A potpourri of planters

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This article was published 22/02/2025 (599 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Shopping for new planters this year?

With the right planter, you can create a focal point that is both attractive and functional. There are styles, colours and shapes of pots out there for every taste. There are also sustainable options for environmentally conscious homeowners.

Looking for something made in Canada? There are more choices than ever. Let’s start by looking at what’s available right here in our own backyard.

Equinox Industries, founded in 1972, is a manufacturing company based in Winnipeg. Located at 401 Chrislind St. in Transcona, Equinox first started manufacturing planters around 2003. A homegrown success story, Equinox now has dealers throughout North America.

“The wonderful thing about our planters is that they are self-watering,” says Mari-Lynn Rougeau, business manager for Equinox Industries. “They come in a wide variety of colours and sizes and each unit has a patented filter system. The biggest thing for us is that Equinox Industries is an environmentally friendly company. We recycle our own plastic.”

Equinox planters are made from UV-resistant polyethylene and up to 60 per cent recycled material. Compared to traditional wire baskets or non-self-watering containers, Desert Planters reduce watering frequency significantly — up to an 80 per cent reduction in water consumption. A reservoir at the bottom of each container allows roots to absorb just the right amount of water and a drainage hole lets excess water exit the reservoir.

“A lot of our residential customers purchase our round Courtyard planter because it’s just the perfect size,” says Rougeau. Available in five different sizes from 45.7-61 centimetres in diameter and 22.9-30.5 cm in height, customers can also choose from 17 different colours. If you would like to match your container to your home’s exterior, Rougeau says Equinox also offers custom colours.

The Courtyard planter is basically a ground planter, however, if you prefer a hanging basket, Equinox also supplies chains. Another popular option is the Skyline self-watering planter in an elegant rectangular shape and with a sizable water reservoir suitable for large plant displays.

Equinox has dealers throughout Manitoba including seven garden centres that supply its products. Visit desertplanters.com for more information.

Veradek is a Canadian company that designs and manufactures outdoor items including planters, side tables, privacy screens and other products for outdoor living. The company’s headquarters is in Richmond Hill, Ont.

“We’re proud to say Veradek Outdoor products are designed and made in Canada using recycled materials,” says Greg Boyer, head of marketing. “We source our recycled materials from many places around the world and have very high specifications to ensure the strength and resilience required to stand up to the Canadian elements while meeting our eco-friendly requirements. Additionally, we add local ingredients to the recycled materials to amplify the design esthetic and durability. For example, crushed Canadian marble is used in our Mason and Demi series which reduces the amount of plastic required while giving the products a unique texture and visual impact.”

Boyer says Veradek’s customers are those seeking products made in Canada and which are suitable for all four seasons. “We find our customers are looking for additional design touches to amp up the design esthetic of their outdoor spaces, starting each spring with their front door, entryway or porch area.”

Veradek’s planters are tested for extreme weather conditions. I can attest to the durability of Veradek’s Corten steel planters which I leave outdoors year-round. The products are made from thick-gauge, fully seam-welded Corten steel and range from round bowl planters to pedestal planters, garden bed or raised bed planters to window box planters and pedestal planters. All of Veradek’s Corten products are insulated to protect from extreme weather.

The Corten planters arrive in a raw steel state but are easily rusted by exposure to the outdoor elements. The rusting process can be hastened by applying a mixture of white vinegar, table salt, hydrogen peroxide (three per cent solution) and degreaser.

Veradek’s series such as Pure, Block and Mason have a contemporary design esthetic and are available in black or white, two tones which are especially popular right now. Last summer I admired a black Mason Lane bowl in a homeowner’s garden in St. Vital. Made from patented stone-plastic composite, the Mason series is impact- and crack-resistant with a fade- and scratch-resistant texture. Susan Southern filled her Mason bowl with geraniums, Diamond euphorbia and verbena. She elevated her design by setting her planter into a steel plant support. The Mason bowl would look equally stunning on a pedestal or placed on a front step or deck.

The Mason bowl is available in four colours — black, grey, sandstone and white. The series has been extreme-temperature tested, however, Southern chose to store her Mason bowl indoors for the winter.

Some of Veradek’s planters, such as the Pure Midland planter, are equipped with a removable insert shelf for easy planting. This is a very convenient feature in taller planters because it reduces the amount of potting mix required to fill the container.

The Geo trough planter, available in black, grey or white, is a linear planter with an extended length (81.28 cm) and narrow width (just 8.89 cm). This unique planter’s contemporary styling makes it perfect for patio tables or ledges. The Geo trough planter is crafted from the same material as the Mason series. There are also cube-shaped wall-mounted planters to choose from.

All Veradek’s planters include drainage holes. Veradek offers free shipping across Canada for purchases over $49. View all the collections at veradek.ca.

Todd Holloway is the founder of Pot Incorporated which is based in British Columbia. A landscape designer and plant lover, he began designing custom metal planters for his landscape clients. Today, Holloway’s stunning contemporary designs have been featured in many magazines. Pot Incorporated offers a wide range of distinctive planters which are all made in B.C.

Two of Pot Inc’s beautiful designs really caught my eye.

The Leo Wall Planter is handmade with 12-gauge marine-grade aluminum. A vertical, green living-wall system that is easy to install, the Leo Wall Planter is capable of withstanding extreme weather conditions. It comes in three versatile lengths and five colours. Perfect for a wall or fence, the Leo Wall Planter lets you create your own hummingbird sanctuary. The planter is designed to direct water away from the vertical surface it is mounted on. To see how this unique living-wall system works, check out Pot Incorporated at instagram.com/pot_inc.

Pot Incorporated’s Pendero planters are constructed out of one-eighth-inch-thick (0.3175 cm), heavy-gauge aluminum. This handsome, upscale design is hand-formed over wooden moulds using a specialized spinning process to produce the rounded, cylindrical shapes. Sturdy and lightweight with a modern, tapered profile, Pendero planters feature a durable exterior powder coating. Pendero planters are available in three different sizes and are suitable for all climates.

Visit potinc.ca for the complete line of Pot Incorporated’s exclusive designs. Orders ship within a week but if items are not in stock, expect to allow for a two- to three-week fabrication process.

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