Gift-giving, at least for me, can be more tedious than fun, more stressful than exciting. With Mother’s Day looming, you may be wondering what else to give your mom besides chocolate and a card. Or maybe you’re running out of ideas for gifts for coworkers and friends. Why not give them plants? Check out these five best plants you can give as gifts!

Cyclamen
With rich hues and a unique petal pattern, Cyclamen plants are an excellent choice for people who love a pop of color in their decor. These plants are more sensitive to water intake, light, and temperature than your average indoor plant. They also have periods of dormancy and will appear as though they are dying. (Don’t worry, it’s just sleeping.) Gift this plant to someone who like details and sticking to the rules.

Boston Fern
Know someone who’s always over watering their plants? Then a Boston Fern is perfect. Ferns love moist soil, so they do well with frequent watering. They can also tolerate low light levels, though they require higher humidity and prefer indirect sunlight. Simply placing the pot on a tray of pebbles and water is enough to keep these plants healthy.

Aloe Vera
More than an ingredient in health drinks and cosmetics, the Aloe Vera plant is also a great gift for people who don’t have a green thumb. These plants are part of the succulent family that thrive on bright light and dry soil. With infrequent watering needed, Aloe Vera plants are perfect for forgetful people or those who travel often.

Lucky Bamboo
Though not actually bamboo, the Lucky Bamboo plant has a similar look and is often sold with deliberately curled or twisted stalks. They grow well in soil, but are often displayed in glass jars filled with water and pebbles to support their unique red roots. Lucky Bamboo are both decorative and can tolerate low light conditions well. They’re ideal for professionals who need to spruce up their workspace, but don’t have time to care for a finicky plant.

Philodendron
For the person who has never had a plant before or may struggle to keep them alive, the philodendron plant is a good choice. This plant grows easily without any special care and can thrive both with little water and low levels of light. Philodendron can easily be propagated, too, providing others with a gift that keeps on giving. Gift them to people who want to try their hand at growing a plant, but aren’t sure where to start.

Have Someone in Mind?
Getting gifts for others doesn’t have to be troublesome or cause anxiety! Instead, it can be the perfect opportunity to give someone a plant that fits with their personality and lifestyle. Thinking about giving a plant as your next gift? Leave a comment!

XO,
Micah

Nothing is more exciting than bringing your first houseplant home. And nothing can be as discouraging as finding out they attract insects. Where do these houseplant pests come from?

Unfortunately, these pesky bugs can arrive in many different ways, from simply flying through an open door to being in a bag of potting mix. They can also arrive already on your plant, so always inspect your plant before purchasing. Routine inspections of leaves, stems, and soil will also help ensure these insects don’t harm your plant long-term.

If you notice any of these bugs doing damage, first isolate your plant from any other plants you may have. Then once you identify which pests are on your plant, you can safely control them – or eliminate then for good.

Aphid
A more well-known insect, aphids are generally green in color, though they can almost any color, including red, black, and white. These plump, soft-bodied pests can be easily removed by giving your plant a pressure wash in the shower. Aphids can persist, however, so it’s a good idea to keep a spray bottle of water mixed with fragrance-free soap on hand. Thoroughly soak the tops and bottoms of your plant’s leaves whenever you see aphids. A soap soak will kill them on contact. You can also spray your plant with a water and neem oil (a natural insecticide) solution, which is a great way to prevent future aphid infestations.

Fungus Gnat
If you’ve ever noticed minuscule insects flying around the soil of your plant, you were probably seeing fungus gnats. While the adult flies don’t cause much harm, their larvae that lives in the soil can damage your plant’s roots. Fungus gnats aren’t healthy for your plant, but they favor damp soil and rotting roots. Having these insects around is a sign that you might be overwatering your plant or it’s not draining properly! Fungus gnat eggs and larvae can be effectively eliminated if you let the soil dry out completely between waterings. Sticky traps can also capture the adult gnats, which will help control the population.

Spider Mite
Noticing red-orange specs on your plant? They’re most likely spider mites, insects no bigger than a pinhead that create webs on the intersection of stems. These houseplant pests drink the sap inside the plant’s stems and leaves, which causes speckling, yellowing, and eventual leaf drop. As with aphids, a high-powered shower is your first line of defense. Then, thoroughly spray your plant and the soil with a mixture of water and natural soap (or neem oil). Continue to spray your plant every 7-10 days to interrupt the growth cycle of these mites and keep them from harming your plant.

Mealybug
The white, cottony fuzz along your plant’s stems may look like fungus, but it’s actually the creation of mealybugs. These insects are miniature and white and feast on the plant’s juices. Mealybugs are resistant to most chemical pesticides, but can be effectively removed with rubbing alcohol. Simply soak a Q-tip or cotton ball, and rub the leaves and stems of your plant, including at the base of the soil and edge of the pot. Additional treatment with a water and natural soap or neem oil mixture is also highly effective. As with any pests, you may have to continue treating your plant for a few weeks to ensure it’s healthy.

Are Your Plants Pest Free?
Don’t let houseplant pests keep you from enjoying the foliage in your home! Have you gotten rid of a plant because of bugs? What pest control remedies have been effective for you? I’m curious!

XO,
Micah