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With the holidays just around the corner, here are a few gift ideas that you can give or treat yourself.
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Waxed amaryllis have only been on the market for a couple of years. The bulbs are wrapped in moss to hold all the water they are going to need so all you need to do is put them in a fancy container and give them some sunlight. Before you know it, you will have blooms.
If you like to grow what I call the old fashion amaryllis with soil, here are a few tips:
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- Plant bulbs half way into the soil
- Cover the top of soil with moss, stones or gravel to dress up plant.
- Water only when soil is dry half way down, do not over water or the bulb will rot.
In the case of both bulbs, rotate them every few days so the stem grows tall and straight and does not lean toward the light.
Another gift idea is an indoor herb garden. You can find these in garden centres and online. They usually come with packages of seeds and a pot to plant them in as well as a watering tray.
House plants are another way to brighten up holidays. My favourite to give is the cyclamen. These beautiful flower plants come in so many colours and sizes and if your friend tells you they don’t have a green thumb this plant will actually tell you when it is time to water it. The leaves will begin to droop and once you water the plant, it will stand back up and this can happen lots of times. My record to keeping a cyclamen in bloom is early July so these plants can last a long time.
Succulents are another great gift and come in many sizes, shapes and colours. A dish garden will look wonderful on someone’s desk all year long.
Air plants are another cool gift because they do not require soil to grow and can be put just about anywhere. The trick to watering an air plant is to submerge it into a sink full of water for a couple of minutes and then let is natural dry.
So if you are stumped as to what to take as a gift try a few of these ideas or even better treat yourself.
Denise Hodgins is a professional gardening coach in London. Send your questions to coaching@diggendirtdesigns.com
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