Bonsai Pots
How To Buy Bonsai Pots
The word ‘bonsai’ in Japanese is made of two words which mean ‘pot’ and ‘cultivate’; translated would be the practice of growing a plant or tree in a pot.
If you are unsure how to buy a pot for your bonsai, read the following articles to learn more.
Bonsai Ceramic Pots
Bonsai ceramic pots are an ideal choice to help ensure that your plant enjoys a healthy existence. Ceramic as a material, allows your plant to absorb and eliminate water because it is porous. This helps eliminate the growth of fungi.
Because ceramic pottery has a similar composition to soil, there is no chemical interference and keeps the dirt good and dry. Ceramic pots can also be recycled so is also environmentally friendly.
There is no shortage of styles, glazing, colors or shape as ceramic pots are available as rectangular, oval, square, lotus as well as a for a “water and land” presentation.
Glazed or Unglazed?
Pots can come glazed (kama in Japanese which means glazed earthen basin) or unglazed. There are different opinions on whether you should go for a glazed or unglazed pot. Ultimately it comes down to personal choice. There are two things however you may want to consider:-
- If you have a classic bonsai and want to convey a sense of age, then you may want to have a look at a dark colored un-glazed pot.
- For a flowering bonsai or an unusual looking bonsai then a glazed pot may be more appropriate.
- NEVER buy a pot which is glazed on the inside as this could damage your plant’s roots. It is better to pay a bit more for quality. Tokoname is very popular choice of bonsai pot manufacturer and their pots are ideal for those who are looking for something that bit “special”.
Tokoname Bonsai Pots
If you have never heard of Tokoname, they are the largest manufacturer of bonsai pottery in Japan. They do have a website but making a purchase is a little confusing. There are dozens of styles, shapes and colors to choose from. Look out for the word “choukaku” which means “rectangle” – many of the pots are named under this heading.
Bonsaimonk.com is one source you may want to consider. The website is maintained by the “Monastery Greenhouse” and the monks claim to have the largest selection of bonsai pots in the U.S plus Tokoname. The greenhouse and monastery are located in Conyers, Georgia.
Whether you have miniature bonsai plant or a regular sized one, sizes of the pots can vary from 2.4 inches to 32.8 inches to suit. Have a look at the gallery section as it might help you identify some unusual or odd-shaped pottery you have lying around the house
If you are looking for discounted Tokoname pots, then nip over to The Stone Lantern who offer up to 15% off recommended retail prices. For those of you who like a pot to be highly decorative and ornate then try New England Bonsai. Other sites to try out are Bonsai Boy who are located in New York, plus Brussel’s Bonsai Nursery.
Plastic Bonsai Pots
Plastic bonsai pots are also referred to as “humidity trays”. When the plant is watered the plastic pot holds the water to create a humidity around your plant. These are very cheap to buy and are sometime called “training pots”.
Mica Bonsai Pots
If you plan on keeping your bonsai plant outdoors, you need to make sure that you buy a pot that will withstand all the elements – freezing cold, heat waves and everything in-between.
Mica bonsai pots are particularly good for this because it’s composition is 85% mica, 10% polythene as a binder and 5% graphite for color.
If you are a little clumsy, mica pots are strong enough to withstand the impact of being dropped, unlike ceramic which will likely crack.
Mica pots come in a good selection of shapes, however you may be a little disappointed by the lack of colors.
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