The 50 Best Gifts for Plant Lovers - PlantDoc feature!

Daphne's Botanicals Color-Changing Plant Moisture Indicating Set

Between overwatering and underwatering, maintaining a houseplant can be challenging. This moisture indicator makes the process a whole lot easier by clearly displaying the soil’s moisture status, turning green when the soil is wet and white when it needs water. Since it’s biodegradable, it also attracts decomposers in the soil and can be composted after use.

Questions You Might Ask

What is a good gift for someone who is new to growing plants? 

Mitchell notes that lighting is the number one thing that people get wrong when growing plants. “If I do a thousand consults a year, 950 of them are because the plant is not in bright enough light,” Mitchell says. He recommends new plant parents start with a light meter that reads foot candles, or units of light, that a plant requires to grow. 

Many beginners also struggle to strike the right balance between overwatering and underwatering. To combat this issue, Parrish suggests moisture meters that clearly indicate the soil’s water content and sticky traps, which “help with the gnats that new plant parents tend to get from watering a little too much.” 

According to Parrish, plant books for the coffee table are also great options, as they are both decorative and provide useful information on plant care.

What gift cards are best for plant lovers?

As a small business owner, Mitchell recommends first looking at local retailers either located in the recipient’s town or with an online storefront. If there aren’t any small stores, he says Amazon is a safe choice as it has pretty much everything. 

Parrish similarly recommends Amazon, along with Target and Home Goods, which she finds have a lot of cute plant-inspired decor. She says a Visa gift card could also be a good option, as it gives plant lovers the opportunity to choose products they want from any retailer.

What should I consider when buying a houseplant for someone? 

Mitchell says there are two primary things to keep in mind when purchasing a plant for someone: their lighting and their lifestyle. 

In terms of lighting, he emphasizes the importance of considering where the person plans to keep the plant. If they intend to place it in a well-lit area beside a window, a bright light plant (a plant that requires more light to survive) would be adequate. If they are interested in putting it in a darker spot, such as on their nightstand, then a low-light plant might be a better choice. 

When it comes to lifestyle, Mitchell advises thinking about the amount of free time the person is willing to devote to the plant. If you are buying a plant for someone who is seeking a hobby, you might opt for a plant that requires more frequent care. Alternatively, if you are searching for a gift for someone with a grueling work schedule, a low-maintenance houseplant could be the way to go. 

What are good gifts for plant lovers who may not have access to outdoor space? 

While many people strive to grow a garden of their own, not all plant lovers have outdoor space to utilize. Regardless of their at-home set up, there are other ways they can satisfy their green thumb inside. Parrish says a vertical garden wall is an excellent way to add a natural accent indoors, as it takes up little horizontal space. She notes that grow lights are also helpful to ensure that indoor plants receive adequate lighting, even when not placed beside a window.

Take Our Word for It

This article was written by Jamie Fischer, a commerce writer for Real Simple. To research the best gifts for plant lovers, she tapped two plant enthusiasts: Tanner “The Planter” Mitchell and Britt Parrish. Mitchell is a plant collector and business owner who uses social media to share his knowledge with audiences around the world. He opened a storefront, Famous in Oregon, in 2020 with his wife. Parrish, a plant consultant and founder of Plant.Sip.Vibe, has similarly built an online community to share her passion and bring plant parents together.

See ALL plant gift ideas in the original article linked here.