Hello everyone There aren't too many sources in Vancouver area, I'm in Langley, for Bonsai pots. I have been growing these little marvels for about 15 years and have always underestimated the resiliency of these little trees. Anyway's that's not why I'm writing this note. My question is has anyone ever fashioned bonsai pots from 350 degree clay? This seems pourous enough and I'm sure strong enough. My goodness you go buy a 24"Long oval flat tray and it'll cost you a small fortune. Anyways if anyone has had any experience with this stuff, and whether or not its acceptable to plant anything in it let me know. Thanks Tony
Bonsai pots should be high fired to withstand winters, and there are many on the market that aren't and don't, so while I'm not sure what 350 signifies, the trick is hi-firing clay and firing.
You can get 'compromise' pots - they are Mica (not the shale-y stuff you played with, tho' possibly a derivative) made from some kind of (? resinous) compound, and are super strong, look great (like terra cotta, but also dark brown, gray, etc.), simple, tasteful, and don't weigh half as much as pottery. They may not be your choice for exhibition purposes, but otherwise are terrific. They come in all bonsai styles and sizes, cost a lot less than pottery, and one place that sells them is www.bonsaimonk.com (Bonsai by the Monastery). Worth checking out!
Try Natural Bonsai. They've recently posted a huge selection of unglazed and glazed bonsai pots, in all sizes. The bonsai pots are all high-fired so they'll withstand freezing temperatures. The prices seem reasonable too, and with free shipping, it's hard to go wrong.
