Gorgeous Garden Planter by Lechuza

Lechuza garden planters are the Ferraris of the container gardening world.

If you love sleek and modern garden planters, check out the garden planters from Lechuza.

When I opened the box and saw the luscious red color of my Lechuza garden planter, I ooohhed and ahhhhed. When I pulled it out of the box, I was knocked out by its gorgeous sleek shape and lovely finish. When I put the thing together, I realized that I was about to pot up the Ferrari of the container gardening world.

I have to admit to being a little intimidated by the beauty of this container - I felt like my plant choice would have to be stunning to live up to the aristocratic and Italian modern design sensibility of this garden planter. What I found out is that like any beautiful pot, these containers act like a frame for your plants and are actually more forgiving than a garden planter that isn't as beautiful.

I have tried several models of the Lechuza garden planters, and have used them both indoors and out and I'm happy to report that Lechuza's claim that you only have to water infrequently is completely accurate. The Lechuza planters have an easy to read gage that lets you know when you need to add water - the whole process couldn't be simpler, though the instructions that come with the pots could be a little easier to read. That said, you can find good instructions and answers to "frequently asked questions," on their detailed website.

It is hard to find a large, but narrow-ish pot that fits underneath the drip-line of a roof - in fact, I spent a ridiculous amount of time searching for one. Then I found the totally elegant, Lechuza CARARO, which is perfect - the dimensions are 32" wide by 12" deep by 17" high. Like most of the Lechuza pots, this one can live inside or out. To make it appropriate for use outside, you remove a simple plug in the bottom, so excess water can drain out. This large pot also sits on hidden rollers, which are very cool, elegant and come in handy, if you need to move the pot.

The Lechuza potting system uses a drainage/fertilizer layer called "LECHUZA-PON plant substrate," which is made up of pumice, zeolites, lava and fertilizer. The fertilizer will last for 6-12 months and then the plants will need additional feeding.

I would say that the only downside to the Lechuza pots is their hefty price tag. However, they are so well made and designed, that the price is justified, and hey, it's cheaper than buying a Ferrari.