Buying Bonsai Pots

Can anyone tell me where I can purchase good quality and priced Bonsai Pots? Can't go to your local Wal-Mart for them.....lol. Also is glazed better than non-glazed?

Allire

The choice of Bonsai containers can be difficult. The preferred method is to have a tree that needs a pot and let the tree dictate the pot.

Personally I tend to prefer unglazed oval or round pots.

There are rules about the pot.

In the case of glazed pots the color should complement the flowers of the tree and the tree is never shown when it is not in flower.

The pot depth should be the same as the trunk diameter at the soil line.

The pot should be 1/3 wider than the crown of the tree.

Bunjin (Literatii) are displayed in shallow, round pots.

Cascades require a cascade pot of appropriate diameter and height.

Local clubs sometimes have pot sources.

Buying pots online can work but shipping can be costly for larger pots.

For a special tree an artist will frequently commission a custom pot.

Try flea markets and garage sales. You will seldom find quality pots but frequently people are given Bonsai for gifts that they then kill (if they aren't already dead) and the pot goes to the garage sale or flea market.

If you know someone who frequents garage sales ask them to buy the bonsai pots they find and you will pay for them, maybe with a small commission.

Shows and conventions can be a good source of pots. I know Texas has a state Bonsai club and it holds conventions.

Frequently you can visit the vendor area of these for free.

Don't be cheap, a good tree deserves a quality pot.

Billy on the Florida Space Coast

Thanks for the reply. I would have never thought about Flea Markets or Garage Sales being that people who get a Bonsai as a gift usually do end up killing the plant......so sad too. I know a fair amount on caring, pruning and wiring a Bonsai as my soon to be ex had his own Bonsai business. So I payed attention to what he did but yet I wanted to get another person's perspective. He bought some of his pots on ebay and some place in Houston that I can't remember. I personally thought glazed pots were better and compliment flowering plants. I did not know though to show the plant only when it is flowering. Thankyou for all your help......
Aliree

Since you're in the states, you may find this helpful:

http://www.gobbs.org/Potters.htm


I'm almost sure you can find a few quality pots there



Will

Hi Will. Nice to meet you and thanks for the link.......much appreciated.......Aliree

Billy's "rules" for pots, while accurate, is a bit rigid. Generally, put a tree in a pot that YOU think it looks nice in. The best exposition on pots and bonsai is, I think, to be found in David De Groot's "Basic Bonsai Design," published by the American Bonsai Society. It can be found here -- http://www.absbonsai.org/books/booklist.html -- along with other excellent books.

A decent source for pots -- and a long-time sponsor of the IBC -- is Bonsai by the Monastery in Georgia -- www.bonsaimonk.com. They have excellent, good, and cheap pots -- whatever your bonsai needs or you can afford.

Other great sources for bonsai pots are thrift-stores like the Goodwill or Salvation Army.
As a mendicant Augustinian friar who loves bonsai I'm always looking for ways to do bonsai on the cheap, er a less expensive. There are many bargains to be had in thrift-stores.

Also in support of my "brother" Cictercians, I also recommend Bonsaimonk.com.

I'm a little confused that no one ever suggested ebay. Ebay is a great source for pots - everything from cheap garbage you'd never want to some impressive older and expensive Japanese pots by famous potters. Nice Sara and Dale pots on occasion, as well as good quality Chinese pots at reasonable prices. Simply put "bonsai pot" in the search bar and the world is at your finger tips!

I've bought several this way. Happy hunting!

Russell Coker
Mobile, Alabama

Ron Lang and Robert Wallace both sell pots on their websites.

Ron and Robert both have the unique wood fired pots that serve so well to the art of bonsai.

Their pots are quite beautiful. Do check them out!