Choosing a Bonsai pot is to choose the most important accessory for your Bonsai tree. It's the thing that will make or break your tree, and if you don't believe me, picture a formal upright in a neon orange glazed pot. Can't do it? I thought so. While most people won't get a pot as ridiculous as the one that I've just mentioned, you'll probably find that the 'crimes against Bonsai pots' are much smaller, and much subtler then a neon orange one.

When choosing a Bonsai pot, you need to be aware of a few practicalities first. It doesn't really matter all that much what pot you choose as long as it has a few holes for water drainage in the bottom of it. If it doesn't - either move on, or if you really really like it then you will need to be able to drill a few holes in the bottom of it. If the holes are too big and you think that the soil is going to fall out, then you will need to get some drainage mesh or something like that in order to let the water out - and keep the soil in. Don't underestimate how important drainage is. Last thing that you want is your roots sitting in a puddle of water.

Right, now onto the design of it. The pot should complement the tree in as many ways possible. If it's a tall, angular, masculine tree (or even a cascade with a 'manliness' about it), then you will want to get a pot that is angular, that is sharp to look at. You might want a square pot, or a round one with a heavy rim or base.

If however you're getting a more feminine look to your plant (and you'll know what 'gender' your plant is!) then round pots, or square ones with simple and light rims are the ones to buy. The angle of the base is also very important. You'll note the gentle angle in the image gives a larger appearance to the base. The greater the angle, the more the pot will appear to 'float', and the viewer's eye will be drawn to the tree even more.

The colours of a Bonsai pot will also make or break it. If it's a funky tree, you might want to be a little bolder with the colors. If it's a more simple tree or it's so insanely beautiful that you don't want attention anywhere else then a more 'earthy' colour will make far more sense. Clay colours I think in particular are lovely. If it's a cascade, I think that an Oriental design looks best. There are plenty of Bonsai pots that you can buy that have these Asian designs on them, and they really capture the imagination - they connect with history.

A Bonsai pot is the most important accessory that you will buy for your tree. If you find that your tree is lacking that 'bang' that other trees have, then spend a bit more time getting the pot. You might also find that looking at Bonsai pictures can be very helpful to learn what others do with their pot designs.