Bonsai Pots 101

Bonsai pots play a critical role in both the aesthetic appeal and the well-being of a bonsai tree. A fundamental aspect of the art of Bonsai lies in observing a tree that has been uprooted from its natural environment and now thrives within a container. 

The term "Bonsai" (pronounced as "bone-zi") directly translates to "planted in a container," underscoring the vital link between pottery and Bonsai.

Comparable in respects to how a frame enhances a painting, the bonsai pot serves to frame the tree, complementing its features and fostering a harmonious overall appearance without overshadowing the tree itself. However, it appears that the significance of pottery in the realm of Bonsai has been somewhat overlooked by many Western bonsai enthusiasts, possibly due to the higher costs associated with premium-quality bonsai pots. Furthermore, identifying a bonsai pot that truly complements a specific tree can pose a considerable challenge.

Basic Guidelines Design

The design of a bonsai pot should ideally align with the perceived masculinity or femininity of the tree.  Striving for a harmonious match between the pot's design and the tree's characteristics enhances the overall aesthetics of the bonsai.  Typically, masculine pots exhibit traits such as depth, angularity, clean lines, and robust feet.  A rim with a lip accentuates masculinity, while an inward curvature conveys femininity.  In contrast, feminine pots tend to feature softer lines, delicate feet, a lower profile, and a sleek appearance.  Round or drum pots are often viewed as androgynous in nature, exhibiting characteristics that are neither distinctly masculine nor feminine.  Matching the design of the pot to the gender-specific traits of the tree contributes to the cohesion and visual impact of the final bonsai composition.

Selecting an appropriate glaze for a bonsai pot is crucial, with a primary guideline being to choose a color that resonates with elements present in the tree, such as the bark, leaves, fruit, or flowers.  Typically, earthy tones like unglazed browns, grays, and natural hues are considered safe choices as they harmonize well with bonsai and exude warmth, offering a sense of stability to the overall presentation.  However, incorporating contrasting colors such as blues or cool greens can also be effective.  Contrasting colors not only add visual interest but also provide balance and rejuvenate the composition, injecting a fresh perspective and vibrancy into the bonsai arrangement.  The key is to strike a harmonious balance between the pot's glaze color and the tree's features to create a visually compelling and cohesive bonsai display.

Masculine or feminine

Determining whether your bonsai tree leans more towards a masculine or feminine aesthetic is a fundamental step in selecting an appropriate pot.  Trees typically exhibit a blend of both masculine and feminine characteristics, with one gender being dominant.  This assessment is pivotal and forms the basis for choosing a suitable pot.  To aid in this decision, certain attributes can serve as indicators. 

A masculine tree gives an impression of strength, it might have a heavily tapered trunk, have craggy, mature bark, strong angular branching, it may have deadwood. It may have a straight, powerful trunk or a dense canopy. 

Feminine traits in a tree are often characterized by curves, gracefulness, smooth bark, and sparsely distributed branches. These features evoke a sense of delicacy and elegance. In contrast, masculine trees exude strength, display old bark, showcase deadwood, possess thick trunks, and have dense branching patterns, conveying a more robust and rugged appearance.

By recognizing and understanding the predominant gender traits of your tree, you can make informed decisions when selecting a pot that complements and enhances these characteristics, fostering a harmonious and visually appealing bonsai composition.

Some tree species are predisposed to being considered feminine or masculine; Pines or angular Hawthorns are often considered masculine whereas delicate Japanese Maples will be considered as naturally feminine. However, a strong, heavily tapered Japanese Maple with delicate leaves and branching could be considered to be a feminine species with masculine features, whilst a tall Hawthorn with craggy, rough bark, gentle curves and very gradual taper could be considered a masculine species with feminine characteristics.  With trees such as these it is necessary to identify which is the strongest feature and reflect it.  Is it the craggy, fissured bark of the hawthorn or the gentle curves of the trunk that have the strongest visual impact? Is it the delicate branching of the Maple or the powerful tapered trunk that attracts your eye most? Fortunately, it is possible to find pot designs that can reflect both femininity and masculinity. 

Pots are considered feminine or masculine.  Deep pots with strong angular features are considered masculine whilst more feminine pots are shallower with softer lines.

For instance, strong chunky, deep rectangles with sharp corners are very masculine pots, as are square pots.  These are suited to thick heavy trunked masculine trees, especially conifers. For thick-trunked deciduous trees, the corners of the rectangle can be rounded thus reducing the masculinity of the pot a little.

