Trending Gift Giving Plants That Wow!

Need a housewarming gift, Mother’s Day item or even a Birthday gift that will WOW the receiver? Read on…

My family knows that I hate getting fresh cut flowers. The idea of paying good money for flowers that will die always got me flustered. So, they would buy be a beautiful plant or seeds and knew I would be over the moon excited.

The plants listed below are unique in appearance and can wow the receiver.

AFRICAN MILK TREE

• Botanical Name: Euphorbia trigona – (yoo-FOR-bee-uh) (try-GOH-nuh)
• Common Name(s): African Milk Tree cactus, candelabra cactus, Abyssinian Euphorbia, cathedral cactus, friendship cactus
• Family & Origin: Euphorbaceae – West Africa
• Growability: Easy with a slow growth rate
• Size: Outdoors 7′-9′ | Indoors 2′-4′ feet tall
• Light: Prefers bright light. Protect for direct sun may burn the plant.
• Temperature: 35°-90° degrees Fahrenheit
• Water: Keep the soil slightly moist. Do not overwater.
• Fertilizer: Feed monthly a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer spring and summer.
• Soil:  Well-draining succulent soil
• Pests & Diseases: Mealybug, plant scale, root rot
• Propagation: Stem cuttings
• Toxicity: White milky sap is a skin irritant and poisonous. Protect eyes and mouth when handling. Wash immediately if in contact with skin. Keep pets or children away.

ALOCASIA SILVER DRAGON

• Botanical Name: Alocasia Baginda,
• Common Name(s):  Silver Dragon Scale Plant
• Family & Origin:  Araceae family. Baginda alocasias are native to Borneo, where these herbaceous perennials with prominent features grow in the ground layers of tropical forests.
• Growability: Beyond its interesting-looking leaves, the Alocasia Silver Dragon is also compact, making it an attractive choice even for small spaces.
• Size:  The plant grows to about 1.6 feet tall, with leaves reaching a length of 6 inches and a width of about 3 inches or so.
• Light: thrives in moderate to partial sunlight conditions. Because it grows under the canopy of trees, it doesn’t get access to full sun.
• Temperature:  The temperature range preferred by the Silver Dragon is between 55 F – 80 F. The plant can withstand high temperatures up to 95 F if it’s grown in a shaded area and watering is consistent.
• Water:  Alocasia Silver Dragon doesn’t need too much water, especially if it’s positioned to receive only dappled light and humidity levels above average.
• Fertilizer:  Fertilize your Alocasia on a bimonthly schedule. Use a good quality foliage plant fertilizer to sustain leaf development and vibrancy.
• Soil:   any commercially available potting mix that’s well-draining or intended for succulents or other tropical plants prone to root rot issues if overwatered.
• Propagation:  Alocasia Silver Dragon produces small plantlets that you can separate and transplant to be grown in their own pots.
• Toxicity:  The whole plant contains calcium oxalate that irritates the skin and can lead to vomiting and diarrhea in animals and people.

BLUE STAR FERN

• Botanical Name: Phlebodium Aureum [Pol-ee-PODE-ee-um AW-re-um]
• Common Name(s): Blue Star Fern, Polypodium aureum
• Family & Origin:  Polypodiaceae – South America
• Grow Zone: USDA Hardiness zones 9 -12
• Size: Large fronds grow 12″ – 50″ inches long and 20″ inches wide
• Light: Bright indirect light
• Temperature: 50° – 80° degrees Fahrenheit
• Water: Likes humidity and a well-drained moist soil
• Fertilizer: Diluted houseplant fertilizer during growing stage
• Pests & Diseases: Plant scale, root for over watering
• Propagation: Spores or division
• Grooming:  Trim off damaged and unsightly leaves
• Uses: Display in a hanging basket

CHINESE MONEY PLANT

• Botanical Name: Pilea peperomioides
• Common Name(s):  Chinese money plant, coin plant, pancake plant, and UFO plant.
• Family & Origin: Urticaceae family native to Yunnan and Sichuan provinces in China
• Size: mature 12 inches
• Light: Bright to medium indirect
• Temperature: Average household temps
• Water: Evergreen perennial with medium water needs
• Fertilizer: Monthly in spring and summer months
• Soil:   Well-draining, rich 
• Propagation:  is very easy to propagate as it will grow offshoots readily. These offshoots grow up from the root system but can also grow from the nodes along the stem of the mother plant, usually in places where old leaves have fallen off. 
• Toxicity: non toxic

