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Liveplants are often touted as all-purpose giftsfor any occasion and any person.
Theres a slew of online plant sellers pitching plants as gifts, too.
Do: verify They Want a Plant
Getting a plant is a gift that keeps on giving.
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And a gift that makes the recipient feel bad is not the goal.
How do you know if someone wants a plant?
One clue is whether they already have plants they enjoy caring for.
Do they have an indoor jungle they post all over Instagram?
Then giving them another plant is a safe bet.
The other way to find out if they want a plant is to just ask.
We’re not as good at guessing what other people want as we think.
Research shows people are more appreciative of a gift that they asked for, Steffel says.
A plant is a request for a level of effort, Steffel says.
you better be sure that person wants that level of effort before you give them a plant.
Its OK to ask themwhat kind of plant parent they are.
Once you know their skill level, pick the plant accordingly.
In this case, flowers may be a better gift.
A beautiful bouquet of flowers falls under the category of experience versus thing.
Ward says research shows givers tend to give less practical, more luxurious gifts than recipients want.
So dont get them a pricy variegatedmonsteraor rarephilodendronif an easy-care and less expensivepeace lilywill bring them joy.
Poinsettiasandwaxed amaryllis bulbsfall into the category of being an experience instead of a thing, too.
