I would appreciate your help with pot selection for my Juniper

Hello bonsai friends,

This juniper was styled this year from nursery stock. Next year it will go into a bonsai container (right now it is in a mica training pot). I have three containers which I believe are all possible candidates, but am stuck between two of them (I will post all three virtuals nevertheless to get your unbiased opinion).

Pot 1 is an unglazed rectangle by Chuck Iker. The orange highlights are there in the finish, but are exagerrated due to the lighting in the picture. The actual colour is much more subtle. Photographing pots accurately is difficult (especially indoors), and I am a very amateur photographer.


Pot 2 is an unglazed round, also by Chuck Iker.


Pot 3 is an unglazed oval by Nick Lenz. The lighting is also a bit messed with this pot. Anyone familiar with Nicks standard unglazed finish knows that the true colour is actually quite a bit darker than this.


I don't think any of the pots are perfect but they are the best three candidates I have in my possession.

I would very much appreciate your help with this selection.

Thanks,

Khalid

a2khalid wrote: I don't think any of the pots are perfect but they are the best three candidates I have in my possession.

Yes, well, we often have to choose between the lesser of the evils when it comes to picking pots from what we have on hand. So having said that, I'd go with the round one. Is that a true representation of the pot and tree sizes? It's too big in the picture, but I would put that tree in a smaller, rough, round pot if it were mine.

R

Russell Coker wrote:

a2khalid wrote: I don't think any of the pots are perfect but they are the best three candidates I have in my possession.

Yes, well, we often have to choose between the lesser of the evils when it comes to picking pots from what we have on hand. So having said that, I'd go with the round one. Is that a true representation of the pot and tree sizes? It's too big in the picture, but I would put that tree in a smaller, rough, round pot if it were mine.

R

Thanks Russell.

The size representations are pretty accurate. I photographed everything from the same distance.

I agree with Russell that the round one is a bit large and heavy appearing. I'd go for the oval by Nick Lenz...and maybe a tiny bit more to the left in the pot.

John Quinn wrote:...and maybe a tiny bit more to the left in the pot.

Definitely... realized the error after making the virt.

I would use the round pot. In an ideal situation I think it needs a smaller diameter pot with straight sides. Dale should have an ideal choice.

Definitely the second one. The shape fits exellent with the tree for me.

a2khalid wrote:Hello bonsai friends,

This juniper was styled this year from nursery stock. Next year it will go into a bonsai container (right now it is in a mica training pot). I have three containers which I believe are all possible candidates, but am stuck between two of them (I will post all three virtuals nevertheless to get your unbiased opinion).

Pot 1 is an unglazed rectangle by Chuck Iker. The orange highlights are there in the finish, but are exagerrated due to the lighting in the picture. The actual colour is much more subtle. Photographing pots accurately is difficult (especially indoors), and I am a very amateur photographer.

Pot 2 is an unglazed round, also by Chuck Iker.

Pot 3 is an unglazed oval by Nick Lenz. The lighting is also a bit messed with this pot. Anyone familiar with Nicks standard unglazed finish knows that the true colour is actually quite a bit darker than this.

I don't think any of the pots are perfect but they are the best three candidates I have in my possession.

I would very much appreciate your help with this selection.

Thanks,

Khalid

Russell is spot on. Go with the round, though a smaller round (same depth, less diameter) would be ideal.

Zach

I see the tree in a smaller round unglazed "drum" pot to compliment the rugged look of the Tree.Nice material.
Bob

Thanks everyone for their input.

The consensus seems to be the round pot.

my feeling was the rectangle. Normally I don't like rectangles for dynamic trees, but this rectangle has a soft profile. More importantly, I like the negative space the rectangular pot allows under the 'thrusting' branch.

I understand why people like the round pot, but it is definitely too big. Buying a smaller round pot may or may not happen, but I will be keeping my eye out for one.

I think this pot suits the tree better.
Gr Ed

Ed van der Reek wrote:I think this pot suits the tree better.
Gr Ed

Thank you Ed. That is a nice rustic pot. Do you know the maker?

I feel, however, that it is quite a bit too small given the broad crown of the tree.

IMHO that last pot is the wrong way round. It has a very definite "direction" and that direction is the opposite way to the tree in my view.

My ideal choice would be a smaller version of the round one, but if you haven't got that then either the rectangular or oval one with a better placement of the tree to the left like John suggests would be a perfectly good compromise .

.
.the rectangular one with a better placement of the tree to the left like John suggests would be a perfectly good compromise . [/quote]

I agree. In fact, I would put the rectangular pot at the top of my list, and wouldn't consider it a compromise. I've found that the long rectangle works well with a tall tree that has a long branch at a right angle to the trunk. The tree should be placed in the first quarter of the pot.
IMHO

Oops, I meant either the rectangular or oval. Either way the tree needs to go to the left.

Yes, it seemed to me that Khalid's intent is to use one of these three that he already has at his disposal. Doesn't hurt to creat virtuals however...

Hi Khalid

Maybe ?


Pavel

Pavel Slovák wrote: Hi Khalid

Maybe ?


Pavel

Pavel, smaller diameter pot of this I think suit better.

mike page wrote:.I agree. In fact, I would put the rectangular pot at the top of my list, and wouldn't consider it a compromise. I've found that the long rectangle works well with a tall tree that has a long branch at a right angle to the trunk. The tree should be placed in the first quarter of the pot.
IMHO

Thats what I was thinking Mike. I am surprised there has been so little interest in the rectangular pot. It creates very nice negative space under the wandering branch.

Horticulturally speaking, I am not sure if the rootball will allow that far left of a planting yet, however. This tree just came out of a big nursery can this spring and while the rootball is small, I think the planting position that I posted is as far left as I would be able to get it next spring without removing too many roots.. Health of the tree first.

Thank you for your comments.

Pavel Slovák wrote: Hi Khalid

Maybe ?


Pavel

Thank you Pavel - I appreciate you taking the time to make a virtual. I do not like the colour of this pot very much, but I do like the profile of it. It is curvy and feminine, like the tree.

Lots of people seem to want to put this tree in a smaller pot, which I find interesting. To me, the strong rightward movement of the tree needs to be balanced by a wider pot. But maybe I am wrong - I am here to learn

Hi Khalid

I did not choose the color. It's all about shape and size. The deployment of space on the right and left.
Pavel

Pavel Slovák wrote:Hi Khalid

I did not choose the color. It's all about shape and size. The deployment of space on the right and left.
Pavel

Thank you Pavel, I see

I like pot #2

I very much like the rectangle, although I'd like it better if it were not quite so wide. Nice styling on the tree, by the way, in any case.

Hi "khlid"

Pictures to dream









Best wishes
Peter
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THE WORLD OF THE POT: http://www.peter-krebs.de/