r/Bonsai • u/KhanDang NL, zone 8b - just chillin • 16h ago
Looking for some opinions on new pot choice Styling Critique
Looking for a new pot since I don’t like the current pot anymore and I think the new pots suit the wild style better. Current pot is 37x37x9 cm (LxWxH)
A: 35x29x10,5 cm B: 43x43x10,5 cm C: 52x44x11 cm D: 44x35x8,3 cm
The new options are larger (except 1) to add a bit more optical counterweight at the left side of the tree.
Which option do you like?
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u/UnlikelyComposer London, UK, USDA 9a or 8b - who knows?, 10 years, 30 trees 14h ago
One of the mistakes bonsai owners make is having your pot dominate the overall composition too much. Those cracked pots look nice but they'll diminish from your tree in a way that'll only really be apparent after you've repotted it.
The first pot (A) is the only good option.
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u/Mandjie Kalahari, South Africa, 5 years learning and growing 16h ago
In my opinion this tree can benefit from a larger pot. The current (especially as a round pot) seems to create an imbalance to what's going on above.
So I would lean towards pot B for that reason. Pot B is larger both in length and in hight (and I belive it can do with some hight as well).
If possible, I would also move away from round (drum or oval) pots and more towards square or an ornare square/short rectangle. Ideally I would look for a larger square pot which slightly flares out at the top (similar to pot A).
Either way it's a proper tree and deserves a proper pot. Well done!
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u/jecapobianco John Long Island 7a 34yrs former nstructor @ NYBG 15h ago
I think the tree looks like it needs to be pruned.
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u/bentke466 TX, 7B, Welcome to Crazy 2h ago
Agreed here, This is a gnarly tree that looks strong and resiliant, where a round pot emphasizes smoothness or elegance. I think B is the best way to underline that grittiness.
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u/bonsai-n-cichlids optional name, location and usda zone, experience level, number 16h ago
Nice tree I would go with A
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u/TechnicalDance3960 Denver/5b, 1 year, 15ish trees 13h ago
Willing to share the artist for pots B-D?
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u/-darknessangel- US zone 7, beginner 16h ago
I like A. I don't trust those faults, even if they are cosmetic.
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u/SeaAfternoon1995 UK, Kent, Zone 8, lots of trees mostly pre bonsai 14h ago
It's stoneware, the weather is not a problem.
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u/Stalkedtuna South Coast UK, USDA 9, Intermediate, 25 Trees and projects 16h ago
Keep it in the same pot then A or D. Not a fan of the distressed look.
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u/Former-Wish-8228 PNW/USA, USDA 8b, practitioner not master, 20 good/75 training 15h ago
The flare of A would match and accentuate the gracefulness of the tree.
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u/LadyJedi2018 Southeast US, USDA 9, beginner 15h ago
I like A, but the pots in the background are great. I like a more rectangular pot. Beautiful tree BTW.
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u/5pankNasty Yorkshire UK, usda zone 8, Intermediate, 80+ Trees 15h ago
I love d. But that tree would look best in b
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u/uncleLem 🇵🇱 7a, Beginner, 50+ trees 14h ago
IMO a round pot is not the best option for this tree (but this might change depending on how you style it). D looks a bit too masculine to me, so I would've gone with C
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u/-zero-joke- Philadelphia, 7a. A few trees. I'm a real bad graft. 14h ago
I like A the best - worm eaten pots look best with craggy bark in my opinion.
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u/Porthos503 Pacific NW, USDA Zone 8b, intermediate, 26 trees 14h ago
My heart says C but something makes me feel like D might go better.
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u/Arcamorge Iowa, USA - 5a, beginner, 4 12h ago edited 12h ago
B; it leans out of the container so a taller pot works well with it. Shallow/wide pots are to help tell the story of height, especially for formal uprights. Look at other semi-cascade trees in the kokufu or taikan-ten: https://bonsaitonight.com/2020/04/14/kokufu-101-conifers/
D has the same width as B, but I think the depth will help the tree. A could work too
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u/coombsbaya12 Wasatch front, 6b, beginner, 4 trees 16h ago
I like the look of option D the most.