Pot selection advice appreciated

[jandslegate]

I'm new to actual proper pots for trees. As you can see this barberry is in a ramen bowl. Granted it was a higher tier ramen but none the less. It'll be due for a repot next spring and I was hoping to get some input on the pot itself.

I feel like a complimentary color to the burgundy would be a bit on the nose. For that matter I'm not even 100% certain about glazed. As you can tell by my frugal training pot I'm not really able to go all in on a one of a kind hand made container but I feel like it's ready for something a little nicer. Any input and opinions are appreciated.

Also the first picture was from today the second from a couple of weeks ago. Waiting for the new growth to harden and all that.

 

[penumbra]

I think you are on the right track of frugality and function.

 

[jandslegate]

I think you are on the right track of frugality and function.

So maybe not worth putting in a 'proper' pot yet? If so that's fine, I appreciate honest criticism as much as anything else, lol.

 

[rockm]

It's ready to go into a "proper" pot when YOU WANT IT TO...I've put all kinds of trees into "proper" pots (and that is a category that covers thousand dollar hand-made to simple production pots from China--up to you to choose) The thing you have to think about is the tree physically ready to make such a transfer. The ramen bowl is pretty deep. A good bonsai pot that "goes" with this tree would be half or more shallower. You might have to reduce the rootmass substantially to get the tree into a pot. Deeper ceramic training pots are available that are more presentable than a ramen bowl.

As far as glazed or unglazed--Glazed would be better, whitish to cream would be a good choice colorwise.

BTW---Cheap and frugal isn't the best way to approach getting a pot. Buy what you like and can afford. I've never kicked myself for getting good , relatively expensive pots a couple of decades ago. Still have all of them. Some have even appreciated in value (but I'm not going to get rich selling them)

Decent to excellent bonsai pots typically last longer than trees. Sometimes even the cheapo pots can last, but not as long as the expensive ones. Pots are re-usable and don't die on you (unless you're a klutz or big wind comes up). If you want a pot, get one.

 

[jandslegate]

It's ready to go into a "proper" pot when YOU WANT IT TO...I've put all kinds of trees into "proper"(and that is a category that covers thousand dollar hand-made to simple production pots from China--up to you to choose) The thing you have to think about is the tree physically ready to make such a transfer. The ramen bowl is pretty deep. A good bonsai pot that "goes" with this tree would be half or more shallower. You might have to reduce the rootmass substantially to get the tree into a pot. Deeper ceramic training pots are available that are more presentable than a ramen bowl.

As far as glazed or unglazed--Glazed would be better, whitish to cream would be a good choice colorwise.

BTW---Cheap and frugal isn't the best way to approach getting a pot. Buy what you like and can afford. I've never kicked myself for getting good , relatively expensive pots a couple of decades ago. Still have all of them. Some have even appreciated in value (but I'm not going to get rich selling them)

Decent to excellent bonsai pots typically last longer than trees. Sometimes even the cheapo pots can last, but not as long as the expensive ones. Pots are re-usable and don't die on you (unless you're a klutz or big wind comes up). If you want a pot, get one.

Thank you. I didn't plan on doing any sort of repot until at least next year but I have a birthday coming up and therefore a reason and opportunity to pick something up and just be prepared. I have certain things I always tell myself I want to do when spring comes and then I never get around to it, heh.

 

[Michael P]

I once had a beautiful Sara Rayner tree in a beautiful Sara Rayner pot. Tree and pot blew off the bench in a sudden thunderstorm. The tree survived, the pot did not. I've been paranoid about high end pots ever since.

 

[jandslegate]

I once had a beautiful Sara Rayner tree in a beautiful Sara Rayner pot. Tree and pot blew off the bench in a sudden thunderstorm. The tree survived, the pot did not. I've been paranoid about high end pots ever since.

I can appreciate that. I'm always glad to see spring arrive but around here the storms and harsh wind come also.

 

[WNC Bonsai]

It's ready to go into a "proper" pot when YOU WANT IT TO...I've put all kinds of trees into "proper" pots (and that is a category that covers thousand dollar hand-made to simple production pots from China--up to you to choose) The thing you have to think about is the tree physically ready to make such a transfer. The ramen bowl is pretty deep. A good bonsai pot that "goes" with this tree would be half or more shallower. You might have to reduce the rootmass substantially to get the tree into a pot. Deeper ceramic training pots are available that are more presentable than a ramen bowl.

As far as glazed or unglazed--Glazed would be better, whitish to cream would be a good choice colorwise.

BTW---Cheap and frugal isn't the best way to approach getting a pot. Buy what you like and can afford. I've never kicked myself for getting good , relatively expensive pots a couple of decades ago. Still have all of them. Some have even appreciated in value (but I'm not going to get rich selling them)

Decent to excellent bonsai pots typically last longer than trees. Sometimes even the cheapo pots can last, but not as long as the expensive ones. Pots are re-usable and don't die on you (unless you're a klutz or big wind comes up). If you want a pot, get one.

I have several I bought at the garden center at Fairfax Circle in 1977. Still in use today and the prorated cost over 46 years comes to pennies each.

You can find some decent hand made pots on etsy and most ship free. Weigerts has some nice pots and I have several I ordered from House of Bonsai in the last couple of years. If you want quality hand made check out Waldo Street Pottery in Atlanta.

 

[rockm]

I once had a beautiful Sara Rayner tree in a beautiful Sara Rayner pot. Tree and pot blew off the bench in a sudden thunderstorm. The tree survived, the pot did not. I've been paranoid about high end pots ever since.

I have broken a few Rayner pots over the years . Doesn't put me off getting replacements when I can afford them. Shit happens. Things break.

Also surprisingly, older Japanese pots are now among the most affordable higher quality containers. Matt Ouwinga's site has many affordable excellent pots among the higher end stuff. It's always worth looking through there if only to see what glazes and shapes pots can come in.

 

[Tieball]

I’m confident you’ll make a good choice after researching pots available in the size you want without being overly expensive. I’d like to comment though that the Ramen noodle pot is rather nice looking in the photo. Perhaps the only negative I can imagine right now for a Ramen pot is that the pots are rather light….easily overturned. I resolved that with a tree I had in a lightweight pot by putting large rocks around it for a grounding effect.

I’ll also add that I thoroughly enjoy Ramen noodles and have them at least two-three times a week. One of my favorite soups with added cut up Napa Cabbage.

 

[jandslegate]

I’m confident you’ll make a good choice after researching pots available in the size you want without being overly expensive. I’d like to comment though that the Ramen noodle pot is rather nice looking in the photo. Perhaps the only negative I can imagine right now for a Ramen pot is that the pots are rather light….easily overturned. I resolved that with a tree I had in a lightweight pot by putting large rocks around it for a grounding effect.

I’ll also add that I thoroughly enjoy Ramen noodles and have them at least two-three times a week. One of my favorite soups with added cut up Napa Cabbage.

It's honestly one of the most useful tips I picked up from watching Peter Chan's YouTube channel. Not to disparage his work at all. Just that that tip helped provide decent training pot sized containers that are readily available. I do have to consider the species due to the thin plastic however. Fortunately that barberry is a tough little shrub, heh

 

[jandslegate]

It's honestly one of the most useful tips I picked up from watching Peter Chan's YouTube channel. Not to disparage his work at all. Just that that tip helped provide decent training pot sized containers that are readily available. I do have to consider the species due to the thin plastic however. Fortunately that barberry is a tough little shrub, heh

Update: Found a pot from Brussel's. It's nothing fancy but I like it. It was more or less a slip pot so I don't think I pushed it too much. Now I have a set of new (to them) pots for my barberry trio.