Choosing a pot for bonsai

Bonsai is a miniature plant that is grown by connoisseurs of beauty to create an original cozy corner in the room. A tree in a similar style will decorate any home, give you the opportunity to relax your soul and show your potential.

Historians claim that the style of growing miniature plants appeared in China a long time ago. The first mentions of this date back to the 8th-9th centuries. The name "bonsai" literally means "grown plant in a tray" from the Chinese language. According to legend, the eastern emperor decided to recreate a whole miniature empire with settlements, rivers and gardens. For this, a garden of miniature trees was grown. Since the 18th century, this technique has become very popular in Japan, new styles have appeared. This style was so loved that they began to use it during the tea ceremony. This made it possible to enjoy not only a pleasant drink, but also to admire the bonsai.

Usually rich people were engaged in the cultivation of miniature plants. Buddhists also cultivated bonsai, as they believed that the person who grew the plant using this technique could be on a par with God. A lot of articles and books have been written about this art. To date, you can find more than 1000 books about bonsai in different languages. To grow plants using this technique, take ordinary trees. Through constant pruning, plants grow miniature in size.

Since ancient times, bonsai has been used by connoisseurs of beauty to recreate a cozy corner in the home or office. To make the plant look harmonious, it is important to choose the right pot for it. It should emphasize the beauty of the plants, while making plant care easier. For bonsai, it is customary to choose pots made from natural materials, more often they use ceramic bowls. But you can choose other materials, and use wooden blocks or ordinary wooden boxes for miniature trees, as well as stones, plastic containers, and so on. You can also use earthenware, porcelain or clay. It is very important that the shape of the container is flat.

When choosing a pot, it should be remembered that it should emphasize the grace and beauty of the plant, and not attract all the attention to itself. You should not choose bright colored bowls, otherwise they will be the first to catch your eye, and the bonsai will remain in the background. You need to make sure that the pot is the right size so that the plant is not cramped. If the size of the pot is chosen incorrectly, then the formation of the root system will not occur correctly.

When choosing a pot, you should consider the size of the miniature tree, paying attention to its size and shape at the base.

• If the area of ​​the tree at the base is small, the whole system will be more unstable. Flowering trees and some other species require deeper pots.
• In the event that the trunk of the tree is inclined, you need to pick up the most stable vessel. If he has a large lush crown, it is better to give preference to a wide flat bowl.
• Oval or round pots are more suitable for trees with thin or curved stems, as well as for plants with smooth bark and delicate leaves, such as Japanese maple.
• Plants with a heavy trunk, dense crown and thick branches will look better in rectangular or square containers.
• To draw attention to a tall plant, it is better to stop at a container that is round, square or oval in shape, but always flat.
• When growing trees with open roots, choose a deep and narrow pot. If the crown of the plant hangs down, it is better to choose a product in the form of a vase.

The pot should not accentuate the grace and beauty of the tree, but be in harmony with it. The container should be chosen as simple as possible, while its color should not be conspicuous, and its shape should be defiant. For bonsai, you can take a regular pot for growing indoor plants. In order for the root system of the tree to develop properly, it is better to take a low flat pot. To provide adequate ventilation, it is necessary that there are drainage holes in the container. In this case, there should be small legs on the bottom of the pot.

For a long time, containers made in Japan and China have been used for bonsai. Japanese models were usually supplied to Japan. The oldest kovatari pots were made over 200 years ago. Japanese pots were made by no less eminent masters of their craft; among such products there are many old ones. The most ancient Japanese pots are considered, produced on the island of Honshu 13 thousand years ago. Later, Iranian ceramics appeared. During its production, products were fired in the sun, and not in an oven, as in the case of Japanese craftsmen.

There are 5 ways to make ceramic products.

• The simplest thing is to make a product from a lump of clay. It is squeezed out in the middle, and then the walls are formed with the help of hands.
• The spiral-rope technique involved the use of a clay "sausage" laid in a spiral until the desired height was reached.
• The containers were made using bundles-rings of different sizes, which were superimposed on each other.
• In the fourth method, the potters formed the bottom and, bending back the side parts, they were connected.
• Using a potter's wheel.

There are a wide variety of bonsai models. They are divided into two categories:

• unglazed;
• glazed.

Unglazed containers are simple and convenient, and look great when paired with evergreens, giving them a look of antiquity. If we talk about their functionality, then such containers are preferable, since they better let the rays of the sun, moisture and air pass through. They are often used as planting material. When the plant finally gets stronger, it is recommended to transplant it into a more suitable container.

Glazed containers are glazed and fired. Most often they are brightly colored. These containers are ideal for flowering and fruit plants, emphasizing their bright fresh greenery. Glazed bowls are poorly ventilated, so you should not keep plants in them for a long time.

It is often possible to find containers on sale without drainage holes, since these models are made from breathable ceramics. The essence of the technology is that as a result of watering, moisture is absorbed into the structure of the flowerpot and gradually evaporates through the coating, and does not immediately flow out of the drainage hole along with some of the necessary substances. This coating is prepared on the basis of white-burning clay and without the use of any synthetic components.

When using such models, you should:

• put a drainage made of expanded clay, foam plastic or pieces of brick on the bottom;
• use settled clean water when watering plants;
• when cleaning a flowerpot, apply a soapy solution using a sponge or brush;
• do not freeze containers, as this leads to their destruction.

You can choose a container for bonsai with or without holes, but, according to experienced gardeners, it is better to give preference to the more familiar option and purchase a pot with holes.

To date, the choice of models for bonsai is quite large. Usually, containers for plants are purchased in the flower departments of the store. But you can make products yourself at home. Clay is considered the most popular material for containers, but pots are also made from ceramics. They will harmonize perfectly with the tree and will not collapse due to interaction with moisture.

To make a vessel, it is better to take a shallow ceramic container. For example, an old salad bowl or bowl, suitable in terms of parameters and colors, is suitable for this. Small holes must be drilled in the containers. It is best to use a ceramic drill for this. For all the work to be successful, it is better to make a sketch of the pot in advance. Parts for it are connected with glue. Drainage holes and legs are made after the main assembly of the product.

The Japanese believe that the location of bonsai indoors speaks to the nature of its owner.

• A good owner with a delicate taste and developed style will always have a tree at eye level. It can stand on a table, high stand, or shelf.
• If the composition is located below eye level, then this speaks of the owner's bad taste, because in this case you have to bend over.

True connoisseurs allocate a special niche for bonsai. It is important that the wall is light and bleached so that nothing distracts from contemplation. The plant angle is also important. So, a weeping tree needs to be deployed in its most spectacular part closer to the audience. In the "cascade" style, the tree is placed above eye level, while it should be inclined towards the audience. But it is also not recommended to install a bonsai next to other objects, so as not to distract a person from the graceful lines and proportions of a miniature plant and not to lose a harmonious mood.

For information on how to choose the right bonsai pot, see the next video.