A plant lover never has enough pots. They rarely have the right ones.
Buying a plant for a plant lover is risky. They may already have it, or know exactly why it would not survive their light. The safer and more lasting gift is the vessel: a pot that suits a new cutting, a glass tube for propagating roots, a vase that makes a single stem look intentional, or a planter that turns a shelf into a small garden.
How to choose a gift for a plant lover
- Know what they grow. Succulents and cacti want shallow, breathable pots; ferns and tropical plants prefer something that holds moisture; a cut-flower lover needs a watertight vase.
- Think about propagation. Many plant lovers root cuttings in water before potting them up. A clear glass vessel lets them watch the roots grow, which is half the fun.
- Check the drainage. A pot without a hole works best as a cachepot: the plant stays in its plastic nursery pot inside, and excess water can be poured off.
- Size up, but only a little. When repotting, most houseplants want a container just 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5 cm) wider than their current one. A pot that is far too large holds wet soil and invites root rot.
- Set a budget. Small vases and pots start around €60, while a carved stone planter suits a bigger occasion. ADORNO’s gifts under €100 and gifts under €250 are useful places to narrow things down.
Planters from independent studios
Pots and cover pots for living plants, from a small porcelain pot for a succulent to a carved stone planter for a statement tree. Several work as cachepots, so the plant can stay in its nursery pot inside.
Pantli – Ceramic Planter by piedrafuego
Inspired by the tzompantli walls of Mesoamerica, Pantli features a distinctive carved skull pattern. Each planter is handcrafted by the Basulto family in San Juan Evangelista, Jalisco, Mexico, a town known for its burnished clay. Available in three sizes, with larger versions made to order.
By piedrafuego
€60 – €97 incl. tax
Nido – Chuspata Natural Fiber Plant Pot by Tributo
Hand-woven from natural chuspata reed fiber, Nido adds warm, nest-like texture to indoor plants. Designed as a cover for nursery pots, it suits larger plants such as fiddle-leaf figs and monsteras without repotting. Available in four sizes, each piece is made to order.
By Tributo
€93 – €264 incl. tax
Geta – Glazed Porcelain Plant Pot by Clemence Birot
Inspired by Japanese geta sandals, this small pot stands on two feet that lift it just off the surface. It is made from porcelain bisque, partly glazed in cobalt blue, and every piece is handmade, so color and finish vary slightly. Because the bisque is porous, it is best used with succulents or as a cover for a small nursery pot. For a quieter version, see the Geta White.
By Clemence Birot
€110 incl. tax
Life Cabin D – Stainless Steel Vase by TUNK I Busra Tunc
Designers Busra Tunc and Jenny Nordberg draw on architectural structures for Life Cabin, a versatile stainless steel framework that combines plants with furniture. Depending on its orientation, it works as a planter, side table, seat or storage unit. This one-of-a-kind version features a pink powder-coated finish and visible bolts, with space for a floor plant. Use a nursery pot or liner, as watertightness is not specified.
By TUNK I Busra Tunc
€220 incl. tax
Tzom – Cantera Stone Planter by piedrafuego
The stone counterpart to Pantli, Tzom features a tzompantli-inspired pattern, hand-carved from cantera, a volcanic stone used in Mexican architecture. Crafted by the Íñiguez family in Jalisco, it makes a striking planter for statement plants. Available in black, white, light yellow and light pink, each piece is made to order.
By piedrafuego
€311 incl. tax
Vases from independent studios
Vessels for cuttings, cut flowers and dried stems. Most are watertight; the descriptions note where a piece is better suited to dried arrangements or a glass liner.
Testikel – Upcycled Glass and Aluminum Bud Vase by Olle Sahlqvist
Designed for plant propagation, Testikel transforms upcycled lamp glass into a laboratory-inspired vessel. Its transparent design lets you watch roots grow on pothos or monstera cuttings before planting them. Available in short and long versions, with blue or red glass on request, it makes a thoughtful gift for plant lovers. Made in Sweden.
By Olle Sahlqvist
€70 – €80 incl. tax
Wavy Silk White – Bioplastic Vase by julius.works
Flowing, wave-like contours give this vase a sculptural, water-inspired form. 3D-printed in bioplastic by an experimental studio in Berlin, Germany, it features subtle surface irregularities and a visible seam. Its silky off-white finish pairs beautifully with dried grasses and seed heads. Furthermore, it is one of the lightest gifts here to ship.
By julius.works
€70 incl. tax
Floating in Space Black and White – Porcelain Vase by Liquid Void Studio
Inspired by the space-age optimism of the 1960s, this slip-cast porcelain bud vase by ceramic artist Elise Argent features a unique matte black and white finish. Fully watertight, its petite form is ideal for a single sprig or small cutting. Made in Leeds, the United Kingdom.
By Liquid Void Studio
€75 incl. tax
Blooming Cuts – Textile Board and Glass Vase by Studio Ebba Lindgren
Inspired by London’s Columbia Road Flower Market, Ebba Lindgren shapes recycled textile fibreboard into sculptural petals, with a white core outlining each curve. An inner glass cylinder holds water for fresh flowers. Finished in denim blue, this playful vase gives recycled materials a second life and is made in Malmö, Sweden.
