When Is A Tree Ready For A Bonsai Pot?

[Cmd5235]

What are your thoughts on determining when a tree is ready for an official bonsai pot, instead of a training pot?

I have three grow beds full of trees in 12” square by 2” deep plastic trays, yet none in pots. Whenever I consider it, I think about giving the tree another year or two in the training pot, and that it’s not worthy of anything ceramic yet. I’ve been in this trend for years now. What do you all use as your benchmark?

 

[Bonsai Nut]

When it is 90% ready to show.

 

[Shogun610]

You can put it into a “bonsai” pot that can be used for training like a grow pot or a slightly larger pot to allow more root growth.. but from what I’ve learned and practice on my own material and at the bonsai studio it’s when the trunk size has been fully developed to your preference, tree is fully recovered if collected , over all silhouette and branch placement is achieved and the primary branches to secondary are fully developed and and working on tertiary branching . .. an official bonsai pot if the tree is mostly developed.. but even then those trees shown in those pots aren’t in there very long they go back into grow pots or wooden boxes. I think of it like. Body building or a sport , you’re bulking and bulking , working hard pushing yourself, then before the big game or weigh in , you’re cutting pounds and staying lean , cutting water weight.. then after the fight game or whatever , you need to replenish all that.. kinda like a finished tree in a bonsai pot , the tree can only handle that confined space and super tight design for so long , until you have to allow the tree to either grow out of that silhouette or confined root space

 

[Cajunrider]

When it is 90% ready to show.

My trees are doomed to stay in training boxes and tray forever

 

[Cmd5235]

My trees are doomed to stay in training boxes and tray forever

Same haha

 

[DavidBoren]

Honestly, I am too novice to know... all my trees are still in training pots. I actually do not even own a bonsai pot. Lol.

I need to commit... stick a tree in a freaking bonsai pot, if for nothing more than to say I have an actual bonsai-something. Right meow, I am stuck in purgatory... not quite anywhere yet.

I usually do not suffer half measures... all or nothing... full send... burn the freaking boats... but I am trying this thing called patience, people say it's a virtue...

 

[Potawatomi13]

people say it's a virtue.

Along with humility, patience is greatest necessity. Otherwise get non living hobby.

 

[Paradox]

Honestly, I am too novice to know... all my trees are still in training pots. I actually do not even own a bonsai pot. Lol.

I need to commit... stick a tree in a freaking bonsai pot, if for nothing more than to say I have an actual bonsai-something. Right meow, I am stuck in purgatory... not quite anywhere yet.

I usually do not suffer half measures... all or nothing... full send... burn the freaking boats... but I am trying this thing called patience, people say it's a virtue...

Just because it's not in a bona-fide bonsai pot doesn't mean it isn't a bonsai.

I'm in the camp of it is ready for a bonsai pot when it's in the later stages of development.

The trunk is as big as you want, branches are developed and it just needs the final refinement of tertiary branching and ramification.

Most importantly, the root system has been sufficiently reduced and has recovered and healthy from being reduced to need minimal additional work to fit in that bonsai pot.

 

[Lorax7]

When the trunk is as big as I want it to get and I’ve found the right pot that works with the tree aesthetically

 

[Shibui]

Trees are ready to go in a pot when you are ready to have them in a pot.
Each grower will have different standards and expectations so the answer will vary for everyone.
Even 'show ready' varies depending on your experience and how many trees you have.

Novices will be happy to have sticks in pots and may even be happy to show sticks in pots. That's fine by me. Having some trees in bonsai pots will give valuable practice at maintenance, watering, etc because keeping trees in bonsai pots is way different to keeping the same trees alive and healthy in grow pots. makes sense to get some experience with less valuable trees before committing to more valuable advanced bonsai.

More experienced growers will be happy to develop trees in grow pots for years. For a start they'll already have some other 'bonsai' to show off. They also know how much faster development is in grow pots. Some of us are just maintaining the trees in grow pots until the right pot comes along.

Don't let others dictate how and when you move through the stages of bonsai. Just be aware of the consequences of making the change to a bonsai pot and make your own call.

