18 Indoor Plant Gifts to Brighten Your Day
Updated: Feb. 24, 2023
If you're looking for a unique gift idea that keeps on growing, consider indoor plant gifts. Many require nothing more than a little sun, water, and love.
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Clean Air 3-Pack
If you’re shopping for someone who loves indoor plant gifts, add a little mystery by selecting this three-in-one deal. You won’t know which plants you’re getting until they arrive, but all of them will be good at purifying the air inside your home or office.
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Snake Plant
You’ve probably seen the snake plant on many lists for the best indoor plant gifts and for good reason. A snake plant doesn’t need much attention and will survive if you forget to water it occasionally.
Bamboo Palm
If a room with a low-light corner could use some love, a bamboo palm is the perfect indoor plant gift. Better yet, it’s non-toxic and a safe choice for homes with pets.
Psst—don’t miss the best gifts for plant lovers to give and receive.
Preserved Fern Kokedama
Want a beautiful hanging plant but none of the commitment? This preserved fern is for the perfect indoor plant gift! It will never require any watering.
Check out the easy-to-grow houseplants all plant parents need.
The Cathy
Try giving these indoor plant gifts that have a bit of sass! Choose your preferred ceramic pot color and only water it once it’s completely dry.
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Peperomia Ginny
These fuss-free indoor plants are ready to perk up your living room or any location that has low light. As a bonus, these plants are safe for pets to be around.
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Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is truly an indoor plant gift that keeps on giving—it’s been used by many as a relief for burns. Find a sunny windowsill to set it on, because aloe vera prefers lots of sunlight.
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Hoya Heart
Let someone special know that you love them with indoor plant gifts that have heart-shaped leaves. This single cutting prefers bright direct light. Learn more about growing hoya plants.
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Indoor Plant Gift Subscription Box
If you have a budding plant parent in your life, gift them a monthly subscription box that includes an easy care indoor plant gift delivered to their home each month.
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Paperwhite Bulbs
Narcissus papyraceus, Zones 8 to 10
The pale, delicate blooms are lovely, but it’s the fragrance that makes paperwhites such a winner among indoor plant gifts. In the darkest days of winter, these couldn’t-be-easier bulbs evoke the scent of spring. After forcing, you have to wait only four to six weeks before you start to see the blooms.
Why we love paperwhites: It doesn’t even need soil to grow. Place bulbs in a shallow dish of stones, with the tops exposed and water just reaching the bottom of the bulb.
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Meyer Lemon Tree
Citrus limon, Zones 9 to 11
Tuck a lemon tree into a sunny corner during the cold months, then move the pot to the patio for summer. Dwarf varieties grow only 4 to 6 feet tall and behave more like a bush than a tree.
Why we love lemon trees: The sweet scent of citrus blossoms can turn a home into a Southern paradise. A dwarf Meyer lemon makes the perfect glass of lemonade, and the plant is suited for pots.
Get expert tips on how to grow an indoor avocado tree.
Orchid
Phalaenopsis spp., Zones 10 to 12
Don’t be intimidated by giving these tropical treasures as indoor plant gifts. Phalaenopsis, also called moth orchid, is both easy to care for and requires little more than a weekly watering, filtered light and protection from drafts.
Why we love orchids: Nothing adds a note of elegant beauty to a home quite like an orchid. The blooms last for weeks and some orchids boast a lovely scent.
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Amaryllis Bulbs
Hippeastrum spp., Zones 8 to 10
Big, brilliant amaryllis blooms stand tall on strong stems in a variety of hues, such as white, red, pink and orange. With proper care, the bulbs will flower year after year. For extra flair, seek out types like butterfly amaryllis (H. papilio), which has maroon and white stripes.
Why we love amaryllis: Waxed amaryllis bulb kits are readily available to give as indoor plant gifts during the holiday season and require little effort to produce a striking display in your home.
Psst—here’s what you need to know before you buy indoor plants online.
African Violet
Streptocarpus ionanthus, Zones 11 to 12
Although a common indoor plant gift, African violets can be a little fussy. They’re finicky about water, preferring to be consistently moist. Be careful when watering. If you splash cold water on a leaf, it may develop a spot. Once you find the right windowsill and watering schedule (here’s the best time to water plants), this gem rewards you with a burst of color.
Why we love African violets: The flowers come in many shades, including white, pink, maroon and just about every hue of purple.
Peace Lily
Spathiphyllum spp., Zones 11 to 12
The broad shining leaves of the peace lily are set off by white bracts that form a hood over tiny off-white flowers. Give this indoor plant bright indirect light for a few hours a day to encourage flowering.
Why we love peace lilies: A peace lily is as low maintenance as it gets for indoor plant gifts. The only thing to be careful of is watering. Keep the soil moist and always pour off excess saucer water.
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Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, Zones 10 to 12
This succulent with thick leaves thrives in winter in an indoor, low-humidity environment. During this usually dull time, the kalanchoe plant produces masses of tiny florets.
Why we love kalanchoe: The brilliant red, pink, orange or white blooms show up when they’re needed the most and last for months on end. When they are gone, the attractive, shiny foliage makes a nice display on its own.
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Begonia
Begonia spp., Zones 8 to 11
These old-fashioned favorites welcome indirect bright light and infrequent watering. They also appreciate some humidity, so set the pot over a pebble-filled saucer of water.
Why we love begonias: With hundreds of species and cultivars, there truly is a begonia for everyone. For interesting foliage, try Angel Wing begonias. If you prefer blossoms, tuberous begonias are the way to go. Any type can be transplanted outside. Here’s how to overwinter begonias as houseplants.
Check out the top 10 blooming houseplants to grow indoors.
Poinsettia
Euphorbia pulcherrima, Zones 9 to 11
Beloved Christmas indoor plant gifts, poinsettias show off their holiday colors when nights are long and days are short. Keep the soil moist but not wet, and protect plants from chilly drafts.
Why we love poinsettias: Look for new, delicate white and pink varieties of this familiar holiday gift plant. Jingle Bell Rock has brilliant red leaves with white spots. Psst—here’s how to care for poinsettias after the holidays.
Originally Published: July 14, 2021
