On Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:11:59 +0000, Rusty Hinge
wrote:

David WE Roberts wrote:

I am now wondering if it would be happier (though perhaps not as pretty)
in a larger, deeper pot where it wasn't stunted by fighting to survive.

Yes.

But...

You would lose the bonsai qualities of restricted growth and
semi-miniature leaves (and possibly, flowers)

To get over the watering problems, you can get drip-metered watering
devices - just fill a reservoir and adjust the control until it reaches
equilibrium.

This has the advantage that you can add traces of nutrient to the water
from time to time.

You could try propagating cuttings when you trim it.

Many bonsai, when young, are grown in open ground or large pots or
tubs to encourage them to put on growth. You could try with this one,
and keep it in a greenhouse for a couple of years, then if it grows
well, cut back top and roots in Spring and repot it in a smaller (not
very small) pot and retrain it as a small tree.
(Sorry about previous typo; more like senior moment!)

Pam in Bristol