Has anyone found a source for adorable ceramics? Something to train in more than the final perfect home. Light weight plastic ones are terrible to look at. But I can’t spend hundreds on every tree .
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Ocean State Job Lots surprisingly has a great selection! Take a look online and in your local retailer!
My local bonsai guy is about 60 miles away lol. But i will check out the source you sighted .
I use strainers for developing but then also move to terracotta pots. They look really good and still help with development. Then again if you want them in bonsai pots then I would think of them as an investment. The pots will move forward with you over time. So maybe just invest in one or two pots when you can and that way build up a nice collection over time.
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Mica ones are affordable and heavy. If you can spray paint or airbrush decently they look good and last
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These look really good!
Depending on what you want Wigerts in Florida has a ton of pots.
The mica pots are heavy weight and very affordable.
The shipping seems high, but the price is still not too bad.
Heavy weight, indestructible and affordable.
But only one color.
Bonsai outlet has some cheaper ceramics from 10- 14 inches last I checked.
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Well yeah I would like more then thaw moca look but worth a look
They can be painted ANY color!
Try ikerbonsaipots.com. He has reasonable and quality pots - looks like many under $100.
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So local ceramic artists and bonsai club members who make pots are my sources. They bring product to meetings and sell in online auctions. I have had custom pots made for specific trees for less than $70. Unique container for unique tree. I use mica for development after growing in pond basket, colander, or grow bags. Support your local artists if you want them to be there in the future.
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What type of paint did you use?
It appears to have a texture or perhaps that was the pot itself.
Did you sand, prime, etc or move right into painting the desired color.
Any info would be greatly appreciated
Thanks
I did not prime it but wouldn’t hurt if you did. If you do sand it wear a mask and use like 280+ grit but I found it unnecessary, any outdoor spray-paint will adhere to the mica or resin pot nicely. There is some texture on mine because I used a a textured body spray paint with a standard one (wet into wet). prep the pot taping off the inside burnish the tape so you get a crisp line. Anytime your painting work in thin layers building up to your final goal. Then when the paint it dry get a UV resistant clear coat (they range from matte to gloss) that matches your desired outcome, 2-3 coats and your good to go
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I did and would recommend cleaning the pot with rubbing alcohol or degreaser (dish soap) before spraying. Also putting your tape in the microwave for 5-8 seconds (or in the sun if the weather permits) heats up the glue and is worth the little effort to reduce any bleeding through.
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Thanks for all the information
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Id check out Montana Paints for the spray can paint . They’re the best out there imo and have a huge selection of colors , textures , and finishes
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these are very affordable production bonsai pots which work great for training… just as long as you are ok with the slower growth that comes with ceramics. if you want really aggressive growth something with a lot more airflow would certainly be better. I found them at the PBE they were vending there but also lots of stock available for order online
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As @MartyWeiser said there is something to the quality of the training pot and your attention to that tree. I grow all my own stuff and quickly realized I will have a garden of plastic most of the time and I didn’t like that aesthetic. So I spent 2 days making wooden grow boxes for everything in development, for me it was totally worth it. As mentioned I also have some mica ones as well. I also make custom pots but the funny.mmor saddest thing is when non bonsai people come by someone always comments on a wood box and says I like this “pot”… to each their own but going from mostly plastic to where I am now makes me take things more seriously and creates a different vibe