Sustainable & Chic Planters for the New Age Home

Where is That Planter From ?

This is the question I get asked most on my social media account and also personally from colleagues , friends visiting home. Well the answer to that was rather disappointing. I visited a lot of exhibitions hosted in Delhi Haat and Dastkar by artisans from various states and also picked up a few on road trips here and there. But since this is something a dozen of you asked me when I posted a random story on Instagram recently I decided to not share that cliche disappointing response again.

With the pandemic not sparing anyone the artisan clusters were hit hard and have now thankfully started retailing online , many brands are also doing similar planters working with these artisans clusters. These are made from all natural resources that are sustainable and look so gorgeous and earthy if you ask me. Whether you want to add Bohemian feels , Some Farmhouse Charm or even if your style is Indian Ethnic there is something out there for everyone trust me (I did the hardwork and came up with few options).

I tried my best to narrow down something very similar to my planters that some of you enquired for but before we get there here’s a little bit about the different materials used and specifically available in the Indian market right now to help you decide better. You could skip this section and jump straight to the brands and links for the Planters if that’s what you are looking at. This list is in no way exhaustive as there are now umpteen brands and small businesses catering and cashing on this trend rather. In fact there are few more natural materials that Baskets and Planters are made off but the ones below are the ones that I have used and honestly not faced any issues of sturdiness or fungus if the water did spill over occasionally . Basically tried and tested by yours truly !

Bamboo Planters

Bamboo Planters are very sturdy and in general very durable , Bamboo grows mostly in north east & in some parts of southern India that receive good rainfall hence a few splashes from watering your plant will not really destroy the planter but I highly recommend removing the main pot from the planter when you do water. When I say its strong and sturdy I will quote that most local scaffolding’s in building construction in India are still made with Bamboo so now you know. Bamboo is also a really fast growing plant hence extremely sustainable too. There could be slight variations from Green , Brown , to a bit pale yellow as various parts of the bamboo is used in basket weaving but honestly that’s the beauty. Trust me when I say I need more.

Kauna Grass Planters

Commonly known as water reed world over, Kauna is a perennial grass-like plant that can grow as tall as 10 feet in shallow water or on marshy land. This grass grows wild in the wet lands of Manipur in India. I am so glad to be writing this and now seeing handicrafts from North east taking over the Indian decor arena beautifully. If you would like to read and learn more about Kauna crafts I highly recommend this article by Rooted Objects – ‘ The Kauna Craft ‘ What I really like about Kauna is that its feather weight and the most flexible out of the three materials we talk here. But being light weight in no way means its not durable. I have a basket that I use for my picnics, grocery and even used it to transport some of my plants from Delhi to Hyderabad in the flight without any issues. Its flexible , lightweight and pretty rough and tough. These come in gorgeous shapes and designs and are really great to hide those nursery plastic pots. One big benefit over Cane and Bamboo is Kauna won’t scratch your furniture or prick your fingers in case you have children around.

Cane Planters

Cane has made a comeback and a real beautiful and versatile one , with more importance towards sustainability and design innovations its actually now very much a part of indoors compared to just being an outdoor furniture option a few decades ago. If you simply type Bohemian on Google search I can bet most options would be Cane. This new avatar of Cane is a welcome change and completely mesmerising if you ask me. From Chic Bohemian beds, to Lampshades, to Magazine Holders , Laundry Baskets the possibility with this material is endless (Ok I am digressing as always) . There are primarily 2 types that I found on the Indian market.

Kashmir Willow Cane – Remember The Diwali hampers of Dry fruits or Fruit Baskets our Moms saved from the weddings, that’s willow cane. If you are travelling to Kashmir pick these up in the most affordable prices if not like any of us could really now, damn Corono (Ha Ha Ha) I have the perfect recommendation for you below. I have 2 planters in it and I haven’t faced any issue whatsoever , they look lovely and chic me thinks. My mom also has a puja basket she got when dad was posted in Jammu in 1995 so its pretty strong and lasts really a lifetime if kept well.
Assam Cane – Assam tops the list & grows as many as 51 varieties of it and hence I named it this , its not really a term though and this type is easily available across entire North East India. The quintessential Cane Sofa that was mostly kept in the verandahs of the Indian Homes or as I remember most Fauji’s families picked the inexpensive Cane furniture on their stint in the North east. Its very very sturdy and strong. If you are going to put heavy & big plants in terracotta pots inside then this is what you should look at.

Jute/Cotton/Macarame Planters

Probably the first to hit the market a few years ago , popularity has now slowed down a bit on this I assume with more options and choices coming in. Basically both Jute and Cotton planters don’t hold there shape that well and feel more like a bag so I recommend using them for smaller pots and getting a size as close to your Plant Pot. They would also soak up water if it seeped out of the original pot , something you don’t want on your wood furniture. But on the other hand you can wash them in a gentle cycle unlike the rest. Also if you are short on space hanging plants up is a great great way , Macrame & Jute hanging Planters with trailing plants make a visual statement. So that’s about it , evaluate what best suits your requirement and then choose wisely. I personally like mixing it up to break the monotony ,so you could consider that too.

Thats more or less it, there is also the Moonj Grass, and some local grasses that you will find in the Hills , in the state of Orissa, Jharkhand too but I could not search any brands doing planters in them specifically. Lets not forgot the classic Ceramic , Metal and Terracotta planters are as good as they were a few years ago, you just need to mix and match well and create a balance. For now you could check these brands and links for some great options and choices. This is not a sponsored post but if you buy through my links I make a commission with no extra costs to you. You see I have bills to pay too.

Current Favourite Planters

Signing off its Coffee time. Happy gardening & beautiful homes to you all.

Kamakshi