How to choose the right plant present

It may be the season of poinsettias, paperwhites, amaryllis and other festive favourites, but there's a whole other realm of houseplants — and plant-adjacent accessories — to consider right now. They may be just the thing to help whittle down your gift list if you have green thumbs or promising plant parents in your life. 

So we reached out to some houseplant experts that fill our Instagram feeds with dreamy, foliage-filled rooms to ask for their top picks and suggestions when it comes to shopping for plant lovers.

Practical plant considerations come first

One of the most important things to consider when picking a plant for gifting is how much light the recipient's space receives throughout the day and which direction that light is coming from. "If you're not sure what kind of lighting [the space] gets, then you'd want to get a plant that is versatile," suggested Christian Esguerra of Christian's Crazy Plant Shop. 

Snake plants and ZZ plants can tolerate most lighting conditions, he said. "A pothos, aglaonema or monstera deliciosa is also a versatile plant. Although they prefer a bright indirect light, they can tolerate a low to medium light."

You'll also want to think about the amount of care a plant requires. If you're looking to purchase something for a plant newbie, avoid anything that's high-maintenance. Kim Nguyen of The Botanical Collection brought up calatheas as an example of what not to gift right now since they "may be difficult, as they require a lot of humidity."

Picking a cool plant present

Tracking down popular or unique finds could easily put you on the "nice" list of a friend or family member.

There are a few Instagram-famous plants that are likely to be on a seasoned or newbie collector's wish list. "Plant people in the know love their variegated houseplants," said Esguerra. "A unique one that they get very excited about and want to get their hands on are the variegated monsteras, like the albo or Thai constellation." 

Nguyen singled out those same plants for their long-standing popularity, and Shani Newman of Asha's Ivy cited the Thai constellation monstera in particular as the most popular plant in her own collection. "I always get comments and questions about it, [about] how I got it to grow so large," said Newman. "I'm always sharing care tips!"

But you can think small and still please a plant-lover too. "I do like to propagate [and] watch plants grow, so receiving small plants or even cuttings would be super fun," said Newman.

Plant-adjacent gifts

If you're going to purchase a gorgeous pot that has a drainage hole, try to pair it with a matching saucer. A cachepot that fits nicely over your plant's nursery pot also makes a great gift. "Most plant parents are always trying to match these up randomly from whatever they have lying around," said Darryl Cheng of House Plant Journal.

Nguyen is a firm believer in self-watering pots, particularly for new or busy plant parents. "With self-watering pots, you only have to water your plants every three to four weeks, sometimes longer, depending on the plant," she said, adding that these clever vessels also prevent the main cause of houseplant death: overwatering.

A bit of tech could also be a great option for the green thumb on your list. Cheng has recently invented a meter that also measures temperature and humidity. "It's probably most suited to people who like gadgets or to plant collectors — the ones who spend a significant amount of money on their plants," he said. "Measuring light takes the guesswork out of using grow lights."

And according to Esguerra, a propagation station is a must-have, since they encourage plant owners to make cuttings and learn how plants develop roots and grow. They can also make cool accent pieces in your home. "They come in many different styles and designs," he noted.