All I Want for Christmas Is You...and a Plant
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! The first snow finally fell this past week, wreaths and bows and bright twinkling lights line neighborhoods, stores are putting out all of their great festive merchandise, people are shopping for those perfect gifts for loved ones, friends, co-workers, and even pets.
The Christmas season is the most magical time of year for many many reasons. The only gripe I have with this time of year, however, is the lengths our society goes to get gifts. While I know gifting is a big part of the holiday season, and the meaning behind gifting is pure, bigger sometimes is not always better. I think we often get carried away buying and buying and buying that we forget about the true meaning of the season; expressing love and togetherness. You don't have to rack up a huge credit card bill or stress about finding that perfect hard to get present, to show you care.
Because we are plant crazy on this blog, my advice to you is to give the gift of a plant. Especially if you're budget is tight or you're not sure what to buy.
Gifting a plant is an easy, budget friendly way to express love, friendship, admiration this holiday season.
Pick out a plant from a store or take a cutting of your own plant! If you've never made plant cuttings before, there's no time like to present to learn.
First, identify the plant you'd like to gift. Be sure the plant you choose appears to be healthy. If it's a Sansevieria (snake plant), simply cut one of the leaves like shown below, and put in water. Change the water weekly.
With most other plants, just take a pair of clean sharp scissors and identify the stem you'd like to cut. Find the node (the area of the stem where leaves begin to grow) and cut.
Keep the propgated plant in bright indirect light, and aim for humidity. Place in water and change weekly, until there is a big enough root system sprouting that it can fit in a small pot. You can either gift this propgation as is or wait until the roots are strong and long enough to pot up.
If potting the plant up, be sure to keep the new plant watered thoroughly and frequently for a few weeks. Once the plant is adjusted to the soil and seems to be happy and growing, decrease the watering to a noraml schedule.
Now that you're familiar with propogating a plant, you can make more of your own plants, or gift them for any occasion! Add a cute bow or use twine to make it more festive. This is a great conversation piece, and a way to connect over a fun hobby.
It's a little piece of you, they will always think of you when they see it!
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