The Planters We’ll Stake Our Reputations on (And Maybe a Nice Little Ficus, Too)

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Folia Collective Seagrass Basket

Courtesy of Folia Collective

A versatile and multi-use planter, this basket from Folia Collective spruces up any room with its chic bohemian look. Made for longer plants like a monstera or snake plant, the basket is high enough to protect the soil and keep away bugs. It also doubles as storage when folded down. Don’t forget to put the drainage tray in before your plant! —Navpreet Dhillon, editorial intern

Affordable Style

Courtesy of NewMade LA

NewMade LA wants to bring mid-century design into the modern home by making affordable pieces that are available to everyone. I stumbled upon them through Instagram and was delighted to see that they sell eccentric toilet paper holders, which tempted me to dive deeper into the website. It was then that I discovered their planters. Minimalist design with a splash of color leaves room to highlight the beauty of a plant while accentuating the planter itself. —Teaghan Skulszki, editorial Intern

Looking Up

Courtesy of West Elm

The house I live in isn’t all that big, and a lot of the places where planters usually go—like floors and bookshelves—are already being used for things like walking and actual books. So I’m looking to the last frontier available for my plant collection: the ceiling. These hanging planters from West Elm allow our succulents to get plenty of light and air without making passageways any more constricted. Plus the understated design goes with just about anything and keeps my airspace from looking cluttered. —Nicole Clausing, digital producer

For the Forgetful

Courtesy of Gardener’s Supply

If you’re busy, or forgetful, or located in a hot place where plants tend to dry out quickly (or are all of the above, like me) a self-watering planter is a revelation. To call any planter self-watering is a bit misleading. No planter is fully automated, and even containers with a built-in reservoir that releases moisture to the soil and roots over time need someone to turn on the hose and fill it now and again. You just need to do it less. I have boxes full of poppies that are thriving, even with some neglect, because of the PVC pipe system with slow-release moisture wicks. Gardeners.com sells planters—like this corrugated metal one on wheels, that are deep enough to plant veggies, and can be easily moved in and out of the sun as the season changes. They either come with a self-watering reservoir inside, or else you can purchase the watering system separately (for about $30) to put inside a favorite planter. —Christine Lennon, home and design editor