Pots for those that can not afford this hobby

[Stormwater]

I love the pots folks are making, I love the art of it. I absolutely love pottery and the skill that goes into it. I also love bonsai. But I cannot justify buying pots, when I cannot even justify copper wire or buying the best soils. I litterly get to choose between saving for us, for the kids, helping our aging parents , or better preparing for the next thing that breaks (I tend to rotate). Better off then many, but that brings me back to pots.

for those of you that cannot throw much $$ at this hobby, what do you for pots?

 

[Anthony]

Scrap wood, onion crates and styro boxes.
You can brown paint all if need be.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[Cadillactaste]

Dollar store has small salsa bowls with feet. For small bonsai they could be a cute alternative if a hole is drilled into the plastic bowl.

 

[John P.]

Deep saucers, drilled for drainage work well. I use them.

 

[It's Kev]

Where you from? If you’re in americaland then this will only cost 4 or 5 of your dhaluhrs, maybe less
I literally have this en route to me, bought 2 actually. It’s a decent pot, it just doesn’t have some fancy stamp that somebody famous made it

 

[rockm]

I love the pots folks are making, I love the art of it. I absolutely love pottery and the skill that goes into it. I also love bonsai. But I cannot justify buying pots, when I cannot even justify copper wire or buying the best soils. I litterly get to choose between saving for us, for the kids, helping our aging parents , or better preparing for the next thing that breaks (I tend to rotate). Better off then many, but that brings me back to pots.

for those of you that cannot throw much $$ at this hobby, what do you for pots?

While I understand the "pots are expensive" thing, thinking that decent bonsai pots is "throwing" money away is a bit short sighted. I put a kid through college, had to care for three aging grandparents, etc. However, I also managed to get a few decent bonsai pots along the way by looking around for used pots and talking with potters. The justification for buying them was they don't die like trees and will last (and even appreciate in value) longer than I will. Pots I bought back when I was 30 I have sold for three times what I paid.

Using a $10 pot ceramic cooking pot you got at a yard sale and drilled holes in is satisfying in a short-term "look I didn't throw $100 at a high end bonsai pot" kind of way. It's not very satisfying if you love bonsai, though. Half assed, repurposed "bonsai" pots remain half-assed and repurposed in perpetiuity. There are many potters out there who don't charge a lot. There are many sources of Japanese pots that don't cost much--hell I just got half a dozen 80's era Japanese production pots FOR FREE, just by keeping my eye out for them.

 

[Nybonsai12]

I'd recommend trying to join a club. Most clubs have auctions or sales where non-high end pottery can be sold very cheap.

Other than that, terracotta pots aren't expensive, aren't hideous and work well for bonsai.

 

[Eckhoffw]

Where you from? If you’re in americaland then this will only cost 4 or 5 of your dhaluhrs, maybe less
I literally have this en route to me, bought 2 actually. It’s a decent pot, it just doesn’t have some fancy stamp that somebody famous made it
Wow much nicer than 5$ I’ve gotten.
And there stoneware?

 

[Paulpash]

Use your hobby to fund your hobby. Propagation is free. Set them in the ground if you have room, dig up and into a plastic pot and sell. You could easily generate enough pot money for a modest collection over time.

 

[rockm]

I'd recommend trying to join a club. Most clubs have auctions or sales where non-high end pottery can be sold very cheap.

Other than that, terracotta pots aren't expensive, aren't hideous and work well for bonsai.

Club is the way to go. Some members will GIVE you stuff they don't want if you're lucky and they know you. Clubs also have auctions --which are great sources of inexpensive, but pretty decent trees and pots.

 

[canoeguide]

If you're developing material that isn't very refined or special yet, I find that the plastic training pots can be purchased for very little money and provide the right aesthetic. They are at least the right shape and have good drainage and feet.

If you have a tree or two that you're really proud of, those are the ones to save a little money to get something nice for.

 

[bonsai45]

kouka-en:



when your trees are ready for exhibition, somebody from your local club will surely lend you the perfect pot for it

 

[PABonsai]

I love the pots folks are making, I love the art of it. I absolutely love pottery and the skill that goes into it. I also love bonsai. But I cannot justify buying pots, when I cannot even justify copper wire or buying the best soils. I litterly get to choose between saving for us, for the kids, helping our aging parents , or better preparing for the next thing that breaks (I tend to rotate). Better off then many, but that brings me back to pots.

for those of you that cannot throw much $$ at this hobby, what do you for pots?

Bonsai Outlet sells plastic pots, they even sell via Amazon for about $1.50-$2 a pot. After repotting the below juniper into one I actually really like them. Though I don't know how a few winters will go with them.

 

[River's Edge]

Online China Pottery sellers, buy the box of three or four in a set. Very economical, not high grade, but serviceable and reasonable aesthetic look. If you choose carefully can find darker tones and nicer styles with no script. A set of three recently cost me $35 CAD with wholesale discount the total came to $25.50 for the set. They are good sizes with appropriate depth for Bonsai and excellent drainage holes and wire holes.

 

[Bonsaidoorguy]

This is a saucer for under a pot that I drilled holes in for drainage and wiring.

 

[PABonsai]

And for growing out I built some of these. Just 1x cedar planks, glue, fasteners and screen material.

 

[Blimpsandmtn]

There are some plastic bonsai pots on etsy for as low as 5$ and some have free shipping.
very durable too, i have them of 3 of my trees.

 

[PABonsai]

Dollar store has small salsa bowls with feet. For small bonsai they could be a cute alternative if a hole is drilled into the plastic bowl.
View attachment 267033

#Bonsalsa

 

[Anthony]

On our side the 55 gallon plastic drums cost little.

Can be cut down to thirds.
The centre can have a screen re-attached.
This size is excellent for trunk thickening - Chinese elms, Celtis .....
Good Day
Anthony

* as usual, your labour cuts the cost.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I was in a financial rough spot, I made some concrete pots, some scrapwood pots, got some plastic ones too, I even cut and ground down some limestones.
They're not pretty! Not at all. But they're mine and they cost a dime.