 

[rockm]

Trees are ready to go in a pot when you are ready to have them in a pot.
Each grower will have different standards and expectations so the answer will vary for everyone.
Even 'show ready' varies depending on your experience and how many trees you have.

Novices will be happy to have sticks in pots and may even be happy to show sticks in pots. That's fine by me. Having some trees in bonsai pots will give valuable practice at maintenance, watering, etc because keeping trees in bonsai pots is way different to keeping the same trees alive and healthy in grow pots. makes sense to get some experience with less valuable trees before committing to more valuable advanced bonsai.

More experienced growers will be happy to develop trees in grow pots for years. For a start they'll already have some other 'bonsai' to show off. They also know how much faster development is in grow pots. Some of us are just maintaining the trees in grow pots until the right pot comes along.

Don't let others dictate how and when you move through the stages of bonsai. Just be aware of the consequences of making the change to a bonsai pot and make your own call.

Exactly!

 

[penumbra]

A plant is ready for a bonsai pot when it pleases You.
Just be aware of the limitations.

 

[caffeinated]

There is a practical reason for putting your tree in a bonsai pot. If you have the initial development close to where you want, the restrictions to the root development in a confined space, in proper soil, even in a slightly oversized training bonsai pot, will help slow growth, ramify roots, and limit upper vascular and foliar growth as well, due to the limitations below the soil line. Essentially, it helps with refinement.

 

[Bosco Seitzer]

When it is 90% ready to show.

I was going to say "When you are planning on showing it in < one year" but Bnut put it more succinctly

 

[Cajunrider]

My trees are doomed to stay in training boxes and tray forever

Self deprecating comment aside, I will put a tree in a bonsai pot with these conditions.
1. It is close to the desired trunk size
2. Nebari development is structurally substantial enough.
3. Lower branch development is structurally substantial enough.
4. Ramification development is under way.
5. Last but foremost: I have a strong desire to show it as my art.

So far I just have a handful in training or cheap pots. None in high end pots yet because I have none worth showing. Next spring a few more will be in training pot for sure.

 

[Tele]

My plan for using a small (Bonsai) pot when I want my radial rootbase and limited growth (short internodes). After that I might put it in the ground again or a big pot for health and thickening.
Last stage will be when I find the perfect pot for the tree and the tree will be 90% done.

 

[Maiden69]

I have three grow beds full of trees in 12” square by 2” deep plastic trays, yet none in pots. Whenever I consider it, I think about giving the tree another year or two in the training pot, and that it’s not worthy of anything ceramic yet. I’ve been in this trend for years now. What do you all use as your benchmark?

For me, a tree is ready to be moved into a training/bonsai pot as soon as you decide that you want to move your tree from development into refinement. Keeping them in boxes, over size pots, etc, is good for development, but will not give you the best option for creating the ramification needed for a showable tree. From what I have read here and heard from bonsai experts is that the constriction that the pot provides to the roots is what helps to manage the size of the growth of the ramification.

Novices will be happy to have sticks in pots and may even be happy to show sticks in pots.

Yeah, way too many of those... I have been tempted, but to this point I don't have any tree in a pot, as none of my trees is near refinement at this moment. Maybe next season I will move one of two trees into their first training pot.

 

[BrightsideB]

Large tree’s are impressive. But small ones are just beginning their story. There is mystery and beauty to it all. Why not develop smaller tree’s along with larger ones?

 

[BobbyLane]

I think you'll find many enthusiasts who dont use training pots, as in plastic bowls, wooden boxes, flower pots etc and just stick everything in bonsai pots whether it be finished trees or trees in training being put in oversized bonsai pots. Ive often put trees in training in oversized bonsai pots myself. just looks aesthetically better. One might not have the space for large wooden boxes for example. each to his own me thinks, there are no rules about this.

both are in bonsai training pots, both are in development

 

[Carol 83]

Your trees, your choice. I have better pots than I have trees for the most part. If I put a tree that doesn't deserve a nice pot in a nice pot, I figure it's better than letting the pot sit empty on a shelve waiting for a worthy tree.