Do you put much thought into your plant pots?
Of course, some true succulent lovers will say, "Black plastic pots are the only way—best heat-absorbing, best moisture-retaining!" And honestly, that’s a totally valid philosophy. But today, I want to take a different route and explore pots that are full of individual flair—containers that really help your plants show off their unique personalities.
Lately, creative plant pots are everywhere—from BRUTUS and other plant & fashion magazines to the ever-expanding circle of pot artists, this world is growing more vibrant and playful each year.
I’d love to do a grand showcase of all the amazing pots out there! …but PUKUBOOK is just my little personal project. As much as I'd like to cover the wide (and wonderfully deep!) world of pots, honestly, I can only mention those I’ve personally come across and fallen for. So, please enjoy this peek into my own handpicked collection of favorites.
A quick but important note: I’m not exactly rolling in cash, so I’ll only introduce pots that feel like you could buy them if you tried a bit—no ultra-rare, mind-blowingly expensive stuff! You can relax and read on without worry!
This pot, which I used as my thumbnail photo, might look like it’s made with cutting-edge 3D printing tech… but it’s actually a totally handmade ceramic piece.
The creator, [Makoto Oki (Oki Makoto)](https://www.makotooki.com/), originally worked as a jewelry designer and now creates refined, yet simple tableware, shown in top galleries from Aoyama, Omotesando, and Akasaka in Tokyo to New York, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. These sophisticated works would fit right in at a high-end Akasaka restaurant. They’re just lovely.
This "Bark series" (bark = tree skin), the first plant pot he launched, gives off a 3D print vibe with its very fine horizontal stripes, delicate net-like carving, and, most strikingly, slits sculpted into the lower sides of the pot. There’s no mistaking the 3D printer inspiration here! It’s so clever—he’s taken the feel of cutting-edge tech and re-imagined it in a handmade, analog piece. That's a big part of what drew me in!
I discovered this pot at the "BOTANICAL BOTANICAL" event, but you can also find Oki-san’s work at Tokyo and Osaka galleries, and online at TOU-ZOKU Pottery ). Many pieces sell out fast—no surprise, considering their popularity!
# Okay, confession: after promising "affordable enough if you really try," I’m starting off with one that’s a bit of a splurge. Please forgive me—I had to put in serious effort to purchase this, and I hope you'll understand…
Ask any succulent collector in Japan, and they’ll probably mention TOKY in Nihonbashi as the go-to place for stylish designer pots. I couldn’t stop by on my spring Tokyo trip (work calls!), but when I got up there again at summer’s end (technically Chiba, but close enough!), I made sure to go, and picked up this special pot as a keepsake. I agonized over my choices—so many great candidates—but forced myself to pick just one.
I love how the geometric, sharp-edged shape and hand-carved herringbone pattern combine digital and analog vibes, blending coolness with warmth. My budget only stretched to the smallest size, but that worked out perfectly for a petite agave (and I plan to blast it with sunlight to keep it compact!).
Fun fact: after buying it, I learned that these pots are crafted by STUDIO.ZOK, famous for lifelike ceramic "ceramic cactus" creations! You can only buy this original TOKY-ordered design at TOKY, but their online store has them as well—definitely worth checking out.
Recently, pots made from metal have become a rarer, trendier find—but a pot made of actual "bronze"? That’s super rare! Every one is handmade, with unique sizes and designs. The aged finish, along with dragons and lions engraved on the surface, gives the pot both eye-catching presence and a chic subdued vibe that lets your plant totally stand out. No wonder these sell out instantly whenever new pieces are listed!
I got mine from the Bronze.Bowl official online shop. I often see these in posts by the popular agave Instagrammer wild_oyaji_agave, and that’s actually where I first heard about new stock and bought mine. They pair great with agaves, but I purposely planted a round-leaf type Echeveria laui for a change. Don’t you think the lush round leaves echo the pot’s shape perfectly? Once it grows a little larger, it’ll be an ideal fit. Go, little plant, go!
Pairing a handmade, refined pot with a cactus—that trend really spread thanks to the huge influence of Kakusen'en, in my opinion! This collaboration features Kakusen'en, the legendary Tokyo cactus store, and amane, a producer of modern pots. Since it’s the Opus series, I assume it was made by Eiichi Shibuya—right?
I got this one at the "Plants Junkie" event. Lately, Kakusen'en has been coming to more Kansai (western Japan) events like Plants Junkie and Kyosenkai, so now you can get the newest succulent gear without trekking to Ikebukuro in Tokyo! I seriously want to keep supporting these events and encourage them to keep coming back to Kansai.
I’ve written two columns in the past about 3D-printed pots, and dedicated a whole article to the "GRID POT," which I think is truly top-tier in terms of product quality. But on a totally different note, I’m also obsessed with the wild plastic pot series made by knog.
Since my previous feature, knog’s production has ramped up, and now their BASE shop has more stock—so it’s way easier to get your hands on them. I still secretly hope to grab the ones I missed before, as soon as I spot them restocked!
Last but not least, let me mention this: the REPAIR 'N MAINTENANCE pot series, from a Kyoto-based brand producing tons of retro, primitive, grunge-inspired pieces ).
Each pot features hand-applied glaze (often a subtle black-on-black), smoking that can rub off on your fingers, and untreated aluminum that naturally oxidizes when wet. Sure, they’re sort of “mass-produced,” but those little artisan touches give them a distinctive, natural vibe. These pots blend right into the neglected corners of a rough-and-tumble garden.
Their official shop, PUKUBOOKS COLLECTION, also sells these (full disclosure: I know some will yell “This is PR! It’s paid promotion!” but honestly, we just happened to carry them, and sales volumes are small anyway). I genuinely love these products, and you’ll find them at plenty of other succulent and lifestyle stores as well. The prices are accessible and very down-to-earth, too! That’s a big motivation for me to spread the word as much as I can, hoping more people will discover and appreciate them.
So, maybe this isn’t a huge list, but hopefully the photos and tidbits made it fun to read! I poured a lot of effort into sharing what I could, and it’d make me happy if you picked up some inspiration or ideas for your collection.
Looking back, most of these pots lean towards the cool, dark, and chic side. Let’s just call that today’s theme! But someday I’d love to do a “kawaii/cute” special, too. And since most of today’s picks were on the more expensive end, I’ll also try spotlighting “affordable” options—because it's not just the pricey pots that are great!
I’ll be back with more someday. Stay tuned!
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