Skull Succulent Planter, Gothic Desktop Flower Pot

Sculpted detail that looks antique up close

Sculpted teeth and sutures

Teeth, sutures and eye sockets are sculpted into the resin, so the piece has real depth. Flat novelty planters look fine from across the room, but this one holds up when you pick it up and turn it over.

A drainage hole in the base

Excess water leaves through the base instead of pooling around the roots. Check the hole now and then so soil does not clog it. A succulent hates wet feet, and this gives it a way out.

Open crown for a living succulent

The crown holds soil and a succulent, so this works as a real plant container and not a figurine with a plant on top. Add soil, set the plant and move it to the windowsill. Browse more flower pots plant options if you want a second one for the shelf.

Plant it in five simple steps

1. 1
   Add soil to the crown

   Fill the open crown with fresh succulent soil, leaving room around the roots.

2. 2
   Set the succulent in

   Shake loose soil off the plant, then press it gently into the crown so the base sits level.

3. 3
   Firm the soil

   Press the soil around the roots with your fingers so the plant stands upright without wobbling.

4. 4
   Water lightly

   Give a small splash of water and let it drain. Do not let water collect in the crown.

5. 5
   Find a bright spot

   Place it near a strong window or under a grow light, and turn it now and then so the plant grows evenly.

The desk that finally looks like you

The desk that looks like everyone else's

Most desks end up with the same mug, the same cable tangle and a plant someone bought on impulse. The shelf above looks just as forgettable. You want something with a point of view, but plain ceramic pots are safe and seasonal decor gets packed away in November.

A skull that grows something

Set a succulent in the open crown with some soil and the skull stops being a figurine. It becomes a working planter with a living plant at its centre, sitting among your gothic skeleton decor and doing a real job.

Dark decor that stays all year

Halloween ends, but the skull does not have to go in a box. The succulent keeps it alive on the desk through the winter, and the matte bone-white resin with brown staining looks antique in any season. You keep the look, and the plant gives it a reason to stay out.

Keep the roots dry and the skull clean

• Water sparingly

  Let the soil dry fully between waterings and do not let water sit in the crown.

• Empty the base

  Tip out any runoff from the drainage hole so the roots never sit in it.

• Dust the resin

  A soft dry brush keeps the sutures and teeth clean. Skip harsh cleaners on the aged staining.

Why this, not another desk planter