Choosing the pot size

Krone

Shohin
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Hello!
What are the factors when choosing the pot size when repotting? When do you want to use bigger pots, when smaller and are there any reasons to put the tree back into the same pot?
Thanks for all the answers!
 

Shibui

Imperial Masterpiece
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So many questions and most do not have a simple or even single answer.
Really large pots can be used to encourage trees to grow if you want a thicker trunk.
Slightly larger than ideal pots are recommended for beginners because it gives greater margin for error in watering during the first couple of seasons - less trees die from being too dry.
Slightly larger pot allows some growth while keeping some control over internode length, etc during finishing stages of development - growing ramification, replace apex, allowing large cuts to heal.
Reasons for putting a tree back in the same pot: the 2 are the best match you have; don't have another pot; still trying to achieve any of the above.
Most bonsai will probably go back into the same pot for many years unless they grow larger or the owner manages to find a better matching pot or the tree has blown off the bench and the pot is broken.

Smaller pots? Smaller than necessary - never. If 'smaller' means the correct sized pot for the tree then whenever the tree seems to be developed enough to show off. Trees tend to slow growth when they are in matching sized bonsai pot so early use of 'small' pots will retard development.

factors when choosing a pot at repotting: is the tree still developing or in final stages?; trunk thickness; canopy spread; roots; style of bonsai; climate may also influence choices of pot size and shape.
 

rockm

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This is a very complex subject, with all kinds of answers.

It helps to know WHY you're looking at a new pot for a tree. There are basically two paths--health and art. Ideally you can do both with one pot, however that's a hard thing to do.

Bigger pots (up to a point) offer more room for roots and can GENERALLY improve health. RELATIVELY Smaller pots (up to a point) are used in the "final" stage of development for shows, etc. to make the tree look its best.

Also, FWIW, for their best show trees, Japanese bonsai exhibitors use deeper larger pots for their best trees to grow in day-to-day. Those trees are transferred to smaller, more artistically measured "show" pots a few weeks before an exhibition. The trees are transferred back to the larger pots (and large DOES NOT mean 'huge') afterwards...
 

Krone

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Thanks for all the info guys! The answers has actually cleared up things for me. Have read much about this already but some of the stuff was a bit unclear... Thanks again!
 
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