Why were these potted so high?

Thanks for the comments all.

These pots are very small. For example the JBP is in a pot that measures 3-3/4"X 2-3/4" and is just shy of 3/4" deep. The first Shimpaku is in a pot of similar depth with the oval about 4-1/2" X 3-3/4. All three are japanese imports and the portion above the soil line is how they were planted when I received them and have followed suit when I have repotted them. I have questioned the depth of the JPB with several people (three of which have studied in Japan) and the consensus is always to leave it where it has been. I have looked at many shohin books from Japan and pictures from Albek's collection.  Many are raised and I assume it is because the pots are so shallow and the trees require enough root mass to thrive and survive.

JRob

Don,

Thanks for replying. I can not personally thank you enough for all your help since my son and I entered the hobby and I bought my first tree from you late in the fall of 2008. As a matter of fact it was our first shohin and our second tree. It seems like only yesterday. Your help got us off to a great start in building a respectable shohin bonsai collection which as you know was my goal. With your help and the material I that we purchased from you and others we won 1st place ribbons in 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2012 with judging from Tigre Urishibata (Japan), Koji Hiamatsu (Japan), Roy Nagatoshi (CA) and Lindsay Shiba (CA). Simply amazing since we were just starting out. Our club members and others have been wonderful as well and everyone we have come to know. Bonsai is a great group of people and everyone has been extremely helpful and we are very grateful. I have not killed a tree yet and Dave is correct I like them small and tight. It is a feat to keep them thriving here in the midwest, particularly last summer with the long string of days above 100. At the fall Japanese Festival last year I was still able to show a shohin Japanese Maple that I purchased from Jim Doyle a few years ago and it did not have one scorched leaf and it was in a pot 1/2" deep because I continue to follow the advice you gave. We appreciate all your great advice.

Kindest Regards,

JRob

Jrob or Don, care to share the secret of non scorched JM leaves in the fall of such a hard summer?

Jrob, sounds like you are living the dream!!!
I like the pine, and Don's ideas for it.

I told him to use shallow pans, fill them with sand/fines, and place his shohins in the sand/fines, water everything to keep the soil moist longer and roots cooler during hot weather; and to place them where they get morning sun and afternoon shade or dappled sun.  I'm sure there was more discussion than that but that's probably what he is referring to.



Jeffrey I'm glad you have enjoyed such success.  Keep up the good work and thanks for the kind words.

All are nice trees. The last juniper is beautiful. To me, it has just the right amount of proportionate deadwood and beautiful movement. In regards to the high planting angles. The truth is that many of the show stopping shohin are planted high up in the pot to allow for an appropriate size pot. Usually, they just moss the mound a little bit to hide this. There really is not much you can do about it. Some shohins are in such small pots, especially in Japan, that it looks like there might not even be a root ball in there. However, probably some are just put in these pots for shows.

Rob