Pot size

Joanie

Taper means that the trunk is thicker at the bottom where the roots are, and gets narrow as it goes up to the top. (The top is called the apex)

People like trunks to taper because then they look like old trees. Go look at some old trees and see how they are thicker at the bottom....also it gives the illusion that the tree is taller than it is. Like standing on the sidewalk and looking straight up at a skyscraper....it looks like it gets narrower at the top, right? That's what you want.

It would take a really long time for your trees to get nice thick trunks in a small pot, because they will grow very slowly. You can use bigger pots or growing boxes or pond pots, search the forum archives for words like "growing box". You can read and learn for yourself what you would like to do.

So far, many of my trees have gone from nice little bonsai pots, to bigger one gallon pots, to the ground. Their homes are getting bigger, but so are their trunks! And they grow so much better. I gave up the idea that they are bonsai NOW because they aren't. Just because they are in a bonsai pot, doesn't make them a bonsai. The bonsai pot is the **last** thing you worry about because when you finally get the tree you want, with the right thickness and good branches and nice leaves, then finally you choose the right bonsai pot, like framing a picture.

It's hard to think this way, but everyone does it finally. If you want to grow good, strong, impressive trees then you will finally do it too.

Or maybe you will be in your 40's before you have great trees. Why wait so long?

Good luck, and keep learning!!

Joanie