Pots and saucers
The literal translation of the ideograms that make up the word ‘bonsai’ means ‘tree planted in a pot’. The pot is therefore not merely an accessory, but an essential component of the bonsai, which must be chosen with the utmost care so that it meets both the tree’s physiological needs (a suitable environment for root development) and aesthetic criteria (as the pot helps to convey the landscape that the tree, through its shape, represents).
The saucer is also important, especially for indoor bonsai: lined with a layer of gravel to be kept moist, it ensures a suitable microclimate for trees placed in the warm, dry environments of our homes during winter.