The beauty of succulents as a present is that they are suitable for almost everyone. Succulents and cacti are cute, cheerful and, for the most part, easy to look after. They can beat a bunch of flowers as they can last for many years, if taken care of properly. There are, however, a few things to consider when gifting a succulent.
Although a succulent arrangement can be bought for any occasion, if the plants are live, ideally, you would like them to survive for as long as possible. More so if the gift is for someone special.
The term succulents covers many plants that can be quite different. Some like the sun, some like part shade and some full shade. So how do you get the right one for the right person?
Succulent Gift for Indoors
Succulents are hardy if you know a few things about them. Most (not all) succulents will not survive for a long period without exposure to direct sunlight and will slowly deteriorate from beautiful colourful and compact plants to stretched, leggy and without colour.
If the person you’re buying/making the succulent gift for lives in an apartment, you might want to consider shade tolerant succulents such as Gasteria, Haworthia, Sanseveria, Rhipsalis or Cacti. These are quite easy to get and are not too expensive.
These plants can easily be bought online or in garden centres. They are inexpensive and also unusually beautiful. To complete the gift, pots can be bought as well.
A combination of a succulent pack and a pot pack would also be fantastic as office presents, secret Santa or Christmas presents for friends. Each gets a cute little pot plant. Mini succulent gifts like these that you’ve put the effort in making for someone will be greatly appreciated. To make the pots look extra pretty, small stones or pebbles can be used on top to hide the soil.
Succulent Gift for Outdoors
Now here you’re spoiled for choice as there are loads of awesome succulent related products out there that can be gifted to someone who has a garden. Many of the most beautiful & colourful succulents will only grow outdoors where they get some sun and lots of fresh air.
One option is to give plants in plain plastic pots so the person can decide what they’re going to do with them. This option is inexpensive and cheerful. Multiple mini plants will ensure a good variety, colour and shape.
Gifts for succulent lovers can be a bit tricky as they may have lots of common succulents already. Premium plants or gift cards from nurseries may be more appropriate.
If you’d like to add a personal touch you can make an outdoor arrangement from gorgeous and colourful succulents. For this, succulent packs can be bought online or you can choose your own in nurseries.
Pots can be bought hardware stores, garden centres but also online.
There is also an option of buying ready made succulent arrangements. In our experience, these are best sourced from markets.
Succulent Gifts For Succulent Lovers
Many of us have that friend who is ‘into’ succulents and has serious collection going on. Although it is hard to guess which plants they have or don’t have there are certain succulents that are always a collectors favourite, even if they already have one or two. In our opinion these plants will never disappoint a succulent lover.
Ceropegia Woodii Variegata
Variegated Chain of Hearts can be a little difficult to obtain at times, though is becoming more available these days. There was once a time when Chain of Hearts would sell for close to a $100.
Ceropegia Woodii Variegata is the most popular plant in our online store and is often bought as a present. We just cannot grow enough of it, such is the demand for this beautiful, trailing plant with heart shaped leaves on slender stalks or ‘strings’.
The best time to buy this plant is in the growing season (spring- summer) as Ceropegia Woodii is winter dormant and hard to propagate without a heated greenhouse.
If you can’t find it in garden centres, online stores may the way to go.
Echeveria ‘Compton Carousel’
This little gem of a plant is a great favourite among succulent enthusiasts. It can be expensive and hard to acquire, but is becoming slightly more mainstream now.
Compton Carousel is a truly stunning specimen that has a rosette leaf arrangement. The leaves are white with a pale green streak running through the centre.
Depending on where in the world you are, Comptons can sometimes be purchased from nurseries but online nurseries are your best bet.
Echeveria Romeo/ Romeo Rubin
Echeveria Romeo and Rubin are popular due to the their gorgeous colours. Romeo can range from faint to hot pink and Rubin is bright Red at its best.
These plants may be a bit easier and cheaper to buy and are mostly available in brick and mortar and online nurseries.
Haworthia Truncata
An intriguing and truly weird succulent. There are a few Truncata hybrids, each more wonderful than the other.
This fan-like plant is usually quite small and perfect for the balcony succulent hobbyist.
Nurseries, online stores and ebay/Amazon should stock a version of Haworthia Truncata.
Xerosicyos Danguyi ‘Silver Dollar Vine’
This plant, if you can get it, would be a perfect gift for a plant enthusiast. Also dubbed ‘The String of Coins’ Xerosicyos danguyi is believed to be lucky and bring wealth.
Again, not a cheap or easy plant to buy, but it can sometimes be snapped up online. Ebay or Amazon may be a go-to place for this one.
Euphorbia Flanaganii ‘Medusa’s Head’
This one is a a real ‘weirdo’ succulent with a central ‘head’ and ‘tentacles’ or ‘snakes’ growing out. As with any Euphorbia, the Medusa’s Head contains a milky sap that can irritate some people’s skin and should never get into the eyes.
Euphorbia flanaganii might not be a great present for someone with young children or pets.
Variegated Succulents
Succulents that have developed a variegation are always a little bit special. As well as being more attractive, they are much rarer than their ‘normal’ siblings.
A succulent collector will greatly appreciate any variegated plant.
Accessories
There are loads of accessories for succulent lovers out there, especially in online shops. With sites like Amazon, Ebay or Etsy, you can also check the reviews and see what other people are saying.
Funky things like cushions, wallets, t-shirts, socks and dresses can be bought in cactus or succulent print.
Plant jewellery is also quite common and extremely cute.
Even more practical household items can be bought with a plant printed on it. Mouse pads, mugs, plates or bed linen.
All you need to do is type ‘succulent accessories for sale’ into your browser and you’ll be guaranteed to buy something for yourself as well. I couldn’t help myself and bought a cactus dress and wallet while researching.
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