How many unused pots do you have?

canoeguide

Chumono
Messages
603
Reaction score
1,175
Location
central PA
USDA Zone
6a
... 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? :)
 

moke

Chumono
Messages
635
Reaction score
1,828
Location
Utah
USDA Zone
6a
You can not ever have enough in my opinion, I may have in the hundreds without a tree in them currently. But they are in reserve just waiting for the right tree you need a variety to chose from, much like shoes 😬
 

moke

Chumono
Messages
635
Reaction score
1,828
Location
Utah
USDA Zone
6a
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.
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
Messages
9,377
Reaction score
15,841
Location
Front Royal, VA
USDA Zone
6
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.
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
Messages
9,377
Reaction score
15,841
Location
Front Royal, VA
USDA Zone
6
You can have hundreds of pots and may still not have that perfect match unfortunately.
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
Messages
2,770
Reaction score
4,794
Location
IOWA
USDA Zone
5b
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.
 

Leo in N E Illinois

The Professor
Messages
11,337
Reaction score
23,254
Location
on the IL-WI border, a mile from ''da Lake''
USDA Zone
5b
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.
 

sorce

Nonsense Rascal
Messages
32,908
Reaction score
45,579
Location
Berwyn, Il
USDA Zone
6.2
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
 

penumbra

Imperial Masterpiece
Messages
9,377
Reaction score
15,841
Location
Front Royal, VA
USDA Zone
6
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..
I hear that. I have two pots that may never see bonsai.
 

Carol 83

Flower Girl
Messages
11,120
Reaction score
27,117
Location
IL
Having a variety of pots is kind of like having too many clothes. You look in your closet one day and find something you really like, that you forgot you had and it's like getting something new!
 
Top Bottom