that may never see bonsai.
It's fun looking for the right tree, though right?
penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
You bet. Conversely, its fun hunting for the right pot as well.
canoeguide
Chumono
It's fun looking for the right tree, though right?
Inspiration for a tree can come from a pot, too. I often look at a pot and can envision the perfect tree for it. Then, that goal can be worked towards.
MrWunderful
Omono
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Dav4
Drop Branch Murphy
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It’s a thing… and I can’t count that high
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