Turntable

A bonsai turntable is a flat, rotating platform, usually with a bearing or smooth pivot in the base, that a tree and its pot sit on while being styled, wired or photographed. Spinning the tree instead of walking around it or repeatedly picking it up makes it much easier to check how a design reads from every side.

Turntables matter most during active styling sessions, when a grower is deciding on branch placement or checking that a wired shape looks balanced from the front, back and both sides rather than only from the angle they happen to be standing at. Some turntables also tilt, which helps when working on the underside of low branches or the base of the trunk during repotting.

A cheap or wobbly turntable can be worse than none at all if it does not hold a heavy pot steady while being spun, especially with large or top-heavy trees. Choosing one rated for the weight of the pot and soil, not just the tree itself, avoids an awkward wobble mid-session.