My first hand made pot attempt.

[Mitchell]

Yes, Dragon there are often more holes, can be quite small, which can be used for wire to anchor the tree.
Think the lime can be an issue, I have heard of people putting a lump of concrete at the base of a lime loving plant just to keep it happy in an acid soil, so internal glazing is probably a good idea from that point of view.
Shops which do china painting supplies often have a kiln or access to one, maybe that would be a starting point for a ring around. (Painted china needs to be fired as well, oh, and you might find all sorts of other useful stuff if you go in an establishment like that, leave the credit card at home, lol)

Thanks! I am waiting for another to dry now, in which it has two drainage and 4 anchor points. That should hopefully work better.

[Mitchell]

Hi, I think two drainage holes is adequate although 3 running along the centre of the pot would be good. The holes for tying are usually just big enough to pass a piece of wire through and there is one in each corner. They are really useful. If you make a pot with only 1 hole it needs to have feet so you can use a stick with wire wrapped around it to tie the tree in. Hope that helps. Keep up the good work we badly need good Australian pots.
Craig

Thanks for your comment! Hopefully future pots will be better. Can't wait till the next one is done.

[Jamie]

you have been told bout the holes so thats all good

what i was gonna say is about the lime, i just scanned this post as i have only just got back but once the concrete has set and fully cured which can take upwards of a month, there willl be no problems with lime, but i would definately wait atleast a month before even thinking bout putting a tree in there.

otherwise great first pot and ingenuity using a baking dish ? (not sure if it was a backing dish?) its a great idea, there is a link on bonsai4me.com about it, i will find it soon and link it


jamie

[Mitchell]

you have been told bout the holes so thats all good

what i was gonna say is about the lime, i just scanned this post as i have only just got back but once the concrete has set and fully cured which can take upwards of a month, there willl be no problems with lime, but i would definately wait atleast a month before even thinking bout putting a tree in there.

otherwise great first pot and ingenuity using a baking dish ? (not sure if it was a backing dish?) its a great idea, there is a link on bonsai4me.com about it, i will find it soon and link it


jamie

Indeed, a glassware baking dish. I still need to pound the clay /cement into it and form all the inside walls with my fingers. I need to make some timber molds, so I can press their shape in. Watching plenty of youtube vids on pot making at the moment, trying to get some of it down. I will be interested to see if you can dig that link. Chances are I've seen it, but can't recall seeing someone use a dish so I perhaps may not of. I'm searching Bonsai4me and can't find it so far. There it is http://www.bonsai4me.com/AdvTech/ATPaperBonsaiPots.html

Interesting what you say about the lime. If you were reading a general cement length curing guide, I guess the time frame would be in regards to using it as it is intended and air cured. I stick my pots in the oven on 240 degrees for two hours, remove, fill surface cracks then return for another hour. By the time they are out I would assume they have received, a few months accelerated curing. Probably wise to let them air cure for a few weeks after just to be on the safe side.

[Jamie]

yes the paper bonsai pot link is what i was talking bout

as for the lime i would still be on the side of caution with cement as curing time can be varied immensly depending on weather, heat etc. even if you have used the oven to heat it, cement will still leach after a few weeks untill fully cured when it gets wet re. watering so i would allow at least 3-4 weeks if not longer, lime leaching in larger amounts can kill quickly.
the thing with cement is when wet it will actually draw minerals out to where the water is so if water hits the inside of the pot, which it will, it will draw lime etc. out.


jamie

[Mitchell]

yes the paper bonsai pot link is what i was talking bout

as for the lime i would still be on the side of caution with cement as curing time can be varied immensly depending on weather, heat etc. even if you have used the oven to heat it, cement will still leach after a few weeks untill fully cured when it gets wet re. watering so i would allow at least 3-4 weeks if not longer, lime leaching in larger amounts can kill quickly.
the thing with cement is when wet it will actually draw minerals out to where the water is so if water hits the inside of the pot, which it will, it will draw lime etc. out.


jamie

I know what you mean. The lime factor is most probably why I painted the inside to start with, thinking I should seal it. I'm off to make another batch now.