Have you thought about giving a live plant as your Valentine’s Day gift to your loved one? Or, have you ever received a live plant from your sweet Valentine? Not many people actually gift someone with a live plant on Valentine’s Day. We know much about gifting and receiving a box of chocolates a bouquet of roses or a bouquet of some other flowers. Some even go overboard and gift their beloved with a twinkly diamond ring or that same twinkly rock hanging down a pendant. You might know of someone who gifts their loved one with some lacy underwear. Treating a beloved to a fine dinner is also common. But a live plant?
To someone who loves plants, gifting that person with a live plant this February 14th might prove to be memorable and quite lovely.
Just be sure that that person does not HATE taking care of indoor plants. Or at least have a simple card with care instructions go with the live plant when you offer to the person who might not have a green thumb. Write on the card how much sun and how much water the plant needs. Some other special information might be appreciated too like how to encourage the plant to bloom if it’s a flowering type, or how to trim the leaves later.
Also, find out if the person has pets and if the plant might be toxic to dogs or cats. Surprisingly, many plants — especially indoor ones — can be toxic to pets.
Choose a no-fuss plant. Avoid a finicky plant to gift.
Here are some favorite and recommended plants for Valentine’s Day.
1.
ORCHIDS (Phalaenopsis species)
These tropical favorites are actually relatively easy to take care. Often they are sold with the right rooting mixture already: a good-draining medium in a pot or a little basket.
With filtered sun and protection from drafts, these beauties might only need a weekly light watering, or every other day misting of the top of the root. Orchids generally are epiphytic, meaning, they grow in very little soil and grab much of their moisture out of the air. Orchids’ natural habitat is in the forest of the tropics, clinging on to tree trunks way up above ground level, and absorbing the humidity from the tropical jungle air. So don’t overwater your orchids, and they’ll love you for it.
Buy orchids with some blooms already open for instant elegant beauty. But ensure there are a few buds yet to open in the coming weeks. This guarantees a longer bloom display months past February 14th.
2.
ANTHURIUMS (arum species)
Anthurium “flower” for months. The most common flowers are deep red, although some varieties have pink or white flowers.
Anthurium likes indirect sunlight. Direct and intense sunlight can “burn” its leaves. Again, it is naturally epiphytic, being native to the forested areas of the Americas (southern Mexico and Central America to the northern mountains of South America). It does not like too much water but can handle moist but not wet soil that is well-draining.
3.
Miniature LEMON TREE (citrus limon) or ORANGE TREE
A handful of bright yellow-orange fruits and a dash of real lemon juice (or orange juice, if you want orange) from your miniature tree should be enough to make your gift a standout. Great bonus: the citrus blossom is a heady sweet perfume for the entire house; the orange blossom is even sweeter-smelling.
Provide a sunny spot until it’s warm enough to move your little tree to the patio in the summer for that tropical paradise ambiance.
4.
GARDENIA (Gardenia jasminoides)
In the Philippines and other Pacific islands, you call this Rosal. Gardenia might need a little more care than what are on this list, but its heavenly fragrance against shiny dark green leaves is reason enough to have this tropical plant. It needs bright sun and moist but not wet soil.
5.
PAPERWHITES (Narcissus papyraceus)
You can simply place bulbs in a shallow dish of stones with some water, and you have a no-fuss living gift that you can place on top of your mantel or living room coffee table. A month or so later, your paperwhites perfume the room with such intensity as if the plant is shouting out for attention. Such an attention-seeking scent might not be all that is needed because the delicate flowers are a visual delight themselves.
Give them some sun, and please provide support to the blooms to prevent them from drooping down and bowing out prematurely.
6.
AMARYLLIS (Hippeastrum species)
Let us count the ways we love this plant. One, the blooms are substantial, as in, very big. Two, they come in a variety of colors, from white to pink to deep red, even bright orange, and in-between colors. Three, the saucer-size flowers can be a solid color or streaked or variegated, or striped. Four, it’s a low-maintenance plant that can come back year after year. Just withdraw water by summer, maybe as early as May even, to let the bulbs go to dormancy, ready for re-growing in winter. Five, if perchance you accidentally discard the bulbs after your amaryllis bloomed, waxed amaryllis bulb kits are sold in stores during the holiday season.
This South American native will not disappoint. We stopped counting at five, but it has more virtues as an indoor and outdoor plant than you really care to know. Amaryllis doesn’t need much from you yet it can give much. It can endure unrequited love. Let’s leave it at that.
7.
PURPLE SHAMROCK (OXALIS regnellii var. triangularis)
You and your beloved Valentine will love the purplish leaves. The plant features a triangular threesome of leaves of a unique purplish-burgundy shade with a deep purple heart surrounded by black-night outlines. (Sorry, I’m trying to inject some Valentiney descriptions here, perhaps too much).
Pale lilac flowers show well against the dark leaves. The plant prefers bright light, like by your windowsill, but it can stand some dappled shade, like on your bedside table.
8.
CYCLAMEN (Cyclamen persicum)
This plant seems to have become too common because it is that popular as an indoor plant. Yet it is still a great plant to gift. Its leaves are attractive, with a pattern that looks like alligator skin, just nicer looking. The flowers that come in a variety of colors look pretty atop a mound of dark green leaves.
The plant, however, seems to have a love-hate relationship with water. It hates being overwatered; it looks like a trampled heap when its roots are sitting in water. But when you forget to give it water for days, the leaves looked like collapsed bunny ears. To avoid these problems, plant in clay pots or water-absorbent containers. Maybe placing styrofoam bits inside the bottom of your decorative but not water-absorbing containers might just do the trick. Others suggest planting it in a hurricane lantern for consistent leaf humidity and root moisture.
9.
BEGONIA (Begonia species)
Here’s another old-time favorite that delights with its many-colored blooms and lovely leaves. It likes consistent humidity, but not wet feet so set its pot over a pebbled-filled saucer of water.
The many varieties of begonia available nowadays give anyone something they want. Begonias can be petite to giants, with leaves merely a few inches big to whopping ones over a foot. The foliage can come as furry as you want. Others are smooth and iridescent in their streaks. Others are matted, spotted, brightly colored or muted, eyelashed or glossy but solid. The variety of begonias might be its main draw.
10.
SUCCULENTS (especially 'Hens and Chicks,' Sempervivum)
You will love the bright aqua green, pink, red, or burgundy fat leaves of succulents. There are a few succulents small enough for gifting this Valentine's, and beautiful enough to include in this shortlist. Pick your favorite color and leaf pattern.
Regardless of your color choice, the plant's thick shiny leaves are something you'll love, even without the blooms. Hens and chicks, like other succulents, do bloom, usually with bright pink or golden yellow flowers at the end of a tall stalk. However, when a certain plant has bloomed, that plant will die but will have many plantlets to continue giving you more succulent plants. Just like one hen can give you more chicks for posterity. It's named for that reason.
Like most succulents, hens and chicks love low humidity, so you don't have to worry much about watering them.
So, yes, consider a live plant as your Valentine’s Day gift. With some loving care, the plant can grow and blossom well, just like your romance.
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This article is also posted on my other website. Here's the link: Live plants for Valentine’s Gift – Miscellaneous Blog (wordpress.com)
Another take on Valentine's Day is posted on my other website. Here's the link: It’s not only roses and chocolates for Valentine’s – Miscellaneous Blog (wordpress.com)
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