By Studio Ebba Lindgren
€80 incl. tax
Saturn – Porcelain Vase by Liquid Void Studio
The larger sibling of Floating in Space, Saturn is a one-of-a-kind porcelain vase in matte black and mustard yellow. Elise Argent combines slip-cast shapes and hand-finishes each piece, creating a unique sculptural form. Suitable for small bouquets, it also makes a striking decorative object on its own.
By Liquid Void Studio
€125 incl. tax
Knit – 3d Printed Porcelain Vase by LYT Studio
Knit is a limited-edition, 3D-printed porcelain vase by Lili Yas Tayefi of LYT Studio, featuring a textured surface inspired by knitted fabric. Finished with a glossy waterproof glaze, it is ready for fresh flowers. Made in Calgary, Canada, it makes a thoughtful winter gift with a tactile finish.
By LYT Studio
€150 incl. tax
Mono – Recycled Glass Terrazzo Vase by Assimply Studio
Made from leftover glass crystals sourced from a factory in Minas Gerais, this terrazzo vase features unique amber, blue and yellow speckles. Created by Rio de Janeiro-based Assimply Studio, a Brazilian-Danish design duo focused on reusing discarded materials, it is a substantial piece suited to long branches. Made in Brazil.
By Assimply Studio
€200 incl. tax
Midsummer’s Night – Glazed Stoneware Vase by Mina Wright
Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, this arched vase features leaf-like patterns in green, yellow and orange. Handmade and painted by Mina Wright in Barcelona, Spain, each piece has subtle variations in color and weight. Its slim profile makes it ideal for displaying a single stem on a narrow shelf.
By Mina Wright
€210 incl. tax
Jam – Earthenware Vase by raawii
Created through a collaboration between Danish artist Michael Kvium and Copenhagen-based raawii, the Jam vase is handmade and glazed in Portugal. Each limited-edition piece features subtle variations that add to its character. It suits generous bouquets and comes in several glossy finishes, from rose to juniper green.
By raawii
€220 incl. tax
Where plant gifts live, room by room
- The kitchen windowsill: Ideal for herbs, succulents and propagation jars. Group vessels of different heights, using clear glass for cuttings. Explore our kitchen counter decor guide.
- The living room floor: Large plants such as monsteras, fiddle-leaf figs and olive trees bring life to empty corners. Style them with woven or stone cover pots, and add a small vase to your coffee table. See our small living room guide for more inspiration.
- The bedroom and nightstand: For rooms with limited natural light, try a single fresh stem in a bud vase or a low-light plant such as a snake plant or ZZ plant. A small vessel on a nightstand adds a simple decorative touch.
- Shelves and consoles: Combine sculptural vases and planters with books and decorative objects, leaving space around each piece to highlight its shape. Explore our wall shelves and gifts for book lovers for more ideas.
Caring for plant gifts
Drainage and overwatering
Most houseplants die from too much water rather than too little. In a pot without a drainage hole, keep the plant in its nursery pot, water it in the sink and let it drain fully before putting it back. The Royal Horticultural Society has detailed watering guides for common houseplants.
Propagating in water
Take a cutting just below a node, the small bump where a leaf meets the stem, and stand it in room-temperature water with no leaves below the waterline. Top up or change the water once a week. Once roots reach about 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5 cm), the cutting is ready for soil.
Fresh flowers in vases
Change vase water every two days and trim stems at an angle each time, which helps them keep drinking. Additionally, remove any leaves below the waterline, since they rot quickly and cloud the water. Only use watertight vases, or a glass liner, for fresh flowers.
Cleaning pots and vases
Wipe ceramic, porcelain and terrazzo with a soft, damp cloth, and hand wash glazed vases with mild soap. Porous clay and stone can develop white mineral deposits from hard water; a soft brush and a little white vinegar remove them. Finally, keep woven fiber and textile board dry, and use a liner whenever water is involved.
Frequently asked questions
What do you get a plant lover who has everything?
A vessel rather than another plant. Most plant lovers already have more plants than pots worthy of them, so a handmade planter, a propagation vase or a sculptural vase is almost always welcome.
Do plant pots need drainage holes?
Plants need drainage, but the decorative pot does not have to provide it. A pot without a hole works well as a cachepot, holding a plastic nursery pot inside that can be lifted out for watering.
What is a propagation vase?
A small, usually clear vessel for rooting plant cuttings in water. It lets the grower see roots forming and know when a cutting is ready to be potted. Pothos, monstera, philodendron and tradescantia all root easily this way.
What size pot should I give?
If you know the plant, choose a pot 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5 cm) wider than its current one. If you don’t, a cover pot or a vase is the safer gift, since it does not depend on the plant’s size.
Which plants grow best in clay pots?
Succulents, cacti, herbs and other plants that like their soil to dry out between waterings. Clay’s breathable walls help prevent soggy roots. Moisture lovers such as ferns, by contrast, do better in glazed or plastic pots. The Missouri Botanical Garden offers plant-by-plant growing advice.
