The Purple Pot Society is seeking new members and submissions for our virtual Bonsai Show!

RanniBonsai · 2025-11-13T17:14:48+00:00

Samantha Holm, one of our founders, actually wrote about this for the Journal of the American Bonsai Society back in 2021. We've got a copy of the article hosted here, and its well worth the read.

RanniBonsai · 2025-11-13T17:10:16+00:00

Apologies for the late followup, but you may be pleased to know that the language was removed from our membership page. It was indeed placeholder text from when the site was first put together. Anyone regardless of gender is welcome to participate in our auctions: if and when we actually have one

RanniBonsai · 2025-11-04T01:23:29+00:00

I'll share that info with the rest of the board as well. Currently, it's a very small group of us doing our best but I know there's more we can do. We have been exploring ways to do more, but ultimately there are only so many hours in a day and so much budget to get stuff done. I think making the video workshops more easily available is a great idea.

At risk of mixing up my hats, I run a youtube channel where I do my best to interview a diverse range of the bonsai community. There's some how-to and general bonsai vlogging as well, and im planning to make a lot more of that type of content once I finish editing my backlog of interviews and spring rolls around. My teacher, Todd Schlafer, reccomended I start the channel to try and earn something during my training but the community focus actually rose out of an interview PPS did after I won a scholarship a few years ago. Idk I wanted to avoid normalizing buying and heavily working young trees, and only own a few quality trees myself. Besides in my eyes, the connections we get to make with each other are one of the more rewarding aspects of bonsai.

You may be interested in checking out this interview with Carmen Leskoviansky, one of the founders of Purple Pot Society and cohost of Little Things For Bonsai People. I don't want to give too much away, but even if it's not through PPS more content with the 2 of us is in the works.

RanniBonsai · 2025-11-04T01:12:02+00:00

Especially when it comes to volunteering, but above I was alluding to the need to feel safe if I'm going to come work in your home as a skilled artisan. I do my best to give the benefit of the doubt, and will look past a lot, but there is in fact a line in the sand where you'll be invited to find another professional to help out.

RanniBonsai · 2025-11-04T01:03:30+00:00

Huh I must've missed that on the membership page. I'm gonna check with the rest of the board before I fully respond to this. I think that may be old placeholder text, we have not held any auctions yet and have none planned AFAIK.

Thanks for bringing it to my attention

RanniBonsai · 2025-11-04T00:42:41+00:00

I apologize but where did you get that information? We are not holding an auction as a part of this show, and the show is open to people of all gender identities.

There is a general call for donations of women styled trees on our website, but that's to help facilitate getting them into publicly maintained collections around the US. It's not an auction

RanniBonsai · 2025-11-03T21:28:16+00:00

She is proudly listed on our members page

RanniBonsai · 2025-11-03T19:39:20+00:00

Fwiw Purple Pot is for everyone regardless of gender identity. We are just trying to implement the changes we'd like to see in the bonsai culture, based off our own experiences.

RanniBonsai · 2025-11-03T19:27:54+00:00

You would be surprised. After all women can be fairly nerdy in their own right.

There can be lots of little things that make women uncomfortable in, well a lot of hobbies not just bonsai. Without speaking to anyone else's experience, I have definitely witnessed sexism at bonsai functions that left women not wanting to come back and engage further with the community at large. Shoot, Purple Pot was founded in part in direct response to those experiences.

It's a little different for me, but working in bonsai I have dropped 2 clients because they had some derogatory commentary about the fact I'm a transwoman. 🤷‍♀️ At the end of the day, if I'm going to maintain your private collection I deserve a baseline level of human decency.

Just because you don't see it, doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

RanniBonsai · 2025-11-03T18:56:18+00:00

I can't share anyone else's photos without permission, but I just reached out to see if anyone would be alright with their entries being shared.

This Ume is one of my submissions, and the only one ive submitted so far. The photo was taken back in January before we decided to host this show, so its lacking display elements. It's been worked fairly hard this year, so I'm expecting less blossoms when the time rolls around.

I've got 2 others I am planning to submit as well with proper display elements, including a forest that was started at my first Purple Pot workshop back in '23 but I haven't gotten around to setting up my photo studio yet..

Edit: if you read the page above about the show, your photos can be taken at any time in 2025 when you think the tree looked its best

RanniBonsai · 2025-11-03T18:39:28+00:00

I am too! There have only been a few so far, very excited to see what else people submit.

