An ODD POT

I found this bonsai pot at a ”krims krams” second hand shop round the corner from my place. I didn’t really like the looks of it (I still don’t) but the price was cheap and it is “interesting”. There are no markings on it at all but my wild guess is that it’s from Italy, Spain or Portugal. But what do I know about bonsai pots? Nothing. I’m just going by the design. It has a Moorish sense about it, don’t you think?

I might use it as a training pot and see if I get used to looking at the thing. What do you think?

Not great for a bonsai tree with that glaze and pattern, plus the single small drainage hole. However I think it would be good filled with a lots of a single species of flower, such as a moisture-loving iris, as a large accent plant.

MMM I like... not the typical or even slightly untypical bonsai pot. As has been pointed out, with only the one small drainage hole it will be best to stick with moisture loving plants, if you decide you cant look at it anymore send it to me, I have a couple of Oz natives that would look great in it

Yeah. I like it too. You might even start a bidding war. <g>

Too bad that one hole is so tiny. I wonder if others could be drilled.

Take it easy on the bidding guys. If you weren't so enthusiastic I might have given it away for free, but with all of the "oohs!" and "aahs!" I might now have to rethink my dissatisfaction

I will enlarge that hole with a grinding stone, and I'll punch 2 more holes into it with a masonery drill. I have a thick, potentilla "clump" project coming up as soon as the next thaw and it might look good in that pot except for the yellow flowers.

If I decide that I really can't stand to look at it I'll toss it up and see who gets to it first.

Jim "Quote"

Yeah. I like it too. You might even start a bidding war. <g>

Too bad that one hole is so tiny. I wonder if others could be drilled.

Yes the pot can be drilled very easily, but one word of caution if it is a expensive pot it could destroy its value.
The best way to drill is with a diamond glass core bit most full service glass shops will do it for a few dollars. You can also buy bits on line if you s DIYer if do it this way I can give you instruction on how to.

Mitch

Mitch Thomas wrote:
Yes the pot can be drilled very easily, but one word of caution if it is a expensive pot it could destroy its value.

I think, in this example, that we can safely rule out that danger. I only paid 20 SEK for the thing - approx. 2 Euros.

Mitch Thomas wrote:The best way to drill is with a diamond glass core bit most full service glass shops will do it for a few dollars. You can also buy bits on line if you s DIYer if do it this way I can give you instruction on how to.
Mitch

I've drilled many a hole in bonsai pots. I use a standard masonery bit, with the "what do you call it in English"(?) thud-thud-thud switched off. I've even drilled straight through thick porslain pots, using a steady & gentle hand ..... and LOTS of patience.

[quote="Scion"]

Mitch Thomas wrote:
"what do you call it in English"(?) thud-thud-thud switched off.

Impact...!

good luck with it.

Scion,

Could be Chinese, I have a few with similar decorations.
You could allow the glaze to be grown over by organic stuff with time.
Or have a friend potter apply a new glaze and just refire it.
Later.
Khaimraj

* Drilling a hole safely, simply take a little clay and make a wall on the base of the pot, add some water inside and apply the drill. This will cool the ceramic as the drill goes through.

Khaimraj Seepersad wrote:
Could be Chinese, I have a few with similar decorations.

Really? Can you post a photo of a similar one?

Khaimraj Seepersad wrote:You could allow the glaze to be grown over by organic stuff with time.

Not a bad idea at all. I like it.

Khaimraj Seepersad wrote:Or have a friend potter apply a new glaze and just refire it.
Later.
Khaimraj

I never thought of that.

BigDave wrote:
Impact...!

Thank you.

Scion wrote:

Khaimraj Seepersad wrote:
Could be Chinese, I have a few with similar decorations.

Really? Can you post a photo of a similar one?

I'll take your silence to mean "no".

OOPs,

sorry Scion, I forgot all about this.

Pot was originally brown and I re-glazed for the colour you are seeing. It is a slip cast body, still porous.
Hope this helps.
Once again apologies.
Khaimraj

Bigdave quoted me as.

Mitch Thomas wrote:

"what do you call it in English"(?) thud-thud-thud switched off.



Impact...!

good luck with that

Your quote is incorrect Scion wrote that. Being in the glass business I can tell you using a impact to drill ceramic is deffeniately a no win situation. Also a conventional masionary drill bit is very risky. And if succesful will only yeild you a 1/2" hole at best. The core type bits used to drill Glass is the best way to go, and have a much wider range of hole sizes available. The trick is to keep the bit cool.

Mitch

Mitch Thomas wrote:Bigdave quoted me as.
Mitch Thomas wrote:
"what do you call it in English"(?) thud-thud-thud switched off.
Impact...!
good luck with that

Your quote is incorrect Scion wrote that. Being in the glass business I can tell you using a impact to drill ceramic is deffeniately a no win situation. Also a conventional masionary drill bit is very risky. And if succesful will only yeild you a 1/2" hole at best. The core type bits used to drill Glass is the best way to go, and have a much wider range of hole sizes available. The trick is to keep the bit cool.
Mitch

If the insinuation is that I recommend having the "impact function" ON - then you are both incorrect. I VERY clearly stated the opposite.

I agree that using a "conventional masionary drill bit" is tedious (and potentially "risky" - as you say) but I have drilled about 50 holes total in all sorts of pots including thick porclain and I have NEVER cracked or destroyed a single pot in my life. One widely accepted characteristic of a Bonsai gardener is that he/she is patient. I never put any pressure upon the job but simply allow the weight of my hand-drill to do the work.

Many of my bonsai projects began as collected seeds from my travells. I recon that if I have the patience to wait a minimun of 5 years before it's big enough to work on, I can certainly invest a few hours to drill a hole.

Ps. "Yeilding only a 1/2" hole at best" is merely stage one. I then use a grinding stone at the end of the same hand drill to achieve the desired diametre.

Thanks for the advice,
Franz-Erik "Scion"

Khaimraj Seepersad wrote:OOPs,

sorry Scion, I forgot all about this.

Pot was originally brown and I re-glazed for the colour you are seeing. It is a slip cast body, still porous.
Hope this helps.
Once again apologies.
Khaimraj

Thanks for the pic. I must admit that the design does have the same "feel" to it. Is yours really made in China?

SorrY Mitch, good advice


Scion, you have a good grasp on drilling ceramics, continued successes

big D

Hello Franz-Eric,

yes, these pots, are imported with plastic trees and flowers stuck in plaster of paris and with some sort of long moss spread around, the base, to perhaps suggest grass.

Some come in with holes for bonsai and others are solid as the base goes. Sometimes glazed, sometimes with an acrylic stain. Low cost, but usable for mame' and small bonsai, easily glazed.

A light heating in my test kiln, frees the plaster of paris.
Hope this helps.
Khaimraj

Khaimraj Seepersad wrote:Hello Franz-Eric,

yes, these pots, are imported with plastic trees and flowers stuck in plaster of paris and with some sort of long moss spread around, the base, to perhaps suggest grass.

Some come in with holes for bonsai and others are solid as the base goes. Sometimes glazed, sometimes with an acrylic stain. Low cost, but usable for mame' and small bonsai, easily glazed.

A light heating in my test kiln, frees the plaster of paris.
Hope this helps.
Khaimraj

So it is possible that my ODD pot is Chinese after all. Interesting. Thank you.