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PJF correct size pot?

Posted: December 28th, 2017, 10:31 am
by pureheart
Hello Bonsai Friends!

I decided it was time to pot my PJF, but I’m now questioning the size of the pot I had available.... is this the correct size? What do you think?

Image


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Re: PJF correct size pot?

Posted: December 28th, 2017, 10:49 am
by John(JP)
Pureheart,

My bonsai age is the same as yours - I have four Ficus and live just outside Canberra - from my perspective the pot is a great size however it will depend I guess on what you may see as the future for this tree(i.e. are you comfortable with a Shohin sizing or are you hoping for BIG, BIG, BIG) - personally I am almost completely a Shohin man(that's an age issue and a Morton Albeck influenced thing)

You can always let it age for a year or two and look again

John(JP)
CBS

Re: PJF correct size pot?

Posted: December 28th, 2017, 4:54 pm
by pureheart
Thanks John, no this one will be kept small and I’ll start ramification now! Thanks !


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Re: PJF correct size pot?

Posted: December 28th, 2017, 5:48 pm
by Thymetraveller
Hmmmm......why use a Japanese pot for a native tree? There are plenty of fine producers here! ;)

Re: PJF correct size pot?

Posted: December 28th, 2017, 7:06 pm
by Nate.bonsai
Thymetraveller wrote:Hmmmm......why use a Japanese pot for a native tree? There are plenty of fine producers here! ;)
Just because it is an Aussie tree doesn't mean that it is unsuited to a foreign pot or that it will be suited to a local pot.

Regardless of origin, we should just ask 'does this work'.

My answer, yes it does. White is a nice offset to either a foliage or defoliated fig and the size is good for me - really emphasises the trunk girth and taper.


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Re: PJF correct size pot?

Posted: December 28th, 2017, 9:28 pm
by pureheart
Thymetraveller wrote:Hmmmm......why use a Japanese pot for a native tree? There are plenty of fine producers here! ;)
How can you tell is a Japanese pot?


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Re: PJF correct size pot?

Posted: December 29th, 2017, 5:51 am
by Watto
I think its to match the Japanese beer!!!!
I also think the pot size is OK.

Re: PJF correct size pot?

Posted: December 29th, 2017, 7:17 am
by pureheart
Watto wrote:I think its to match the Japanese beer!!!!
I also think the pot size is OK.
Hahaha yeah what can I say... I love everything Japan!!!


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Re: PJF correct size pot?

Posted: December 29th, 2017, 7:18 am
by pureheart
Thymetraveller wrote:Hmmmm......why use a Japanese pot for a native tree? There are plenty of fine producers here! ;)
I do have 2 beautiful local made pots but I’m waiting for the right tree!


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Re: PJF correct size pot?

Posted: December 29th, 2017, 8:18 am
by Thymetraveller
Aha... I think the problem is that I can only see the beer bottle in the picture; the rest is cut off.
I thought you were talking about the beer bottle! :palm:

Re: PJF correct size pot?

Posted: December 29th, 2017, 9:08 am
by Keep Calm and Ramify
Thymetraveller wrote:Hmmmm......why use a Japanese pot for a native tree? There are plenty of fine producers here! ;)
Actually I agree with Thymetraveller here - the pot is mass produced either from Japan or Korea. It's a "safe" pot - You could plant a cactus in it and it would still "work."

Does it "work" - Yes. (but don't always rest on this sentiment)
Is it exceptional - No.

If it's all you've got, than use it till something better comes along & keep striving for excellence.
Thinking ahead, the pot may soon look much smaller once your fig starts to leaf out?

Re: PJF correct size pot?

Posted: December 29th, 2017, 6:01 pm
by pureheart
Keep Calm and Ramify wrote:
Thymetraveller wrote:Hmmmm......why use a Japanese pot for a native tree? There are plenty of fine producers here! ;)
Actually I agree with Thymetraveller here - the pot is mass produced either from Japan or Korea. It's a "safe" pot - You could plant a cactus in it and it would still "work."

Does it "work" - Yes. (but don't always rest on this sentiment)
Is it exceptional - No.

If it's all you've got, than use it till something better comes along & keep striving for excellence.
Thinking ahead, the pot may soon look much smaller once your fig starts to leaf out?
Thanks for your contribution and yes that’s a mass produced pot from Japan but I don’t consider my PJF a finished Bonsai or a tree I’m proud of so to me it doesn’t deserve any expensive pot yet... maybe one day who knows!


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Re: PJF correct size pot?

Posted: December 30th, 2017, 7:40 pm
by shibui
I think there are 2 different answers to whether a pot is the right size - horticultural and aesthetic.
Horticulturally the tree will manage in this pot but that's only because it is a fig which can manage in more limited space than most other species. I think it is better for beginners to overpot a bit rather than try to cram trees into the smallest possible pot. Water and feed are much harder to manage with smaller pots.

Aesthetically I actually think this pot is a bit small for the tree. To me it looks like it will tip over with little provocation. As KCAR points out, soon there will be a canopy of leaves which will increase the size of the tree. Will it still look balanced then?