Saguaro Feliz: Give a Basket of Baby Succulents Amazing tips

Want to launch a lifelong love of gardening? Give a basket of baby succulents.

When I was in my 20s, I had about 30 tropical houseplants. Before going on vacation, I asked a neighbor to tend them. To make it easier for her (ha), I labeled each plant with a number that corresponded to a hand-drawn map of my apartment’s interior, and a list that gave each plant’s watering schedule and amount. If that sounds a bit excessive—or obsessive—consider that #plantparent on Instagram now has over 20K posts and gains 100+ more every week.

So what does that mean for you, dear reader, since you’re probably not in that demographic? (Most of my subscribers are 40+. That’s who we are, and we’re proud of it.) Well, you now have an idea for that lovely niece or DIL you normally just throw a gift card at: a Plant-Parent Gift Basket.

In a nice basket or box, place a ceramic pot, eight or nine chubby succulents still in their nursery pots, and small bags of soil and pebbles. (You can of course plant everything yourself, if you’d rather give a finished arrangement.) Let the succulents breathe in bright light, protect from frost, and keep soil barely moist until a few hours before they meet their adoptive parent/s. Then tuck baby plants and their gear into the box or basket, and pad with tissue paper. Wrap the whole shebang in clear cellophane and tie with ribbon, perhaps with a pacifier attached (kidding…sort of).

Include a copy of Succulents Simplified or Succulent Container Gardens. Email me if you want autographed, personalized copies. Or if she likes videos, give my online class, Stunning Succulent Arrangements. Watch it together!

Gifts for Succulent Lovers

An Easier Way (recommended if you’re shipping to the recipient): Send a gift arrangement from Succulently Urban. Owner/designer Marialuisa Kaprielian does gorgeous work, her plants are superb, and her prices are awesome. Plus her echeverias (shown here) are kitten-cute. Marialuisa will ship two-day or overnight until mid-December.

The Grand-Plant-Parent Way: Gather individual items at your local garden center or order them online. Good starter collections:

Altman Plant’s indoor succulents collection: set of 8 in 2.5 inch pots, $27

Mountain Crest Gardens Indoor Succulent Set of 9 in 2-in pots, $28

Add a pot that has a simple form in colors trending with 20-somethings: white or pale pink. One example of many on Amazon:

— 8-inch round white ceramic pot with tray $22

Thoughtful extras likely to be appreciated:

— Pebbles for topdressing: 32 oz. bag, $8.79

— Cactus potting mix, 10 qts, $13.61

Enjoy your grand-plant

When your gift gets squeals of glee, suggest that the giftee post occasional photos on Instagram. It’s a great way to stay connected and watch baby plants grow. About half of the photos on Instagram’s #plantparent and #plantparenthood are of succulents. Do tag @DebraLBaldwin in the comments—Auntie Debra wants to see them too!