Best Indoor Plant Gift
December 12, 2015 8:53 AM Subscribe
I have an older relative who enjoys gardening, but can no longer work in the yard. I would like to give him a small in-door plant that requires some amount of maintenance and care so that he can still enjoy his hobby. Difficulty level: the plant must be very allergy friendly. Bonus points if I can find this on Amazon.
I was thinking a bonsai tree of some kind, but I don't have much knowledge or experience with them. I really would like to find something that requires active maintenance (regular watering, maybe occasional pruning) so that he has something to do.
I was thinking a bonsai tree of some kind, but I don't have much knowledge or experience with them. I really would like to find something that requires active maintenance (regular watering, maybe occasional pruning) so that he has something to do.
Bonsai simply means "in a pot".
You want to be careful with buying bonsai as the majority of plants used for bonsai require outdoor conditions - a cool dormant winter, full sun and so on. Most store bought bonsai just die eventually when kept indoors.
The majority of houseplants have been selective for low care. The South African desert plants that I grow as a hobby require watering once every 10 days or so. Most houseplants are about the same. I make up for their low care by having hundreds of them.
One possibility is to get plants that can be grown from seed and that he can breed (depending on the gardener's time remaining). I do this with Haworthia. There are very active Facebook groups showing all the different plants, hybrids and techniques.
Indoor growing of faster plants is possible with grow lights.
Ferns may not be allergy friendly as some throw spores which can be a real mess.
Amazon is not great for plants. Ebay however has everything. Be aware heat packs may be needed for shipping given the season.
posted by srboisvert at 9:58 AM on December 12, 2015 [3 favorites]
You want to be careful with buying bonsai as the majority of plants used for bonsai require outdoor conditions - a cool dormant winter, full sun and so on. Most store bought bonsai just die eventually when kept indoors.
The majority of houseplants have been selective for low care. The South African desert plants that I grow as a hobby require watering once every 10 days or so. Most houseplants are about the same. I make up for their low care by having hundreds of them.
One possibility is to get plants that can be grown from seed and that he can breed (depending on the gardener's time remaining). I do this with Haworthia. There are very active Facebook groups showing all the different plants, hybrids and techniques.
Indoor growing of faster plants is possible with grow lights.
Ferns may not be allergy friendly as some throw spores which can be a real mess.
Amazon is not great for plants. Ebay however has everything. Be aware heat packs may be needed for shipping given the season.
posted by srboisvert at 9:58 AM on December 12, 2015 [3 favorites]
I would second orchids, they are fussy enough that they would certainly benefit from daily attention. I would not recommend buying any on Amazon, though. Logee's has unusual ones which are not yet in bloom, so your relative could certainly have something to look forward to and work towards. It becomes a bit of an obsession, ask me how I know.
For orchid supplies, I really like repotme.com which uses amazon checkout (and is therefore super convenient to use).
posted by lydhre at 10:43 AM on December 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
For orchid supplies, I really like repotme.com which uses amazon checkout (and is therefore super convenient to use).
posted by lydhre at 10:43 AM on December 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
How about a living wall type situation? I just bought this vertical planter from amazon to set up indoors. He could use it for herbs or plants. The link shows a longer version but they have smaller ones too.
posted by mokeydraws at 11:01 AM on December 12, 2015
posted by mokeydraws at 11:01 AM on December 12, 2015
What about an AeroGarden?
posted by PorcineWithMe at 12:13 PM on December 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by PorcineWithMe at 12:13 PM on December 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
nthing orchids. They are a gardener's dream when it comes to indoor plants. They need fussing and caring for in order to thrive (which is why I don't have them) and they can quickly become addictive. I have at least two friends and one relative who adore tending to their orchids and have "gardens" of orchids in their home. They all started with one or two and now they each have pots and pots of them all over the place.
posted by patheral at 12:36 PM on December 12, 2015
posted by patheral at 12:36 PM on December 12, 2015
Seconding Aerogarden, it is exactly what you're looking for. I suggest the LED version as the bulbs last much longer. You can buy them on Amazon, sorry can't link because I'm on my phone.
posted by FormerMermaid at 1:01 PM on December 12, 2015
posted by FormerMermaid at 1:01 PM on December 12, 2015
I'd say the plant I own that's the most annoying in terms of needing attention is my marimo moss ball. eBay is the best but there are some for sale on Amazon as well; I'd get the largest size your budget can handle. Marimos live in a fishbowl/vase/tank but require spring water or defluoridated water (tap water that's been left out for 24 hours) that has to be changed out frequently; the marimos need to be rolled about to get proper shaping/light both in the housing but also sometimes in the palms of your hands; and your relative can add decor like colorful gravel/small statues/etc into the tank/bowl.
