I can't remember precisely when we decided that we needed to start making feet for our pots, but as a team chock-full-of-gardeners, no one was averse to the idea when it came up.
Planter feet have real benefits. Some plants are very happy to be stuck in a pot, but many really aren't all that pleased with the idea of being cramped into a space that is much smaller than their normal underground habitat. If you were to be able to see the journey roots take underground in your garden, you may be shocked to see that an herb on one side of a garden bed is flirting with a perennial flower on the other. To keep plants happy in pots, we tend to use potting soil full of supplemental nutrients and pots that are breathable (ex. terra cotta) with drainage. The breathable part poses a problem, though, when plants come inside, and the drainage requirement isn't met if the water can't, well, drain.
Planter feet can address these issues indoors by creating a waterproof barrier between your pots and your surfaces, and increasing airflow under the pot. Outside, planter feet let a pot drain after a heavy storm, avoiding the dreaded "soggy bottom" and subsequent root rot.
So, planter feet have a function that is good and, we feel, necessary if you want plants to be happy in pots. But they should also look good and, ideally, introduce some playfulness into your home. One of the overlooked aspects of historic design is the levity that the designers and craftspeople often injected into their work. Everything doesn't have to be so serious!
Taking inspiration from antique gilt bronze mounts, we designed clay feet that mimic claw-style paws you may see on an antique piece of furniture...but now they are on your begonia.
From the original sculpted forms, we created a plaster press-in mold that we can use with different clays to create different finishes and vibes, from raw terra cotta (best for outdoors) to marbled glazed versions ideal for protecting counters and floors.
We hope you can find feet that fit your (or your plants) personality!
