Gifting plants is a way to envelop a gift that will last a long time. The most important part of choosing a houseplant as a gift is knowing your recipient. A tall, slender succulent might be best for a busy friend on the go, while a fern grown in shade could be ideal for an attentive apartment holder. Choose an unusual choice that will test their plant-loving skills if they are already a fan of plants. It is always helpful to include a ceramic pot and a bag of soil with your plant you choose.
A thoughtful gift from you to a loved one could be a houseplant from this list.
Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii)
An attractive succulent plant, Christmas cactus has showy flowers that appear in winter, and makes a good gift plant. While its impressive flowering display might make you think this is a fussy plant, nothing could be further from the truth. A cactus thrives in average potting soil or a cactus mix, and prefers bright, indirect light. However, this tropical native prefers a steady watering schedule at all times, especially in the later months of the year when it blooms. Hanging containers will help the plant grow faster as the limbs can hang downward while blooming.
Jade Plant (Crassula argentea)
The jade plant is a large succulent that is a perfect gift for someone who has mastered the art of taking care of smaller succulents and cacti. Jade plants are known to grow tall, and once they do, they resemble trees. Besides occasional watering and a bright window, they require little else. It is a good challenge for ambitious owners to try to promote vertical growth, which can be achieved by cutting back the heavy foliage on regular basis to minimize its weight. A bonus of trimming is that revealing its trunk is also noticeable. Otherwise, its fleshy leaves would cover its distinctive trunk.
Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis spp.)
This stunning flowering plant has somehow become associated with fussy houseplants, which might be enough to scare you away from considering it as a gift. It is most important to get the climate right — orchids prefer moist, temperate weather and partial, indirect light. Commercial varieties of orchids are hardy and easy to grow with moderate attention. It can be challenging to rebloom orchids, but if light and temperature decrease, they will begin the process. Placing them outside overnight in autumn can be a good idea if temperatures don’t fall below 55 degrees.
Paperwhite (Narcissus papyraceus)
Some people just don’t like to keep houseplants around for a long time, and paperwhite flowers are a great gift for people who fall into this category. Cut flowers will not last forever, but they will last longer than cut flowers and still provide your recipient with the benefits of plant ownership. It is a daffodil that grows from bulbs and blooms out of season. The roots need to be kept damp, but once they are blooming, there’s not much that can go wrong. Plants can be replanted outdoors once they have completed their life cycle.
Bird’s Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus)
If you live in a shady home or apartment, which wouldn’t support other, sun-loving species, the bird’s nest fern is a great plant to give as a gift. Hardy fern varieties like this one thrive in cool, damp air, where ferns tend to prefer. You can also spray the plant in the sink or hang it near a shower that is often used as a mister, if you would like. It prefers moist, well-draining soil and enjoys being misted as well.
Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla)
Perhaps the most familiar use of the Norfolk Island pine, sometimes called just the Norfolk pine, is as a Christmas tree. But unlike most cut Christmas trees, they can be grown as houseplants and continue to thrive for many years. Although they look like pine trees, they are not. This tropical native will not survive outdoors in cold climates like a pine or fir tree will. Indoors, they prefer regular watering and lots of light.
Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans)
Plants like corn are tolerant of shadier conditions and variable light conditions. It can withstand irregular watering routines as well. A large potted plant will make an impressive floor plant when it is mature. It grows slowly, but can reach four to six feet in height. Their leaves change color depending on how much sunlight they receive, turning paler in direct sunlight to reflect the extra light, and darker green in shady conditions to maximize sunlight absorption.
Snake Plant
The snake plant is a striking houseplant ideal for gifts for new plant owners who may not know how to care for a plant. A hardy species, it does well in just about any situation. It prefers bright light, but can grow in shade or with artificial light as well. It also stores water with remarkable efficiency, thanks to its thick, fleshy leaves, making it very drought tolerant. Snake plants prefer being neglected than overwhelmed with water, which is why they make great gifts for people who may forget about them regularly.
Resurrection Plant (Selaginella lepidophylla)
A resurrection plant is a unique gift thanks to its incredible ability to return to life before your very eyes. Often adapted for survival in extreme conditions of drought this species from the Mexican deserts curls into a lonely ball to remain lifeless for years at a time, if necessary. Wind can carry sand across an arid landscape by its spherical form to wetter areas. Upon rehydrating in a shallow bowl, it will unfurl and transform into a verdant, green moss within hours.
Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides)
For experienced plant parents seeking a new challenge in their care, the Chinese money plant could be the perfect gift. It has a large, round leaf that can grow to four inches across and often lies horizontally to the ground. It prefers a moderate amount of indirect light and to dry out between waterings. Growing sprouts directly from its root system and coexisting in the same pot until they grow large enough to transplant, it propagates easily without input.
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