Red Bougainvillea - Which Pot

[kcpoole]

While cleaning off my benches yesterday. I decided several trees need repotting and i went thru my pot Bench and Cannot decide which pot might suit this tree.
I decided that it might make a good learning exercise as most people find pot selection the hardest thing to "Get".

I will post 5 pictures of different pots with the tree sitting in it.

If you can select the one you most like, but more importantly, give a little discussion on why?

I look forward to your insight as I am firmly in the "Pot, have not got clue" brigade

ps, the tree extends 280mm from the centre of the nebari, and in the last pic is 150mm high

Ken

[aussie4bonsai]

Hi Ken
I like the shallow cream pot but will the Boug like it?
Barry

[kcpoole]

Hi Ken
I like the shallow cream pot but will the Boug like it?
Barry

Hmm. Dunno. Probably be OK so long as lots of water available to it

Ken

[Craig]

Shallow off white/ Cream pot for me Ken, it just looks right- maybe an oval light blue pot would work with the red flowers, cheers Craig

[Glenda]

Hi Ken,

I like the shallow cream pot too. The blue ones clash with the green foliage. The brown one doesn't have enough contrast to the bark. The cream one just seems to enhance the tree more. JMHO, but you did ask.

Glenda

[lewis_milnes]

Hi there Ken,

I am very much of the "matching colours" school of pot selection. I always try to match the bark colour to a pot, if this isn't easy or there is an over-riding characteristic, then I will match it too that i.e. flower colour, fruit colour.

I guess that some might see this as a 2D approach, but in my limited experience I have found it helpful to follow this pattern.

From the choices, I would probably go for both shape and glaze of no. 1, although I would be keen to know the colour of flowers.

[Pup]

The first thing to do Ken is determine which style the tree is! if it is a semi cascade or slanting style. Then what you wish it too match the colour of the flower bracts or the foliage.
All the colours chosen, will match the red (flowers) or enhance which ever you prefer. Not all suit it as for shape, the two blue ones are the wrong shape for a slanting style, that has a feminine feel or appearance like this tree has. If you were to change that to more masculine then they would suit.

The planting angle will also determine which pot is suitable, that is if it is a slanting style, it needs to be planted more to the left of the pot. So it does not appear to be falling out of the pot.

All of the angles you have the tree at do not enhance the trunk line, it needs to be more upright.

JMHO

Cheers Pup

[Petra]

hey Ken,
i tend to agree with pup. Depending on your selected style, Looking at your pictures, the brown pot screams out the most. I would choose the brown pot if it were mine.Only be it slim at the bottom and wider at the top. Maybe even a long pot with beige panels. I like it! It doese need to be placed more to the left. ATm, doesnt sit right. The browny colour also compliments the foliage . Only because i have already seen a bougy with red flowers in a similar colour pot . Hope this can help you to decide.

[Tinmonkey]

I think that at the moment with the angle that you have the tree on the top pot is definately the one to go with. Disregarding any thoughts on colour, the veritcality of the pot reinforces the horizontal stance of the tree. If you were to reorient the tree to a more upright position then the bottom pot would be the pick for the same reason just flipped.
Now on to the question of colour, both thetop and bottom pots would work well. From a designerly point of view both complimentary and contrasting schemes work well. The blue pots do neither they are somewhere in the middle. So I think depending on the stance of the tree either the brown or off white would both work equally as well.
My 2 cent
Daniel

[kcpoole]

Thank You all for you input and insight.

I have gone with the majority, and potted up into the Cream with the potting angle as shown for the moment as the roots were quite shallow and not really suited to get more upright at this time

Interesting points all of you raised and I will have a revisit of the tree at the next repot


If anyone else has Ideas please bring them up so we can all benefit

Ken

[Pup]

G,day Ken if you have access to John Y Nakas techniques 1 Deborah Koreshoffs, book or Bonsai Today # 88, all of them have excellent articles on pot colours and choice.
Giving options and why, I have found it invaluable over the years. They also mention the colours guides as well as trunk and foliage and flower, so you have a multiple choice.
All styles are also explained, and matched by the right pot. Even to telling what feet of the pot do for the tree. We do not have,to have expensive pots just the right one for the tree.

I hope this is of help, as I have said these articles, have stood me in good stead, when choosing my pots. Even though I am not a fan of Blue pots, sometimes they work for the tree.

Cheers Pup

[Jarrod]

Best pot selection site I have seen online - http://www.johnpittbonsaiceramics.co.uk ... ide_01.asp (note the next button at the bottom)

[kcpoole]

Thanks Pup and Jarrod
I will spend some time with the books if i can get one and Jarrod I will have a good look around that site too

Ken

[GavinG]

I know it's too late, but maybe consider for next time.

I agree with Petra - the tree leaps best out of the brown pot, and her suggestion of a pot which was slimmer at the bottom would be even better. To me the other pots just sit heavy on the ground.

Very strong trunk. I'd pot it a little to the left, if it's flying off to the right.

Gavin

[daiviet_nguyen]

Hi Ken,

I cannot explain it. But the first pot captures my imagination. The others pale by comparison. I like
the first one best -- I do realise that technically this is wrong. But that's just how I feel.

Best regards.