AusBonsai

POTS
From Peter Adams talks at the Ideas Summit in July 2009

English bonsai masters refer to the bright blue pots as ‘Export Blue’. Basically, the strong blues are not usually suitable to the majority of bonsai. Softer colours are preferable. Young trees can take shiny surfaces, older trees need matt finishes. Older trees do better in calmer pots where a sheen is muted with a soft patina. Any tree that has deadwood needs a calmer pot. If you have a shiny pot you can use wet/dry sandpaper to minimise the shine and age the pot.

Has anyone ever tried to dull a pot with sandpaper? I'm interested to see the results (on someone elses before I try on mine ).

Regards,
Steven

That's the same thought I had when Peter explained 'the technique'. Mind you, I could always borrow someone's "Export Blue' and try it out on that. Actually, I might see if I can find some fine sandpaper - I have an old brown HIGHLY glazed pot [far too highly glazed] and I could try an end. I'll post my result if I do it.

I remember reading about this they used glass etching cream. Article by Eric Ridgeway and Photos by Victrina

http://www.shadysidebonsai.com/bonsaiva ... s/id7.html

Hi Steven,

I do not know anything about sanding the pot, I have not read Elias either... but I am thinking you can try
it on a cheap pot

Best regards.

Hey Lee maybe I am wrong but I thought Peter sugested using a mini sandblaster to dull the pot?
I planned on telling Peter about the glass etching as well but did not get around to it.

I also thought he said mini sandblaster.
I dont know where you could get someone to sandblast a pot.

The only places I know, can do a number on steel, they would absolutely dempolish a pot.........

Regard
Steve

I think he means the mini hobby sandblaster. I remember him saying if you can see through the pot then you did it a bit too much.