Unglazed Rectangular Bonsai Pot, 130mm

What it is

An unglazed ceramic bonsai pot, rectangular, with a banded rim, sloped sides and shaped feet at each corner that lift it clear of the bench. The inside measures 130mm across the rim and tapers to 90mm at the base, with 40mm of depth for the root mass.

Why unglazed

Unglazed clay is the traditional choice for conifers and for trees with rough or flaking bark, where a matte earth-toned pot sits behind the tree rather than competing with it. The bare clay surface also breathes, so the outside of the root ball dries at a similar rate to the rest of the pot.

Glazed pots are more usually paired with deciduous trees and flowering species, where the colour is chosen to pick up leaf or flower tones.

Drainage and tie-down holes

The base is drilled with drainage holes and smaller tie-down holes. Cover the drainage holes with drainage mesh so the mix cannot wash through, then run a length of aluminium wire up through the tie-down holes and over the root ball to hold the tree steady while it roots in. A tree that rocks in the pot will not establish.

Matching the pot to the tree

Rectangular pots suit formal and informal uprights and trees with a strong trunk line, where the straight edges of the pot echo the vertical of the trunk. As a starting point the pot is usually about two thirds the height of the tree, though the balance matters more than the arithmetic.

At 130mm across and 40mm deep this holds roughly half a litre of substrate. A 5 litre bag will fill it several times over with enough left for a drainage layer.