Best Gifts for Gardeners and Plant Lovers

For the one who’s dreaming of a summer garden chock-full of fresh herbs, this set is not to be missed. Basil, oregano, and chives are just a few of the versatile herbs you’ll find. Pair this with a seed starter kit to help the giftee kick things off on the right foot.

“For anyone who’s excitedly snipped flowers for a bouquet or lettuces for dinner, you know the process and mess of transporting the goods can be a major buzzkill," says Kate Greer, CEO of Cheerie Lane Popcorn, makers of an all-in-one popcorn pod featuring heirloom kernels from a fifth-generation family farm in Iowa. "I love that this gathering bag is not only waterproof and has a removable liner, but it is also convertible to wear on your shoulder or back and expand and collapse to meet your harvesting needs."

Take good care of a Marxii Calathea (also known as a prayer plant) and it will repay you in abundance. Of course, one that comes with a self-watering pot is a surefire way to ensure its longevity and success. "Water once a month" is Easy Plant’s promise—simply fill the reservoir in the pot with a plant and it will soak up the water when needed.

I received one as a gift last year and can attest to the system’s success. I fill the reservoir with water roughly every two weeks—my plant sits in a greenhouse-esque environment and receives direct sunlight, which means it requires more frequent watering. It has nearly tripled in size in the last year and is absolutely thriving.

Angela Judd, gardener and author of “How to Grow Your Own Food: An Illustrated Beginner’s Guide to Container Gardening” (Adams Media, 2021), swears by an olla, which is a terra-cotta vessel that’s filled with water and buried underground, and she won’t garden in containers without one. “The water seeps out gradually as needed by the plant’s roots,” Judd says. “Ollas help my container plants not only survive the hot summers of Arizona but also thrive.”

Plant care essentials that combine form and function make wonderful gifts. “Most of the leafy plants that thrive indoors originally hailed from tropical rainforests,” says Sophia Kaplan, co-founder of the botanical and indoor plant shop Leaf Supply based in Sydney, Australia. This includes common varieties such as monsteras, anthuriums, and philodendrons, which flourish in humid environments. 

Kaplan says a water mister can be used daily to add moisture to the air around them, which will greatly benefit their health. “Mimicking their native climate will ensure their best chance of success in your home."

Lego’s botanical collection is something out of a dream. Potted orchids and holiday centerpieces are just a few of the creative kits you’ll find, but we’re partial to this wildflower set, which is equal parts whimsical and artful. Once it’s complete, go ahead and display it in a vase. Why not?

Indulge the bookworm on your list with a stack of good reads that touch on their love for nature. Jenn Frymark, the chief greenhouse officer of Gotham Greens, an urban agriculture brand that specializes in local produce, is an avid reader and recommends her favorites to plant enthusiasts. “The Nature Fix” (W. W. Norton & Company, 2018) by Florence Williams looks at the positive impact of nature on our health, happiness, and creativity. And “Braiding Sweetgrass” (Milkweed Editions, 2015) by Robin Wall Kimmerer (from $13 at Amazon) explores our reciprocal relationship with nature. “These would make for wonderful winter reading snuggled up while thinking about plants and nature,” Frymark says.

Here’s a clever idea for those who could use a helping hand in keeping their greenery alive. This kit of essentials—made from organic and nontoxic ingredients—has everything a plant lover could ever want, says Jira Sai, founder of Plant Corner, a shop based in New York City that specializes in rare plants. "The plant food helps plants push out new leaves, soil enrichment to promote root growths, and neem oil spray to protect plants from pests."

Sold as a set of five plastic nesting pots with accompanying base trays,, these planters, with their modern-minimalist matte finish, are perfect for those who struggle with watering their plants. Each comes with drainage holes, which the manufacturer claims “provide an air circulation system for the plant roots, which greatly reduces the problem of root rot of plants in a closed environment,” as well as a separate reservoir for water storage, which purportedly “separates the plant growth environment from the water storage environment.” 

The tray and the pot are connected by an absorbent cotton rope, which is looped through the pot’s base. Once you pour water into the tray’s clip-on watering lip, the moisture is carried to the soil via the rope. Assembly was simple—the tray screwed on easily, and the watering lip snapped on securely with one firm push.