• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Bonsai Tonight

An educational website about bonsai development

  • Blog
    • How-to Guides
  • Podcast
  • Shop
    • Bonsai
    • Books
    • Soil
    • Soil (wholesale)
    • Supplies
    • Tools
    • Video Consulting
    • Northern California Bonsai Resources
  • About
    • Workshops

Pot selection exercise – semi-cascade ume

January 4, 2019 by Jonas Dupuich

Years ago, my ume bonsai grew upright as an informal upright tree. After losing all but one of the branches several years ago, I decided to change the tree to a semi-cascade style. When it was ready to go back into a bonsai pot, I found I didn’t have any good options for it. The pot below was somewhat of a placeholder until I could find something better.

Ume, 10″ tall , 22″ wide – Japanese pot

After removing the tree from the pot and working on the roots, I lined up the available options and tried them out.

After root-work

The container I was the most curious about was made by Jan Rentenaar. It may not be an obvious selection for a flowering tree, but it made a surprisingly good match. Were it a bit smaller, I might have gone with this option.

Jan Rentenaar

I next tried out a pot by Sara Rayner. The size, color, and texture provide good contrast to the tree, but the straight sides make me thing a sturdier tree would be a better match.

Sara Rayner

A glazed pot by Ashland ceramicist Denny Takeda was a little bit small, but I thought the color was a good match. If the sides had some curves to them, I might have selected it.

Denny Takeda

The pot below from the Ikko kiln is a bit too big.

Ikko

Likewise the old Chinese pot. Were it a bit smaller I think it would be a good match.

Old Chinese pot

A second generation Yamaaki is a good size and style for the tree, but I’d prefer to go with a glazed pot if possible.

2nd generation Yamaaki, Koshosen

A second container by Jan Rentenaar prompted attempts from several angles. The side below shows a lot of color, but the tree doesn’t look particularly stable this way.

Jan Rentenaar

The other side of the container provided better visual stability, but it still felt too wide, especially if I filled the entire space within the container walls with soil.

Jan Rentenaar from the other side

I ended up going with the unglazed Koshosen as it’s a good size and style for the tree. I’ll keep looking for a glazed option, but will see how I like the unglazed clay body when the tree leafs out in spring.

Koshosen

In the meantime, I’ll see what I can do to improve the ramification on the slender low branch and encourage flower buds on the upper branches.

✕

Subscribe to Bonsai Tonight

New Posts Delivered Every Tuesday and Friday

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit

Filed Under: Display Tagged With: Repotting, Ume

Previous Post: « Teach Yourself Bonsai #1: When do I repot my bonsai?
Next Post: Reducing internodes on Japanese maple »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Edward Stanton says

    January 4, 2019 at 8:20 am

    One could argue in favor of or against many of these pots for the Ume, but not that they are not all fine pots. Jonas, with your fine taste for bonsai containers, when will you start selling pots?

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      January 4, 2019 at 5:55 pm

      Ha, thanks Ed!

  2. Candace says

    January 4, 2019 at 9:06 am

    Love this post Jonas. With so many excellent and varied options to consider it was a terrific lesson in composition and display – something most of us could use more of. I look forward to more exploration on this topic.

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      January 4, 2019 at 5:56 pm

      Thanks, Candace – I’ve always enjoyed this exercise (thanks to Boon) and will keep picking up what pots I can to keep it up!

  3. Chris Cochrane says

    January 4, 2019 at 9:49 am

    What a great essay on pot selection. I appreciate the stability of the pot chosen.

    The second chosen side for the second Jan Rentenaar pot & the placement of the bonsai in it were superb. I was amazed by the Rentenaar pot’s design, lightness & glazing with this bonsai, as well. Liking the container’s thinness with this tree was a surprise for me, but it seemed to elevate the sturdiness & strength of the aged & substantially-weathered tree.

    Thank you for offering so much, repeatedly, Jonas.

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      January 4, 2019 at 5:58 pm

      Thanks, Chris, I appreciate it! I too was surprised how much I liked the Rentenaar containers for the tree – am looking forward to using them!

  4. John C says

    January 4, 2019 at 12:19 pm

    Hi Jonas

    No1 for me (Jan Rentenaar) the jagged top edge mirror’s the trunk line perfectly, what a stunning marriage.

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      January 4, 2019 at 5:58 pm

      Thanks John!

  5. Rusty Tchernis says

    January 4, 2019 at 3:26 pm

    Namako got my vote!

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      January 4, 2019 at 5:59 pm

      Thanks Rusty – I like the namako too, just wish it was a tad bit thinner and shorter. The color is my favorite of the bunch.

  6. Keegan says

    January 4, 2019 at 7:32 pm

    How did you lose most of the branches? Heat? Frost?

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      January 4, 2019 at 7:34 pm

      I think is was a fungus that was hard to treat. The same problem appeared in a number of local gardens that year. Am happy the tree pulled through!

Footer

Follow Bonsai Tonight

Subscribe

Instagram ● Facebook ● Twitter
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Shop
  • About

P.O. Box 6560, Alameda, CA 94501 · 510-915-2025 · jonas (at) bonsaitonight (dot) com

© Copyright 2009-2023 Bonsai Tonight · All rights reserved · Privacy · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. You can opt-out if you wish. Accept Decline Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT