An alternative to wood growing boxes: terracotta?

Carl_Bergstrom

One of my teachers in California commonly grew his trees in flat terracotta pots rather than growing boxes. They're cheap, easy to work with, and breathe very well. On the other hand, some feel they suck away too much water from the soil.

I've been using them this spring for several prebonsai. Any comments on the relative merits and disadvantages of this approach relative to wooden growing boxes?

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Carl_Bergstrom

A shimpaku juniper

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Carl_Bergstrom

A linden.

(The twine is to brace the tree to prevent movement and aid root formation.)

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Carl_Bergstrom

A hemlock.

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TreeBay

OMC,

Terra cotta training pots are fine, for all the reasons you gave.

The only drawback is the single drainage hole tends to be undersize, and it's often flush with the bottom of the pot. That's a combination that can lead to drainage problems.

The Japanese terra cotta draining pots have a bit of a lip on the bottom with a drainage edge, and the drainage hole is oversize.

It may not be a big problem for you on that slatted deck, but for others: if you move a plant and see a bunch of scrambled-eggs-looking fungus, you have what I like to call "a drainage improvement opportunity."

If you epoxy a few pieces of broken tile to the bottom, you will get much better drainage.

Regards,

Matt

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Carl_Bergstrom

Matt,

Thanks for the feedback, Matt! Great point regarding the drainage, and great suggestion regarding the tiles. I find that a well-draining soil mix (lots of red lava rock) helps here - and yes, I certainly wouldn't try this on bare ground or grass! I should have mentioned that. My old teacher kept them in terracotta pots on benches; mine are on benches or on my deck.

Anyone know what happens when one hits terracotta with a power drill? A nice hole, or a shattered pot? I guess it wouldn't be all that expensive to find out. I'll post the results once I do the experiment.

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Adam

I think I might have to give them terra cota pots a try. They seem to be working for you. I really like the shimpaku juniper you have posted.

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Carl_Bergstrom

Adam,

I'm glad you like the shimpaku - it's been one of those "problem trees" for me for quite a while, and more than once I've thought about just tossing it out. It was a tangle of wheel-spoke branches and ugly bugling forks until recently, and I couldn't figure out how to improve it. In the end, I cut off all but one branch (the current main trunk) that flowed nicely out of the movement of the lower trunk, changed the planting angle, and now it's recovering in the pot shown.

The plan is to give it a year or two, and then start shaping in the literati style.

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shane1130

I used a carbide masonary bit in a drill press to add holes to terracotta pots. They work pretty well for training containers, however the shallow, sutible for bonsai, bulb forcing variety seems to cost more.
Also because of the porus nature of terracota, they break when they freeze in the winter time. As I live in zone 4. I am switching to growing boxes made out of scrap cedar.

Shane