Working down through the scale of masculinity, deep chunky ovals come next and then we have drums/round pots that are androgynous i.e are suitable for a masculine or feminine tree. 

After this we move into the feminine pots which are shallow delicate ovals and very shallow round literati pots.

Size

A general rule of thumb in bonsai design is to select a pot that complements the proportions of the tree. There are two key guidelines to consider:

1. Height of the Pot:  The height of the pot should ideally match the width of the trunk above the surface roots, known as Nebari.  This helps maintain visual balance and harmony between the tree and its container.  Aligning the pot height with the trunk width above the Nebari contributes to a cohesive and aesthetically pleasing composition.

2. Length of the Pot:  The length of the pot should typically fall within the range of 1/3 to 2/3 of the height of your bonsai tree.  This proportion helps establish a visually pleasing relationship between the tree and the pot.  Selecting a pot length that corresponds to this guideline enhances the overall visual appeal of the bonsai arrangement.

By adhering to these guidelines and ensuring that the pot's dimensions harmonize with the tree's proportions, you can create a balanced and visually striking bonsai display that highlights the natural beauty and elegance of the tree.

When it comes to rectangular or oval bonsai containers, a specific guideline involves the proportion between the pot's length and the bonsai tree's height. For these particular pot shapes:  The pot's length should ideally be equal to about 2/3 of the height of the bonsai tree. This ratio helps create a visually balanced and harmonious composition, enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal of the bonsai display. 

By adhering to this guideline for rectangular or oval containers, you can ensure that the proportions between the pot and the bonsai tree are well-coordinated, resulting in a visually pleasing and well-balanced presentation.

In the case of round-shaped pots, a specific guideline pertains to the proportion between the pot's diameter and the height of the bonsai tree. For round pots:  The diameter of the pot is ideally equivalent to around 1/3 of the height of the bonsai tree.  This ratio is aimed at creating a visually appealing and well-proportioned bonsai composition when using round containers.

By following this guideline for round pots, where the pot's diameter is set at approximately 1/3 of the bonsai tree's height, you can ensure that the relationship between the pot and the tree maintains balance and harmony, contributing to an aesthetically pleasing presentation of the bonsai.

It should be remembered that these guidelines are based on aesthetics only. For horticultural reasons, some tree species require larger or smaller pots. Species with very fast growing roots such as Trident Maples often require deeper pots whilst flowering and fruiting species such as Crab Apples require more root run and therefore deeper pots. 

Size Classification

Fingertip 

Keshitsubo  (height: 3 - 8 cm)

Recommended length in rectangle / oval 2 - 5.4 cm

Recommended diameter in round 1.02 - 8 cm 

Shito  (height: 5 - 10 cm)

Recommended length in rectangle / oval: 3.4 - 6.7 cm

Recommended diameter in round: 1.7 - 10 cm

One-handed

Mame  (height: 5 - 15 cm)

Recommended length in rectangle / oval: 3.4 - 10.1 cm

Recommended diameter in round: 1.7 - 15 cm

Shohin  (height: 12 - 20 cm)

Recommended length in rectangle / oval: 8 - 13.4

Recommended diameter in round: 4.1 - 20 cm

Komono (height: 15 - 25 cm)

Recommended length in rectangle / oval: 10.1 - 16.8 cm

Recommended diameter in round: 5.1 - 25 cm

Katade-mochi  (height: 25 - 46 cm)

Recommended length in rectangle / oval: 16.8 - 30.8 cm

Recommended diameter in round: 8.5 - 46 cm 

Two-handed

Chui/Chunono  (height: 41 - 91 cm)

Recommended length in rectangle / oval: 27.5 - 61 cm

Recommended diameter in round : 13.9 - 91 cm 

Four-handed

Dai/Omono  (height: 75 - 122 cm)

Recommended diameter in round: 25.5 - 122 cm

Six-handed

Hachi-uye( height: 102 - 152 cm)

Recommended diameter in round: 34.7 - 152 cm

Eight-handed

Imperial (height: 152 - 203 cm)

Recommended diameter in round: 51.7 - 203 cm

Pot Shape Basic Guidelines 

Rectangular pots are suitable for coniferous species and big deciduous trees with very pronounced taper, wide base, heavy buttressed nebari.  These are used for masculine trees to add a feeling of strength in the tree 

Oval pots are suitable for reflecting the femininity of deciduous trees, clump style bonsai, groves and forests.  The less taper the tree has the more feminine it tends to become, sinuous curves can also dampen the masculinity of a tree. 

