To pot or not to pot

[longd_au]

I am constantly arguing with my self whether to put a bonsai into a bonsai pot (glazed or unglazed) or keep it in bigger pots (such as orchid pots). I am referring to completed bonsai or those in the final stages of development where thickening or branch development is near completion.
My reasoning is mostly around the idea that bigger pots, more soil, stays moist longer in summer = less risk of death from drying out (in case watering system fails etc).
The down side maybe that the bigger pots may trigger vigorous growth that may not be wanted in developed bonsai or final stages of the development.

So my question to all the people with priceless bonsais, do you keep your bonsai in bigger pots when they are not on show? The other question is, at which stage of the development would you move a bonsai to it's final pot?
I have a feeling this is just a newbie question and the answer is obvious. But I really want to know.

[Damian Bee]

Photo always helps if you can post one Dennis
It all depends on how reliably you can supply moisture and how you wish to look at your tree. If it's a valuable tree and you are concerned about summer then slip it into a bigger pot.
Personally, I have only one......yes only one tree out of many which is in a bonsai pot. The rest are not ready for bonsai pots (maybe not ever for me), they are in a selection of wooden boxes, small and large plastic and terracotta pots, foam boxes and in the ground.

[shibui]

The final pot should not compromise the health of your tree. If it does then its the wrong pot or you are not yet ready to have bonsai in pots.

I keep developing trees in training pots as long as possible. They will develop better and, I think, be better bonsai as a result. The tree I am putting in the Canberra show this year has only been put in its bonsai pot this year - after maybe 15 years or more of development and training!
There is a place for potting trees into smaller training pots after the trunk and branches have reached desired proportions so that the final fine ramification can be started but even this will develop better and quicker in a slightly oversized pot - and it will also give you the opportunity to get used to looking after the tree in smaller pots gradually.

[Drac0]

Personally, I have only one......yes only one tree out of many which is in a bonsai pot. The rest are not ready for bonsai pots (maybe not ever for me), they are in a selection of wooden boxes, small and large plastic and terracotta pots, foam boxes and in the ground.

Likewise, and for me I think the one that is in the bonsai pot needs to go back into a grow pot for a while.


If you do decide to put them in other pots, placing a tile or something similar under the plant will help prevent vertical roots & encourage laterals so if you need to re-pot for show/display it will be quicker & probably much less stressful on the tree.



Cheers

[longd_au]

Thanks for all your advice. They make sense. Although a well matched pot to bonsai really enhance the tree, I think a nice bonsai is beautiful in any pot.

[DustyRusty]

I keep most of mine in nursery pots too. In addition to the reasons already given, if they are not in a bonsai pot, they are harder for the uneducated to identify as a bonsai and therefore less likely to get stolen. My trees unfortunately need to be in my front garden, and the access from the street is quite easy.

[longd_au]

This is an absolutely good point and one probably least obvious. I am really surprised how often plants get stolen but I've already had two lost from thief pulling them right out of my front garden.
A young maple at the front with easy access is almost a give away that it will be lost in time. How can a bonsai/plant be appreciated if you know it was from a stolen source? Puzzled.