Training Pots.

Its it vital to start all Bonsai's in a training pot??

kind regards,
shaun22

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TreeBay

Hi Shaun,

Some bonsai are grown up from seedlings, others are grown down from collected material. The larger container generally provides room for faster growth, but it is more rampant and uncontrolled. In the early stages of development, many people want to add girth to the tree and/or its main branches, or perhaps to heal pruning wounds, to recover from collecting or to acclimate the root system to smaller confines.

In any of these cases, a training (oversize) container is a logical choice. If you are happy with the distribution of the root system and girth & height, have the main branches already developed and are working on secondary and tertiary branches, a container of bonsai proportions is ideal.

In any case, if you want a tree that looks like a bonsai, then by all means put some of your trees in bonsai pots. It will keep the passion alive while you work on some longer term projects, just keep in mind it may retard the development of that particular tree somewhat if it isn't ready for it.

Personally, I keep some trees in show containers because I find that aspect of the hobby (display and appreciation) is equally important, plus, it gives me an excuse to go pot shopping, and we all need more pots, right? Plus, my wife likes to take the blossoming trees in to work and she can't lift the growing tubs very easily!

Regards,

Matt

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shaun22

Thanks Matt.

I recently purchased some young specimins (Elm & Maple), and I have put them straight into bonsai pots. reading the information you have given me, perhaps I had better transfer them to a training pot?

The would be 2 months old I would say, and perhaps if I dont tranplant them to larger root area, them may not develop as I would like them too.

If I wan't large trunks etc... trainging pot, then re-plant them after a root and foilage trim into Bonsai pots.

Sound right?

Its 9.09pm Sunday night and a storm has hit (thunder and lots of lightning) so I'll say bye for now. Thanks for your help.

kind regards,
shaun22

P.S. Everyone does need more pots

KZitzewitz

From my perspective, a tree that young would do good in a training pot, pending on the situation there are some things you could take into effect, what do you want this tree to look like and when, height, width (girth), etc. if you want a semi informal upright with a 5 inch trunk that is 18 inches tall in 5 to 10 , I would plant it in the ground for a couple years or a very large (3 or 4 foot wide by 2 or 3 foot deep pot). if you plan on using 7 of them in a forest, then maybe some nice 8 inch pots one for each would work foir 2 or three years. however the bigger the place of training, the more work is added. if you put it in the ground, or a very large container, you can't just automatically put it into a bonsai planter. now it needs to go into a container if straight from the ground for a few years, or into a smaller one until you gradually get to the desired container which can take another 5 to 10 years, while the little trees may need to only go from an 8 by 6 inch deep pot to a 5 by 3 inch pot for a year and then be ready to be put in a shallow long forest pot. some things can spedd up this process however. Going to your local garden center and buying a tree that already has a 5 inch trunk and trunk chopping it can save years, for 2 reasons, one its already potted up, 2 its alread ythe desired girth. it might be good to place it in a wider planter to allow it to acomodate to its newer habitat for a couple years, then move it into a bonsai pot, but it saves years. So really the question is, what is this tree to look like.

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--Kristopher

shaun22

Kristopher,

I guess I am trying to speed up the process a little, I like the suggestion of going to the nursery and get the larger trunked trees and 'adjusting' them to Bonsai form.

I like trees with larger trunks, and that older look about them.

I will (soon) get some larger pots and transplant these trees into them. When I say soon, it's because Im moving house and its not practical just yet.

Ill post some pics once done.

kind regards,
shaun22

Literati

I would suggest purchasing a larger tree and cutting it back. I bought an Elm that was 15 feet tall. I cut it back to about 18 inches. You can see the huge scar. You can also see that it is healing really nicely (2 years of healing) The pot is probably too small, but the roots are strong and it is growing well. I would suggest a training pot that is wider than tall, so that the roots develop more "out" than "down" this will give you more taper and looks very nice when the tree flows from the trunk to the roots.