Indoor Plants as Gifts - Orchids, Bromeliads, palms

Quite a few request have been coming in for plants, asking which ones would be good to give as a present or “party gift” during the holidays.

A few things to keep in mind when giving plants as gifts.

Know the person!

• Do they use flowers in their interior settings?
• Does this person currently have plants indoors?
• If they do, are they successful with them?
• What kind of space do they have? Very open or Tight upright space.
• What kind of interior lighting to they have?  Bright or dark.
•  Will they need anything extra to add to the plant? A basket or a decorative container.

Let’s try to give some answers to the above questions.

Do they use flowers in their interior settings?

• Bromeliads and Orchids look great at this time of year.
• Aechmea Fasciata - commonly called the "Silver Vase", and assorted Guzmanias.
• Phalaenopsis orchids are beginning to spike up and will be starting to open around Christmas time.
• Don’t forget the holiday gardens that are out there, most come with very nice looking pottery.

Does this person currently have plants indoors?

If they don’t start with a Bromeliad (air plant), an Aglaonema, or Spathiphyllum. Don’t rule out the tough but harder to find Aspidistra (Cast Iron Plant) and indestructible Sanseviera.

If they do have plants, are they successful with them?

Something real tropical like the White Bird of Paradise or an Aralia watch out for the cold).

What kind of space do they have?

• Very open or Tight upright space.
• Very open areas
• The White Bird of Paradise or Kentia Palm
• Tight Upright Space
• Chamaedorea (Bamboo Palm), Dracaena Marginata, Massengaena (Corn Plant), or Aralia. 

What kind of interior lighting do they have?

Bright or dark.

The real rule is that if it is dark, stay with aglaonemas, aspidistra, sanseviera, or spathiphyllum. Otherwise depending on the space you can use any of the above mentioned plants.

Will they need anything extra to add to the plant?

• A basket or a decorative container.
• Make sure that you provide a saucer for the basket or check out some of the sub-irrigation pots/planters in your garden centers. 
• When all else fails check out getting a gift certificate at your local garden center. Giving plants at the holidays can be just the ticket someone needs for a pick me up.

For some additional reading check out the article on Tough Plants

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