DEVIL’S IVY

• Botanical Name: Epipremnum aureum
• Common Name(s):  Pothos, golden pothos, devil’s vine, devil’s ivy
• Family & Origin:  Araceae
• Size:  20–40 ft. long, 3–6 ft. wide
• Light: Full sun, partial shade
• Temperature:  Pothos should be kept in temperatures that are consistently above 50 degrees Fahrenheit,
• Water:  A pothos plant likes to have its soil dry out completely between waterings
• Fertilizer:  monthly to bi-monthly with any balanced houseplant fertilizer to increase nutrition
• Soil:  Thrive in ordinary, well-draining potting soil.
• Propagation:  Pothos is easily propagated from stem cuttings.
• Toxicity:  All parts of this plant are toxic to dogs and cats

Council Tree

• Botanical Name: Ficus altissima
• Common Name(s):  Lofty Fig, Council Tree
• Family & Origin:  Moraceae Southeastern Asia
• Size:  Outdoors: 40 ft; Indoors: 6-8 ft
• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Temperature:  prefers temperatures over 70 degrees Fahrenheit
• Water:  Before adding any water to the ficus tree, let the top 5cm of soil or potting mix dry out. In spring and summer, water the plant once a week and once every two weeks in fall and winter.
• Fertilizer:  Fertilize during the growing season between spring and summer.
• Soil:   Well-draining
• Propagation: Stem Cuttings
• Toxicity: Toxic

FISHBONE CACTUS

• Botanical Name: Disocactus anguliger
• Common Name(s):  Fishbone cactus, zig zag cactus, ricrac cactus, orchid cactus
• Family & Origin:   Cactaceae North American
• Size:   6 in. tall, 3 ft. long
• Light: Partial
• Temperature: 
• Water:  Should water your cactus once the top 2-3 inches of the soil have dried out
• Fertilizer:  Once in the early spring with a liquid cactus/succulent fertilizer.
• Soil:   Loamy, moist but well-drained
• Propagation: Stem Cuttings
• Toxicity: non toxic

FRIZZLE PLANT

• Botanical Name: Albuca Spiralis
• Common Name(s): Frizzle Sizzle
• Family & Origin:  Asparagaceae – South Africa
• Size: 8 inches
• Light: Full to partial
• Temperature: Normal household temps. no extremes
• Water: every 2 or 3 weeks in Summer thru Fall In winter just enough to keep soil moist but not soggy
• Fertilizer: In season a balanced and diluted liquid feed as a fertilizer, make soil is moist before add. Spring and Summer are dormancy.
• Soil:   Succulent or cactus soil mix
• Propagation: Seed 
• Toxicity: non toxic

HOLIDAY CACTUS

• Botanical Name: Schlumbergera x buckleyi
• Common Name(s):  Christmas cactus, holiday cactus, crab cactus
• Family & Origin:  Cactaceae Brazilian rainforests
• Size:  6–12 in. tall, 12–24 in. wide
• Light: Partial
• Temperature:  Needs ample humidity, especially when grown in the dry conditions of heated homes during the winter.
• Water:  Water the plant thoroughly, allowing excess water to run out through the drainage holes. Let the soil dry almost completely between waterings. During a hot, sunny summer, water the plant two to three times a week.
• Fertilizer:  Feed your holiday cactus monthly with a half-strength, diluted water-soluble balanced fertilizer during the early spring and summer months. Once you’ve noticed the formation of flower buds—usually late summer or early fall—stop feeding.
• Soil:   Moist, well-drained, loamy
• Propagation:  stem cuttings
• Toxicity:  non toxicwhat is a

KALANCHOE

• Botanical Name: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
• Common Name(s):  Kalanchoe, flaming Katy, Christmas kalanchoe
• Family & Origin:  Crassulaceae , Africa Madagascar
• Size:  6–18 in. tall and wide
• Light: Full sun, partial shade
• Temperature:  temperatures ranging from 55 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit,
• Water:  requiring a complete saturation only every few weeks or so (and even less often during the winter months)
• Fertilizer:  once a month during the spring and summer months, but not during the winter.
• Soil:   Sandy, well-drained
• Propagation: Offsets or stem cuttings
• Toxicity:  Toxic to pets, considered non-toxic to humans

