Root & Wire

A pot for this tree

Conifer (juniper, pine, larch), literati (bunjin), under 20 cm (shohin) tall, trunk medium (2 to 5 cm).

Lengthabout 5 cma literati pot is small, about a fifth to a quarter of the height: the line of the trunk is the subject, the pot only grounds it
Depthabout 5 cma round or drum pot a little deeper than it is wide-looking: about one and a half times the trunk
Shapesmall rounda small round, drum or crescent; the pot is modest so the line of the trunk is the subject
Finishunglazedunglazed clay for conifers: the matt brown or grey agrees with bark and needles and does not compete

Rules of thumb, as bonsai people have passed them on; a good eye beats a tape. Measure the tree's height from the soil to the apex and the trunk just above the surface roots.

Where to look

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  1. A small round unglazed pot, about 10 cm

    The recommendation itself, as shops list it: sizes are rounded to the ones sold, so look at 10 cm and the size either side.

    Search: bonsai pot round drum unglazed 10cm

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See also

  1. Unglazed ceramic pot (rectangular)

    What to look for: Frost-proof stoneware, unglazed, with real drainage and wire holes and feet. For conifers. Check 'frost-proof', not 'frost-resistant', for an outdoor tree.

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  2. Plastic training pot

    If the tree is still being developed, a training pot of about the same length is the better buy this year.

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  3. Drainage mesh and tie-in wire

    For the repot itself.

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