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plants as gifts
By Luisa Ferrari

Plants make delightful gifts and often spur people on to learn a little more about the subject, eventually leading to the development of a highly satisfying life long interest with great therapeutic value against stress. What better way to express affection and be remembered with gratitude – provided some thought goes into the selection process.

When thinking about outdoor plants or larger indoor species as possible gifts, both the possible siting and the plant’s shape in relation to the space available should be considered beforehand: don’t leave the new owner with the difficult task of finding a home for beautiful plant specimens that are just the wrong size. If in doubt (and bearing in mind that expert gardeners often prefer to choose their own plants), it is wise to stick to seasonal indoor specimens of a size that can easily be accommodated, perhaps grouping a few together if a more impressive present is required. Left in their own pots, they could also be displayed to great effect in ornamental bowls, ideally mixing species with relatively similar cultural requirements.

For example, the trendy and ubiquitous moth orchid (white or pink Phalenopsis hybrids) is a great centrepiece for three or four pots of African violets (the classic Saintpaulias) in suitable colours.
All plants need a good amount of bright light (but avoiding direct sunlight through glass) and adequate watering (do touch the compost: if dry add water and remove any left in the drainage pot the following day). Beware of window sills with radiators below and also of heavy curtains that sandwich the plants in at night, when temperatures will drop drastically.

Feeding and re-potting will later become necessary, but for those immune to the charms of a more permanent passion, there are many attractive ornamental indoor species that will provide a gorgeous display for several weeks. They are often as (or less) costly than a decent bunch of flowers and last a lot longer, provided the essential rules are observed.

Guaranteed to please anyone, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is a very festive small sized plant with succulent green leaves and a profusion of pretty red, yellow, orange or white flowers arranged in dense clusters, blooming for two or three months. The classic poinsettia, or Christmas star (Euphorbia pulcherrima) has become an essential element of this season and the most frequently given plant for Christmas. New colours are now available (although red remains the most popular) but the modern variety of sizes is especially interesting and while larger ones can transform a living room, small specimens are particularly cute as table decorations (but beware, the white sap from broken foliage is poisonous). These plants don’t have to be thrown away, but it is very rare for them to repeat flowering unless growing conditions are particularly favourable (glasshouse) or special regimes of controlled lighting are implemented.

Finally, it is generally a good policy to avoid tender (indoor) species that have been left standing outside in the cold or subjected to draughts. They will probably have suffered more than immediately meets the eye and might easily fail after acquisition.