KENTIA PALM 

• Origin: Lord Howe Island, New South Wales, Australia
• Family: Arecaeae
• Botanical Name: Howea Forsteriana [hou’-ee-ah] [for-ster-ee-AY-na]
• Common Name: Kentia Palm, Sentry Palm, Parlor Palm
• Plant Type: Evergreen perennial
• Size: Indoors 5′-12′ feet tall
• Hardiness: USDA hardiness zone 9b -11
• Exposure: bright location, indirect morning sunlight
• Soil: good drainage and fast draining on the sandy side
• Water: Thoroughly water and allow soil to dry
• Fertilizer: slow-release
• Propagation: seed
• Pests & Problems: Spider mites, scale insects, mealybugs

MISTLETOE CACTUS

• Botanical Name: Rhipsalis baccifera
• Common Name(s):  Mistletoe cactus, chain cactus, spaghetti cactus, Rhipsalis 
• Family & Origin:  Cactaceae  South America, Central America, Africa
• Size:  6 ft. long, 2 ft. spread (indoors), 30 ft. long, 5 ft. spread (outdoors) 
• Light: Partial, shade 
• Temperature:  it thrives in warm, humid conditions.
• Water:  This tropical cactus prefers that its soil is kept evenly moist, and should not be allowed to dry out completely.
• Fertilizer:  The mistletoe cactus appreciates regular fertilization throughout the growing season, although it is considered a light feeder. Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength to your mistletoe cactus once a month during the spring and summer.
• Soil: Requires a moist but well-draining potting mix, and prefers soil that is slightly acidic.
• Propagation: Stem cuttings
• Toxicity: non toxic

PHILODENDRON PINK PRINCESS

• Botanical Name: Philodendron erubescens ‘pink princess’
• Common Name(s):  Philodendron pink princess, blushing philodendron 
• Family & Origin:  Araceae  South America
• Size:  2-4 ft. tall, 2-4 ft. wide 
• Light: Partial 
• Temperature:  Does best in warm, humid conditions – although typical household temperature and humidity levels are fine for these hardy plants.
• Water:  Allow the top half of the soil to dry out between waterings and then water well.
• Fertilizer:  During its growing season (spring and summer) the pink princess philodendron benefits from regular monthly feedings with a balanced liquid fertilizer. Stop fertilizing your plant in the early fall as it enters its dormant period.
• Soil:   Loamy, moist but well-draining 
• Propagation: Stem cuttings
• Toxicity: Toxic to pets

Pineapple Express

• Botanical Name: Mangave
• Common Name(s):  Macho Mocha and Pineapple express.
• Family & Origin: Cross breed of a Agave and Manfreda-  Mexican desert
• Size:  Up to 8-10 in. tall and 20-22 in. wide
• Light: Bright, full sun
• Temperature:  60°F (16oC)
• Water:  Regular watering or as soon as the soil gets dry.
• Fertilizer:  Not a heavy feeder
• Soil:   Succulent mix with at least 50% mineral grit e.g. coarse sand, perlite
• Propagation:  Stem cutting
• Toxicity:  not toxic to pets

SANSEVIERIA MOONSHINE

Botanical Name: Dracaena trifasciata

• Common Name(s):  Sansevieria Craigie, Sansevieria laurentii Superba,
• Family & Origin:  Asparagaceae West Africa, Nigeria, and Congo
• Size:  2 ft. tall and 3” to 4” wide.
• Light: In direct light
• Temperature: Thrive 55 to 85 degrees
• Water: Water when dry. minimal humidity
• Fertilizer:  light feeder and doesn’t require much fertilizer.
• Soil: light sandy soil 
• Propagation: Divided by Rhizomes
• Toxicity: Toxic to pets

SNAKE PLANT

• Botanical Name: Dracaena trifasciata (formerly Sansevieria trifasciata)
• Common Name(s):  Snake plant, viper’s bowstring hemp, St. George’s sword
• Family & Origin:  Asparagaceae West Africa- tropical
• Size:  Six inches to 8 feet tall
• Light: Shade to partial sun
• Temperature:  Snake plants prefer warm conditions and will suffer if exposed to temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit
• Water:  Let the soil dry between waterings. During the winter, reduce watering to monthly, or whenever the soil is dry to the touch.
• Fertilizer:   Feed with a mild cactus fertilizer during the growing season or a balanced liquid slow-release 10-10-10 fertilizer or a 20-20-20 fertilizer diluted to half strength. Do not fertilize in the winter.
• Soil:   Sandy, well-drained
• Propagation:  Leaf of offsets
• Toxicity:  Toxic to pets

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