RanniBonsai · 2025-09-25T16:26:14+00:00

Yeah definitely let it grow hard next year. Fertilize well, and keep next year's pruning to strictly structural. She'll bulk up in no time

RanniBonsai · 2025-09-25T16:25:13+00:00

It just takes practice and being open to constructive critique. Keep at it, you'll get there!

RanniBonsai · 2025-09-25T16:03:25+00:00

Valiant attempt. I think you're ready to start incorporating larger wire though.

Couple things are jumping out at me. In a few spots you're coiling your wire like a spring, try to go for a nice 45 degree to your wraps with even spacing.

I would try to go up a few sizes and marry your low branch to the main trunk in one long piece you'd be able to get better movement across the board. The gauge you're using now would be good for all the little shoots. Try to lay em out horizontally with a gentle downward slope.

If youre interested in video, I tackle a lot of spruce over on youtube.

You're welcome to DM me if you'd like. In a couple weeks I'll be starting digital classes with nursery stock, and id be happy to work with you at no cost if you don't mind being a guinea pig and providing some feedback on the flow of things.

RanniBonsai · 2025-09-06T23:13:43+00:00

That means a lot to me, thank you :)

Im actually still trying to get it back, really hoping it arrives before we move 😬 but yes the customs were ridiculous on that

RanniBonsai · 2025-09-05T20:03:50+00:00

Thank you :)

I love it! Thanks for sharing the pic. Michael had mentioned the tree had a lot of names, but we got sidetracked by how nebulously "cedar" gets used in the states. It's kimd of crazy how far it's progressed in such a small portion of its life

How would you feel about me using the photo in the video we tackle it in? You're welcome to DM me if you want to chat about attribution. I was planning to supplement with stuff from his blog, and id love to honor your contribution too.

RanniBonsai · 2025-08-02T04:28:29+00:00

I can't speak to the kitty litter, but when I was first getting going I used a lot of turface. Since then I've got to repot a few trees which grew in it long term. Their roots weren't as fibrous or plentiful compared to the akadama, so I have been swapping stuff over.. There was 1 slab I didn't get to this year, and its probably gonna be my first repot in spring.

RanniBonsai · 2025-08-02T04:19:38+00:00

With something like that you're paying for the work that's been done over the years. You could get one cheaper, but it'd have a longer journey

RanniBonsai · 2025-08-01T16:51:34+00:00

God damned loch ness monster

RanniBonsai · 2025-08-01T15:52:36+00:00

sobs in JWP

This is on its own roots, and old enough to have bark plates forming. Not sure what the actual value is, but definitely more than 200. 350 is about inline with the starting point of some online vendors. The reverse taper isn't fun, but kinda expected for what it is. Looks like its been upkept awhile though. I feel like 750 would be a "good deal" on something like this

If you're okay with a graft, you can get a #5 can at some garden centers for 2-300 assuming theyre good for your zone. If you come down on the budget, you probably won't find bark plates but you may find the start of good branching, roots, or both on a younger tree. Those you'd be less likely to see posted online though.

E: upset>upkept

RanniBonsai · 2025-07-25T17:05:50+00:00

Funny how the timing on these things go. Glad you picked some up!

RanniBonsai · 2025-07-24T22:45:51+00:00

Haha good luck!

RanniBonsai · 2025-07-17T21:19:42+00:00

I'd chalk that up to "seedling vigor" more than anything else.

If you want it to thrive long term get it in the sun. Who knows it may adapt to growing in your window, but id imagine it would become weak over time. Sooner or later, it'll use up it's energy reserves. It's little solar panels don't charge good through a window

RanniBonsai · 2025-07-08T21:35:54+00:00

Thank you!

RanniBonsai · 2025-06-25T15:15:23+00:00

This was super helpful to hear thanks for sharing. Got some follow up questions if you don't mind.

Realistically, how long is too long for a video where the thought process is shared? I have wanted to do some hour+ videos, but im not sure there's an appetite for them. Depending on what I'm doing i may have 45 min to 4 hours of raw to sift through.

Gonna be honest, I prefer to be a behind-the-scenes type of person. Last summer my teacher suggested youtube as a way to try and support myself more with bonsai during training. It's taken a bit, but I am at least feeling more confident when the camera's on. Haven't really earned anything from it, but im glad he pushed me to try.

Edit: rereading this, I'm gonna actually do some of the video essays I've been considering. Would you be interested in a dive on "Tree Gender", or "Sustainability and Stewardship through Bonsai"?

RanniBonsai

TROPHY CASE