Frame your plants in pots

This week Succulentophile gives way to an article with text by John G. Besa and photos by Joey de Castro.

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Very few people think about how to enhance the beauty of their succulents through a pot. Most opt for a uniform look to keep their collection looking just that – uniform. So there are a lot of growers/collectors out there with lots of beautiful plants in pots that are, well, ordinary. Pots should be more than just containment systems for roots; they should be part of the overall picture. Imagine beautiful paintings hung on the wall, all framed with the same materials and style. Not bad, maybe, but then again, it could be better.

I consider myself lucky in that I make my own pottery, so matching up plant, medium and pot is less of a chore. Imagine the time and money I could spend trying to come up with what I believe to be a properly matching set! I do not actually make a pot with a plant in mind; no, I actually make my pottery so that they can stand on their own as ornamental or functional artworks. Matching them to a plant comes later. It’s like putting together a mosaic: putting stuff together from completely unrelated elements. And when it all comes together, the result is one of extreme satisfaction.

There are no real set rules involved, though you may take cues from the principles of ikebana and bonsai. The overall image will let you know if the result is good or not. Either you’ll like it or you won’t. Also, you can involve other elements such as pebbles, colored stones, shells, and even moss to create a kind of flow between pot and plant that can be used to enhance the relationship between them.

So why hasn’t anyone done it before? Isn’t it logical for a collector to take up pottery to complete the look of his collection? Chances are, there are other people out there who do the same thing, and if you know of anyone, perhaps you could have them share their know-how with other succulentophiles. I have made it my calling to inform other collectors to get their hands dirty and try pottery. You will be amazed by the results.

If you’re interested in taking up pottery, you may contact the following places:

• Pettyjohn-Mendoza School of Pottery, Glorietta 4 in Makati, tel. no. 812-0766

• Art Informal, 277 Connecticut St., Greenhills East, tel. 725-8518 (Pablo Capati)

• Ugu Bigyan, Tiaong, Quezon, tel. 042-545-9144

• Aleister Cruz, (0917) 832-0392 or e-mail aleister@pldtdsl.net

You can also see some of the pieces featured in this article at the opening of Sining Luad Pottery Store on Oct. 15 at 6 p.m., LRI Business Plaza, N. Garcia St. (formerly Reposo), Makati.

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Contact photographer Joey de Castro by e-mailing joeyldc@yahoo.com or at Photo Exchange, G/F Shellhouse, Valero St., Salcedo Village, Makati, tel. 816-6288 or 887-1720.