When I have the time, I test out every container I can find when I’m repotting to see which I like best for a given tree. Size is the most important attribute to consider (to keep the tree healthy), followed closely by shape. From there I consider color and quality (I don’t like using show […]
Display
Bonsai is meant to be displayed. The Display posts cover how to present bonsai at exhibits, the Accents with which bonsai are displayed, and the criteria we use when selecting Bonsai Pots.
Pot selection exercise – ume
One of the best ways to refine your sense of which pots are a good match for a given tree is to try out different alternatives. This is especially true for trees with unusual shapes or features. In the case of the ume below, I can use a deep round (or square, or hexagonal) pot […]
Bonsai display basics
A number of conventions guide the way bonsai are displayed at exhibits around the world. This post covers the basics. The Space Bonsai displays at Japanese exhibits are commonly six feet wide – about the length of one tatami mat. As most bonsai are anywhere between a few inches tall and up to three or […]
Pot selection exercise – cork oak
One of the best things about repotting season is that it provides an opportunity for us to select new containers for our trees. When we move trees from training pots or poorly matched containers to something better, it can be like having a new tree in the yard. One tree that stumped me this year […]
Small and medium displays at the Pacific Bonsai Expo
Let’s wrap up our initial tour of the Expo with some examples of medium and shohin displays. Given a standard exhibit space that’s six feet wide, it’s common to fill the area with two or more trees depending on their size. For medium-sized trees under 18″, we expect to see displays featuring two bonsai and […]