If you have a splurge budget or other family could chip in to make it a group gift, I'd also consider a terrarium planted with ferns/bromeliads/orchids/mosses. Terrariums require maintenance of the plants themselves and the water/humidity levels but also have lots of options for reorganizing the arrangement of plants inside, and they're pretty good on the allergy front as they're contained.
posted by vegartanipla at 6:53 PM on December 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
If you have a splurge budget or other family could chip in to make it a group gift, I'd also consider a terrarium planted with ferns/bromeliads/orchids/mosses. Terrariums require maintenance of the plants themselves and the water/humidity levels but also have lots of options for reorganizing the arrangement of plants inside, and they're pretty good on the allergy front as they're contained.
posted by vegartanipla at 6:53 PM on December 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
Rex begonias are addictive and gorgeous and legendarily, amazingly, frighteningly hard to keep alive indoors, so even if he's a skilled and experienced indoor gardener (the skills of being an outdoor and indoor gardener can be v different), there is a fairly high fail rate. But your friend might be okay with that because they are stunning and challenging.
For something that looks sorta like a Rex but is 62824828183x easier to keep alive, try just about any other kind of rhizomatous begonia.
But those can be tricky to find depending on the time of year. If he is relatively new to indoor gardening, a beginner like a phaleonopsis or a cattleya is a great idea. Phals, in particular, are relatively easy going and can take a bit of neglect every once in a while.
(Side note: If your friend is no longer gardening for health issues, and if fine motor control/tremors are part of that, terrariums can be pretty frustrating.)
posted by joyceanmachine at 7:20 AM on December 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
For something that looks sorta like a Rex but is 62824828183x easier to keep alive, try just about any other kind of rhizomatous begonia.
But those can be tricky to find depending on the time of year. If he is relatively new to indoor gardening, a beginner like a phaleonopsis or a cattleya is a great idea. Phals, in particular, are relatively easy going and can take a bit of neglect every once in a while.
(Side note: If your friend is no longer gardening for health issues, and if fine motor control/tremors are part of that, terrariums can be pretty frustrating.)
posted by joyceanmachine at 7:20 AM on December 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
Maybe a Christmas (now called Holiday) Cactus? Anazon has them. They need attentive watering, and pruning fromt ime to time, but can reward you with delightful blooms if you do it right.
posted by bluesky78987 at 8:19 AM on December 13, 2015
posted by bluesky78987 at 8:19 AM on December 13, 2015
My wife's grandmother raised African Violets. I don't think they're terribly difficult to grow, but attention has benefits, such as more flowers.
posted by SemiSalt at 8:25 AM on December 13, 2015
posted by SemiSalt at 8:25 AM on December 13, 2015
Orchids are great, but the majority that you'll find at the store or trader joe's or whatever are the same boring old hybrids that you see everywhere. I recommend trying Andy's Orchids, and find unusual species orchids for him to take care of. The care varies, but you can find anything from 'ignore' to 'daily'.
African violets were suggested above- they are a wonderful indoor plant, lend themselves well to crazy collections, and enjoy attention.
I have recently enjoyed making kokedama. They work better with more robust houseplants that require less maintenance, but I also made one with a maidenhair fern- it needs a lot of attention because kokedama can dry out pretty quick. They're fun to make, make great gifts, and are really beautiful.
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 7:55 AM on December 14, 2015
African violets were suggested above- they are a wonderful indoor plant, lend themselves well to crazy collections, and enjoy attention.
I have recently enjoyed making kokedama. They work better with more robust houseplants that require less maintenance, but I also made one with a maidenhair fern- it needs a lot of attention because kokedama can dry out pretty quick. They're fun to make, make great gifts, and are really beautiful.
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 7:55 AM on December 14, 2015
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They're cuddly, need to be watered twice a day, obedient, and love their owners unconditionally.
posted by FallowKing at 9:32 AM on December 12, 2015 [3 favorites]