Round pots are suitable for coniferous or deciduous feminine trees, particularly (but not exclusively) for literati/bunjin trees. Tall straight or sinuously curved trees with very little taper are the most feminine and the pots that tend to suit these trees are very shallow rounds. 

Pot Lip or Rim 

A lip on the upper rim gives additional strength to a masculine tree.
A straight rim is softer for more androgynous trees A bowl/convex side is more suited to feminine trees 

Pot Corners 

Sharp, right-angled corners are masculine and suitable for masculine trees
Indented corners on a rectangular pot soften the masculinity of a pot. Rounded corners soften the pot further, beginning to resemble a oval pot and more suitable for masculine deciduous trees 

Feet of pot 

The main purpose of feet on a bonsai pot is to allow for good drainage and airflow, but feet can also be used to change the pots appearance.  Feet can be subtle and decorative or strong and robust.  These qualities can be used to influence the over-all feel of the pot, big chunky feet can add strength to the design and understated delicate feet will have the opposite effect. 

Pot Colour 

Once you have decided on the shape of the pot, next you need to think of the colour and texture.  Every tree is unique, although it is possible to generalise about a particular species, each individual tree will have something to pick up on as no two trees are exactly the same and there are always small variations that can be brought out in the pot colour and texture. 

The colour of the pot can be used to pick up on a feature of the tree and therefore helps the tree and pot colour ‘work’ well together.  The colour in the tree that is complimented can be that of the bark, for instance an unglazed red/brown pot picking up the bark of a Juniper.  It can complement the colour of the leaves through the summer or the autumn colour.  On fruiting or flowering trees, the colour of the pot can be used to compliment the colour of the flowers or the berries.

Although you generally want the colour and texture of a pot to match some characteristic of the tree, sometimes contrasts can work very well, for example, the red leaves of a red-leaved trees work well with a blue pot. 

The colour can also be used to accentuate the energy of the tree.  Warm colours such as browns, reds, oranges and yellows provide a feeling of warmth and stability to the tree whereas cold colours such as blues and greens can balance and refresh the overall composition. 

Warm and cold colours can be used to contrast with a bonsai. Warm colours can be used for tiny (mame-sized) bonsai to exaggerate their colour whereas cool colours can be used to tone down bright-leaved species.

Below is a very basic guide designed to be a starting point or general guide to colours that can be suitable for any given tree and of course the final choice can be altered to suit the individual characteristics of any given tree. 

light browns/oatmeals - Acer, Elm, Beech, Oak, Larch, Hawthorn, Ash ,gingko 

off whites/grey’s - Hawthorn,Oak,Acer,Ash 

light greens - Acer, ash ,beech 

dark greens - Acer, Azaleas, Chinese elm, cotoneaster 

medium browns - Elm, Birch , Mountain Ash, Acer 

dark browns/red browns/Unglazed Reds/Browns - Pine, Juniper, Cotoneaster, Larch and other conifers, Azaleas 

light blue - Azaleas, Malus and other flowering species 

matte blues- Acer, Juniper, Pine, Azaleas 

matte blue/greens - Pine,Junipers,Acer, Azaleas (this combination will also suit just about any tree as they are the colours that you see most trees framed by when in their natural state)

Pot Texture 

Textures in a pot are again used to compliment a tree. Smooth clay finishes are suitable for more feminine trees whereas heavily textured pots bring out the masculinity and wildness in a tree. 

Conclusion 

As can see, choosing the correct pot is not simple but it can be learnt.  Ultimately, a combination of personal tastes, knowledge and experience makes the process much easier. 

When buying pots for your bonsai try to make sure you know the pot measurements needed for a tree. It is no good buying a suitable pot only to find it is too big or small for your tree. Have a good idea of the shape that will suit the masculinity or femininity of your tree. 

Have a good idea of the colours and textures that will suit your tree. 

Don’t be embarrassed to ask the advice of the bonsai nursery or the potter you are buying from, an experienced potter or bonsai nursery will always be able to give you a choice of suitable pots to choose from. However, always try to have a picture of your tree to hand as this makes the nursery or potter’s job much, much easier.