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Yaupon holly

January 14, 2014 by Jonas Dupuich

A good rootball is fun to work with. This is especially true for varieties that produce fine roots like Yaupon holly. After removing the tree from its pot and starting to comb through the roots, I found it easy to sculpt the rootball into the exact shape I wanted. This makes repotting easy as the rootball can be pruned to fit the pot exactly.

Ilex vomitoria

Yaupon holly

Bottom of the pot

Wires to be clipped away before removing the tree from the pot

Rootball

After removing the tree from the pot

Rootball

After trimming the roots

Root work complete

Root work complete

With roots ready to go all that was left was to select a pot. But which pot to use? It turns out I had a lot of options for this tree, and once I got started, Boon contributed several more to try. The candidates are below – I’ll post the one I selected Friday. Your favorites?

Test pot

Pot #1

Test pot

Pot #2

Test pot

Pot #3

Test pot

Pot #4

Test pot

Pot #5

Test pot

Pot #6

Test pot

Pot #7

Test pot

Pot #8

Test pot

Pot #9

Test pot

Pot #10

Test pot

Pot #11

Test pot

Pot #12

If you haven’t made plans for this weekend, come to Bay Island Bonsai’s 15th annual exhibit at the Lakeside Garden Center in Oakland, CA. Admission is free! And while you’re there, stop by the Golden State Bonsai Federation’s Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt to see some of the oldest and most outstanding trees in the area.

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Filed Under: Display Tagged With: Pot Selection, Pots, Yaupon Holly

Previous Post: « Preparing a small pine for exhibit
Next Post: Bonsai auction tomorrow at BIB’s 15th annual exhibit »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Vic says

    January 14, 2014 at 4:09 am

    I would go with pot #9.The color is good and the tree looks comfortable in it.

  2. Zack Clayton says

    January 14, 2014 at 4:39 am

    I agree Vic, 9 looks like the best match.

  3. Sam says

    January 14, 2014 at 6:46 am

    #5 and #7 work best for me, the wider pots seem to work with the trees lateral form.

    As a fairly ‘green’ (but keen) bonsai enthusiast can I also add how much I enjoy this blog, it is by far the most practical, informative and inspirational site I have come across!

    Sam

  4. AlexV says

    January 14, 2014 at 7:07 am

    I love this game, thanks for posting another of these. There are several that work, but honestly I think I would go with 4 or 5. It really depends on what tree you will show it paired with. If its mate for the show is a conifer in an unglazed pot, I would go with 4, but if it is a deciduous or flowering tree in a glazed pot, I think I would go with 5 or 9 depending on the style of the mate. Always good to keep variety in the pots of a display.

    I am sad I can’t make the show this weekend, but I defend Monday, so hopefully back soon. Thanks again for posting all the choices!

  5. TaitO says

    January 14, 2014 at 7:45 am

    6 or 8 i think

  6. taitogr says

    January 14, 2014 at 7:46 am

    i think 6 or 8

  7. Wally Glasgow says

    January 14, 2014 at 8:13 am

    Fun game. I think I’ll go with 4 or 9. Can’t explain why, they just look right.

  8. Jonas Dupuich says

    January 14, 2014 at 9:22 am

    Thanks Sam – and congratulations Alex, best of luck!

  9. Janet Roth says

    January 14, 2014 at 9:24 am

    I’m kind of leaning towards 5, but 4 is possible. I like the color of 4 better. But 5 is best. I guess I’ll find out on Friday though!

  10. Robert Dambrauskas says

    January 14, 2014 at 9:52 am

    I like 4,5, and 9 ! The others seem too tall, or too long (wide).
    Bob

  11. Chad says

    January 14, 2014 at 10:10 am

    I think pot 4 and 9 work the best

  12. Ladislav Lenčucha says

    January 14, 2014 at 10:53 am

    I like #5 🙂

  13. Bruce says

    January 14, 2014 at 2:09 pm

    I’ll go with 9 like the others but I’ll also stick my neck out and say 8.

  14. janicedilbeck@comcast.net says

    January 14, 2014 at 3:50 pm

    I like number 5 the best. 

  15. japanesepots says

    January 14, 2014 at 6:12 pm

    Number 5 and number 8 for me Jonas.

  16. brendenstudio says

    January 14, 2014 at 6:29 pm

    #5 gets my vote also; would be even better if it was glazed…maybe a cream to contrast with the berries, when it gets them

  17. Don Quixote says

    January 14, 2014 at 8:44 pm

    Don’t make the tree wait for pot number 8.

  18. don says

    January 15, 2014 at 10:59 am

    #5 would be my choice. It blends well with the overall look of the tree.

  19. Dr Spock says

    January 15, 2014 at 4:10 pm

    The tenth pot for awhile.

  20. Bonsai Mohegan says

    January 16, 2014 at 5:27 am

    Hi Jonas. How’s it? I too enjoy these sharings, so thank you. Here are new words for my lips…I agree with Dr.Spock!?! #10 respects the trees girth and looks” “comfortable”.

  21. Juan says

    January 22, 2014 at 10:02 am

    Jonas, hope you are feeling better. I believe I have shown a Juniper in #6, like it for this as well. Tho, I know you didn’t pick it….

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