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both are young trees.

How young?

2.5 years or so. I'm just trying to grow them for a couple years to increase trunk size

Bhawk wrote: 2.5 years or so. I'm just trying to grow them for a couple years to increase trunk size

That's a good plan. So, you either should put them in the ground, or try and acquire pots (not bonsai pots) that are large enough for the roots to grow. Planting them in the ground would be best, as you'll get the best growth.

If I got young trees, I pot them into big plastic buckets, that way I have control where the roots are going, big deep buckets can be used too.
Drill 1-2 inch holes in the bottom and place wire on them, that way you can handle the tree and place them as you like.
Send some pictures please, so we can enjoy with you the progression. Best of luck.

If you decide to not grow in the full ground, grwn them in pots that are only slightly larger than the current, and repot them frequently into pots one size larger. This way you will get the best growth. One of the reasons for this is that large pots stay wet too long as the small plant cannot absorp a lot of water quickly. This reduces the development. Never plant small trees in very large containers.

I disagree with that, the reason is, before it affects the roots to be harmed, the water base is so low in a bucket it won't have any negative impact, providing the soil is suited to drain.

Considered you provided the right medium, that drains well, also giving the space to the surface the pot/bucket stays on, if it gives no back lash of water, (meaning if your pot/bucket is to close to the surface that stands on, flotation can be looked, kind of an air bubble or dirt will prevent the flow of watere to be drained,).

This can be prevented if you use a grid underneath your table, stands with a gaze structure don't clog. If you just have pavement or a wooden banch it may.

If you don't have the space, small items like wood, stones or anything tha elevates the bucket 1-2 cm of the surface will do.

Here again, is what container you use, single pot one centre hole, or good bonsai pots 4-6 holes, or self made utensils that yo decide the drainage on. Will it prevent cloggin?, think this, low pot one center hole in the middle, one side lifting, water remains on the lower end of the lift, bucket with lots of holes, no problem, but so smaller it gets so higher the backlash of water.

A minimum of 15 to 35 cm depth, is probably your most outcome the plant's (roots) wil being set. A bucket is in a averrange 30 to 45 cm of depth, so plenty of space.

Anything you do is the future of, time, workability and fun. Take the easiest way to work on your plants.

Something you can lift, turn around and appreciate. If you plant is in the ground, then you got either a huge tree, (1-2 m hight) a plant so low that you can't appreciate it, while giving it the depth and surface area in the form of your workable space, the bucket, you can access it any time you like!

:pinch:

Indo Andreas wrote: If I got young trees, I pot them into big plastic buckets, ... Best of luck.

"plastic" can not breath, yes maybe, your plant will live in it, as if it had a rag over it's nose. ...

terracotta, on the other hand, ... You can look at the side of the pot, and see if it has to much or not enough water, sometimes, at least.

oh never mind

Good point, I do however use them here, all my bougenville and trees from the roads I salvage are in wide plastic buckets, before I put them into bonsai pots. Big terra cotta I would prefer too.