Gifts for Gardeners, Container Edition
The holidays are almost upon us, and gardeners can be impossible to buy for. Plantgasm is here to help. This week, I’ll be posting a few different gift guides for the 2010 holiday season. Today: Containers!
If I’ve learned one thing about containers, it’s this: buy ones you like, because you’re going to be looking at them for years. I’m still dragging around ceramic pots I bought decades ago, even though I hate them. Save a step and just get some good ones from the outset. Here are a few I’ve tried and liked.
Whirly Hanging Candleholder
CB2 lists this as a “candleholder” but I love them as small plant containers. I’ve got a bunch of them hanging in windows throughout the house (like so). They’re perfect for succulents with small root bases. Best part is, they’re way cheaper than similar devices sold for plants. Give one to a garden pal with a small succulent, or buy a few (there’s a discount if you buy six), plant some cuttings, and give them out as unique plant gifts. (For some great examples, check out this post at Far Out Flora. Not sure where she got the globes, but the concept is the same.)
Woolly Pocket Wally One
I installed these pockets in a couple places in my home (and documented the process) and I just love them. They’re stylish, easy to install (two screws) environmentally friendly (made from recycled plastic bottles), and my plants seem to love them. They allowed me to condense dozens of separate pots into one beautiful wall, and I love watching it grow. Like any container, you have to make sure you don’t water too much, but otherwise they’re a breeze.
Scribble Hanging Planter
Most hanging planters are either cheap plastic crap or trapped in the ’70s. Fortunately, there’s Lisa Jones and her shop, Pigeon Toe Ceramics. All her stuff is lovely, but I’m especially a fan of the Scribble Hanging Planter. The matte white finish feels very modern, while the hand-drawn lines keep it personal, and the leather straps are the perfect finishing touch. Be warned: these have no holes, so use them inside and water sparingly.
Lechuza Planters
I was skeptical about these “self-watering pots” at first. It seemed like a gimmick. And, truth be told, the “self-watering” part isn’t why I like them. I like them because they’re totally self-contained. If you overwater, the water collects in the bottom and doesn’t leak on the floor and ruin the rug. Once the plants’ roots reach the reservoir at the bottom (about 3 months), you can stop watering from the top and just fill the reservoir when the gauge on the side says it’s empty. For compulsive waterers like me, this is a godsend. I’ve had plants in a few of these pots for long enough to root properly, and I have to say it’s nice to glance at the gauge and know the plant has enough water. The pots are stylish, lightwight, and come in a ton of different shapes and sizes. And best of all, you’ll never have to struggle to find just the right plastic pot to go in that beautiful but oddly shaped ceramic container ever again.
Hey gardeners: What containers do you recommend?
Tune in tomorrow for the next edition: Books!
See Also
Make a Fittonia Bubble
Fittonia is a great plant for a small container because it's got fascinatingly intricate leaves, it likes humidity, and it's a slow grower.
