Category: Bonsai Pots

Mica and Plastic Bonsai Pot

Mica bonsai pots are made of 80% mica, 15% polyethylene, and 5% graphite. Mica is a material with a natural ability to stabilize the temperature of the potting soil in the pot. This protects the roots of our bonsai trees from damages caused by cold temperature, as well as promotes healthy root activity during growing season. Because the polyethylene bonds the raw materials together and makes the bonsai pots tough and durable, the bonsai pots made of mica seldom break. And with 5% graphite, mica pots have the appearance of high quality unglazed ceramic pots.

Due to their lightweight and durable nature, bonsai pots made of both mica and plastic are great for bonsai training, as a step towards a smaller pot.

Clay Bonsai Pot

Clay bonsai pots are good for our bonsai trees because of their ability to retain temperatures and release moisture at a constant rate. Clay bonsai pot also allows oxygen to get to the roots of the bonsai tree which is vital for healthy growth.

Here is an article about Yixing zisha bonsai pot.

Porcelain Bonsai Pot

Porcelain pots are not used very often as they are usually fairly expensive. In addition, porcelain pot holds water as they are nonporous. Hence, bonsai artists pot their bonsai trees in porcelain pots more for show than for grow.

Here are a few more articles on how to choose bonsai pots for our bonsai trees.
What Bonsai Pots for What Bonsai Trees?
Bonsai Pot – Get the Right Size for Our Tree
Bonsai Pots for Different Bonsai Styles
Bonsai Pots of Different Shapes and Sizes
Is Your Bonsai Tree Ready for a Bonsai Pot?
Choosing Your Bonsai Pots

No matter what type of bonsai pot we choose, we should make sure that our bonsai pots have adequate drainage holes.  Bonsai pots made in China and Japan usually have large drainage holes, so that excess water can drain away.  Cover each drainage hole inside the bonsai pot with a piece of plastic drainage mesh to prevent any soil falling through the holes.

Some bonsai pots may have small holes around the side of the base.  There holes can be very handy sometimes.  We can use these holes to tie the bonsai tree into the pot, or tie a branch of the bonsai tree to a downward position for training.  I also use these holes on my bonsai pots to tie and secure the pots on my bonsai rack.

Pots and containers are often available from garden centers that are massively produced, yet not necessarily for bonsai.  Usually these pots and containers only have one small drainage hole, or sometimes, none at all.  Do not try to use a pot with only one drainage hole, as drainage hole is a major factor in growing healthy bonsai trees, and one small drainage hole is definitely not enough.

In addition, we should also check if the base of the bonsai pot is flat so to make sure there is no area where water can become trapped and cause root rot.

A bonsai is a tree in pot. Hence, the bonsai pot that we choose for our bonsai tree is an integral and vital part of the entire bonsai composition. Without a well-matching bonsai pot, the bonsai is incomplete. The bonsai pot is not just a container in which we grow our bonsai tree. It is also the most important element that must match well with our bonsai tree so that the final composition integrates well as a complementary unit.

Most bonsai pots are made of stoneware, ceramic, terracotta, mica, or plastic. Some bonsai pots are collector items in themselves, being hundreds of years old and worth thousands of dollars. But even put aside these antiques, bonsai pots are still fairly expensive.

Having all these said, we should keep in mind that the bonsai pot is no more and no less than an essential complementary unit of our bonsai tree. Our bonsai tree is always the lead character, while its bonsai pot is the number one sidekick who can brighten up and emphasize the beauty of the bonsai tree.

Here are a few more articles on how to choose bonsai pots for our bonsai trees.
What Bonsai Pots for What Bonsai Trees?
Bonsai Pot – Get the Right Size for Our Tree
Bonsai Pots for Different Bonsai Styles
Bonsai Pots of Different Materials
Bonsai Pots of Different Shapes and Sizes
Is Your Bonsai Tree Ready for a Bonsai Pot?
Choosing Your Bonsai Pots