Category: Bonsai Tools & Accessories

Bonsai pots come either unglazed or glazed. While some bonsai lovers like glazed bonsai pots, some others prefer the unglazed ones. There are different opinions on whether we should go for a glazed bonsai pot or an unglazed one, and ultimately, it comes down to personal choice. Yet, before we purchase our bonsai pots, here are a few points that we should first consider.

• Unglazed bonsai pots allow the roots of the bonsai tree to breathe better. And by the same token, unglazed bonsai pots lose moisture through their walls faster than glazed bonsai pots.
• Glazed bonsai pots retain more moisture; hence we probably don’t need to water as often. However, air cannot move through a glazed bonsai pot as well as an unglazed one. If it is a tropical bonsai tree we have, we may want to consider using a glazed bonsai pot since tropical trees live in humid regions love moist soil.
• In general, a dark colored unglazed bonsai pot can give a classic bonsai tree a stronger sense of age.
• A glazed bonsai pot may be more appropriate for a flowering bonsai tree.
• Never ever use a bonsai pot that is glazed on the inside. Without an unglazed surface, the root of the bonsai tree cannot get a firm grip on the inside surface of the bonsai pot.

There are many bonsai pots for us to choose from. Besides glazed and unglazed, there are also many different sizes and shapes, large variety of colors and materials. As said, it all comes down to personal choice. Just remember to pick a bonsai pot that not only compliments with the bonsai tree, but also provide a suitable environment for the roots.

It is important to select the right kind of pot for your shohin bonsai and mame bonsai. To give our mini bonsai tree the effect of miniaturization, we would need to get an equally small pot for our mini bonsai tree. However, the size of the bonsai pot is important only for shows and exhibitions. During the training period, it is totally acceptable to let the small trees grow in bigger containers. This will give our mini bonsai tree the time to regain strength. Potted in bigger containers, our bonsai trees have more space for root development, as well as more moist and fertilizer retain in the soil for better growth. Hence, it is definitely advisable to use oversized containers in the development stage for our shohin bonsai and mame bonsai.

Before a competition or bonsai exhibition, we can prepare our mini bonsai tree by repotting it from the big container into a smaller bonsai pot. The bonsai pot must have the dimension as specified by the organization of the bonsai exhibition or competition. In addition, we should repot our mini bonsai tree in spring, to secure the bonsai tree from suffering after repotting.

The choice of bonsai pot is often a matter of taste. We want to choose a bonsai pot that is in well balance with the mini bonsai tree. And while we should find a bonsai pot equally as small as our mini bonsai tree, another important feature we need to be aware of is drainage hole. Despite the small size of the bonsai pot, there should be a large drainage hole at the bottom of the bonsai pot.

Bonsai humidity trays (or drip trays) are important to the health of our bonsai trees for the following reasons.

• Since all bonsai pots have drainage holes in the bottom, the humidity tray (or drip tray) can hold the excess water and prevent water from dripping on the surface of our windowsill, table, or wherever we put our bonsai trees.
• Humidity tray can help us create a humid environment for our bonsai trees.  We just have to leave some water in the humidity tray during the day, and let the water in the tray evaporates.  Water evaporating from the humidity tray helps to raise the humidity level around our bonsai trees.
• With a humidity tray, we can water our bonsai trees at where they are placed instead of taking the bonsai trees to the sink for watering. When we water, we should pour on the top of the potting mix slowly until it penetrates the soil and excess water comes out from the drainage holes in the bottom of the bonsai pot.  This watering method is especially convenient for larger bonsai trees.

There are plastic and clay humidity trays (or drip trays) in multiple sizes and colors available in many online shops that sell bonsai supplies and tools.

Bonsai is tree in small pots, and these bonsai pots are mostly made in Japan or China. Japanese pottery is known for its high quality. They are elegant, natural, often unglazed, and fairly expensive. On the other hand, Chinese pottery is generally cheaper (while their quality is getting better and better) and often brightly glazed. Most of these bonsai pots are made of high-quality clay and are baked in high temperatures; hence these bonsai pots can tolerate very low and high temperatures.

However, what I just mentioned is only in the context of bonsai pots of low and medium quality. For the highest, world-class quality bonsai pots, the picture is different. Many of the top bonsai pots are made in China. In fact, today, many Japanese bonsai enthusiasts still prefer Chinese pots, especially kowatari containers.

Same as the art of bonsai, the origin of bonsai pottery is China. As early as the 12th century, without the knowledge we have in chemistry today, Chinese ceramists were able to make beautiful bonsai pots with amazing quality which modern technology cannot even match with today.

A major different between Chinese and Japanese bonsai pots lies in the production method. Although the Japanese bonsai pots are handmade, they are shaped in a mould. The clay is pressed into a pre-shaped mould and the interior of the pot is shaped manually. On the other hand, the Chinese use an inside mould that only serves as a framework for the clay. The exterior is shaped by hand, and this allows the ceramists to create countless shapes and designs.

The bonsai pot should enhance the bonsai tree and not be overpowering or a dominant feature. It should harmonize and complement the characteristics of the bonsai tree, showing the bonsai off to its best advantage.

Bonsai pots are available in many different shapes, sizes and colors to suit all styles and species of bonsai trees.

Bonsai Pot Size

If the bonsai pot is too small, the bonsai tree will look unbalanced, or even worse, your bonsai tree may be toppled easily. If the bonsai pot is too large, our bonsai tree will look small and insignificant.

Bonsai Pot Shape

There are bonsai pots of many shapes: square, rectangle, round, oval, long oval, octagonal, hexagonal, freehand shapes, shallow trays for forest bonsai, and tall pots for cascade style bonsai trees.

When we choose a bonsai pot for our bonsai tree, we should already have a good idea of the style of our bonsai tree. Is the bonsai tree gentle and flowing? Or is the bonsai tree thick and heavy? A black pine with a thick, strong trunk in the formal upright style would be best suited to a strong angular bonsai pot, such as a square or rectangle bonsai pot with the absolute minimum of decorations or fancy feet. Yet, on the other hand, a soft bonsai tree such as an azalea, would look best in a gentle curvy, glazed bonsai pot, with some fine engravings.

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
Is Your Bonsai Tree Ready for a Bonsai Pot?
Choosing Your Bonsai Pots