Robusta Juniper needs future pot

rockm

"Can I ask, Why a bunjin-type pot ? Because of the informal style, or the height of the tree ?"

I saw the tree as "bunjin-ish" for lack of a better term.

Its trunk, especially the lazy irregular curves in the bottom third of that thinnish trunk, imply a loose, rustic, relaxed quality that should be echoed in the pot.

The branching is a bit denser than a typical bunjin, but that's fine. The informal rustic feel the trunk is a little between informal upright and bunjin.

A deeper oval with strict contours or bands, or worse, a rectangle pot with right angles, would work against that nice trunk by putting a formal frame around it.

I'd avoid a starkly unglazed pot, even if the pot was a bunjin pot, with this tree too. The trunk looks very much "alive" and a darker somber pot would tend to deaden that feeling. The goldish, warmer tones in the Dale pots would complement the spark that the lower trunk brings.

Advertisement

dtree

Thank you for the lesson !

PatArizona

G'day dt...and all...

Very nice tree...however, as stated "...where the new leader starts should be the top..." I think a little shorter with a somewhat rounded top might be better.

Now, if that were my tree, and, if I had Dale's (pictured) pots to choose from, I like the bujin pot, REPLY #84.

Personally, I think it's too easy to make a mistake putting a (juniper) into a colorful pot...based on a picture.

You are imparting the look of age with the lower branches "hanging" down...bark on the lower trunk is beginning to show age...and the "rounded" apex will contribute to the perception of age.

For me, a "colorful" pot would counter the perception of age.

That's what would work for me, dt...but, it is, after all, your tree.

Good job...

Pat

__________________
BONSAI isn't about surviving in a storm, rather, how to dance in the rain.
THE ONLY WAY: Always remember, and don't ever forget, that whatever you read here is not cast in concrete... the intent of any advice is to help. In no way should you feel that I’m saying that my way is the only way…heaven forbid! I've seen far too much of the "my way or the highway" attitude in bonsai as well as in other areas of life.

simoncruden

I Really Think This Tree Could Do With A Few Years In A Very Large Pot To Build Some More Taper And In That Time You Could Build A Much Better Apex

dtree

Patarizona - I think you are absolutely right, the tree at about 6 inches shorter with a fuller rounded top would have more correct proportions. In time this is where I will go with this tree.
simoncruden- This tree could be in a big pot for 10 years and not grow that much as regards to taper. Junipers just don't grow that fast as far as the trunk goes. The apex is a branch that was wired up this spring, its first year of training. The tree was a six foot bush in a 3 gallon pot but the roots had been prepared for bonsai work. In another year I think this juniper will look much better. Thanks for your replies.

rockm

Pat, #84 is the pot I had in mind, although #86 in a shallower version might also work.

If you're familiar with Dale's pots, the "glaze" on some of his bunjin pots has some color in it. If you look carefully at #84 it has gold flecks and tones that would not detract from the tree.

Plain unglazed tokoname pots, even the bunjin type pots can sometimes look like slabs of chocolate and are monotonous. Some color in the pot, although not too much, can help the trunk stand out.

wolverine

Sara Rayner has some nice drum pots on her site

Attached Images

6r_drum_lrg.gif (51.3 KB, 19 views)

wolverine

Not to get off the subject,but does anyone know why this video is on bonsai farm tv....groovy

Attached Images

slippin%20in0000.jpg (15.2 KB, 11 views)

PatArizona

Right on Rockm...

But, remember, I said "...based on a picture..."

By the way, I haven't seen any of Dale's pots...in person...since ABS99, in Tuicson.

Pat

__________________
BONSAI isn't about surviving in a storm, rather, how to dance in the rain.
THE ONLY WAY: Always remember, and don't ever forget, that whatever you read here is not cast in concrete... the intent of any advice is to help. In no way should you feel that I’m saying that my way is the only way…heaven forbid! I've seen far too much of the "my way or the highway" attitude in bonsai as well as in other areas of life.