Tea cup Bonsai

I have been thinking about owning a blog. Today is the very reason why I started this blog. I was sowing some crab apple seeds. I wanted to do more with bonsai or gardening. So I did a few more small ceramic pots and put trees in them.

I thought this project would be great for the garden club. So I started to take photos of the process. Then I couldn't figure out the best way to get the process and photos to the garden club. I thought I could do a simple email with a few pics, but that might not get the idea across. I thought about posting pics on the garden club Facebook page, but it's a lot of photos. So Bam! I started this blog. So if you think this blog ends being awesome, then say thank you to your local garden club! Join your local garden or bonsai club, at least visit a meeting.

Alright, let's get to the reason we are here.

I have been watching some YouTube video of people doing some awesome mini bonsai. One channel takes a tea cup or sake cup and turns it into a pot. Then puts a plant, tree or some moss to create a beautiful piece of living art. I love moss bowls and mini bonsai. Creating moss bowls was one of the ways I dabbled in bonsai. Anyone can do this. First head on down to your local resale shop. Look for a tea cup, sake cup and even a coffee cup. Something that you want to look at while the tree or plant occupies the vessel for a few years. Find a cup that speaks to you. I have purchased a few for just a few dollars.

Here 3 that all were found at a resale shop. So after you find what is going to be a pot. Now you need to hop down to the hardware store and purchase a drill bit for ceramic tile. You can find them on Amazon or your local hardware store.

You are gonna use the bit to drill the bottom out for a drainage hole.

I purchased a few bits for different size drainage holes. So when you have the bit. Install in your drill. I use the low speed setting, don't want it to heat up. The darkest part is getting it started. On low speed setting. Hold the drill on a angle. Hold the cup and drill steady. It wants to move to the right. I have seen on YouTube someone puts a scotch tape and says it helps to keep the bit from moving around. I have not tried that tip. I just hold the drill and a quick burst and it settles into a groove. Remember to hold on a angle.

Spray with water to keep cool and not to burn out the bit. The bit has tiny little diamonds glued to it. The grit is cutting into the ceramic. Once you get the bit to bite a groove I slowly tilt up to get all of the cutting surface drilling into the cup. Keep watering when you notice the water super dark or is gone. Lite pressure so you don't force and crack the cup. I keep checking and just taking it slow.

The drill bit will just fall through so don't press to hard. Later I will try the drill press.

Once you have the hole drilled. Now grab some netting for the drainage hole. I have used pebbles as long as they do not fall through the hole. In the bonsai world they use a mesh, usually plastic. Cut it slightly larger than the hole. Use thin wire to keep the mesh over the hole. Many ways to use the wire as locking the mesh in place. Some just place the mesh down and put drainage rocks over. I use a method with the wire. I'll show with pictures.

I use scissors to cut the mesh to the proper size.

Mess will be on the inside, but you can see it covers the hole.

Push the wire through the bottom. Fold the tabs to the side with your fingers. Snip the wire to fit or use the wire cutters to twist a little then snip the rest off.

Now that you have the pots ready, let's get some soil and prepare that. Depending on the size of pot. The type of tree you are putting in the pot. Your drainage can be different. For the most I might use a larger akadama. Some I might use pumice and lava. If I am just doing a moss bowl, I use whatever I have. Today I used akadama for the tea cup. Because I was putting a Japanese maple in it.

Sorry I used a layer of pumice and lava.

I went to the trees to gather what I am gonna use.

I used Japanese maple cuttings and some burning bush cuttings. Japanese maples I did not disturb the roots. Just slip potted them and filled in more soil. The burning bush I disturbed the roots but I feel they can take the abuse.

After slip potting the cuttings I filled in with soil. Use a chopstick to push the soil down the sides. Water till it runs clear. Then add some moss that you collected from the yard.

I left some room for the moss. The moss helps keep a small potted tree on the wet side.

I use a bowl filled with water to soak the newly potted tree.

The moss before I cut off the dirt.

I was not happy with how the burning bush turned out.

Both of the Japanese maples I'll look forward to what they doing in the upcoming growing seasons. All of these will be wintering in my garage. It's not the best time to pot things. But if you do then keep them from wind and freezing. I have a table that if needed I cam set them on a heating mat to help them establish themselves in the pots. I am not to worried, they are young and the Japanese maples I didn't touch the roots.

I hope you enjoyed this.

Thanks

Ted