Everyone with a plant nerd in their life knows how much joy and happiness they get from anything related to greenery (and how easily houseplants can take over their home). But when it’s time to get them a loving gift for Valentine’s Day, you may be at a loss for ideas beyond just another pot or houseplant. We’ve got you covered! These six items are sure to hit home with any plant nerd and will hopefully be a springboard for future gift ideas.
A tabletop glass terrarium
The Fellie’s tabletop glass terrarium comes in black and gold and is roughly 10 inches tall and 6 inches across. The plant and soil aren’t included, which at first may seem disappointing; however, any plant lover will love the blank canvas and the opportunity to put their favorite succulent, cactus, or other small plant inside!
This terrarium has a small side door, which makes for easy watering and fertilizing as well as placing plants inside. Made of clear glass and a copper frame, the angled design makes the terrarium interesting from every angle. Its sturdy composition will serve your plant-loving Valentine for years to come, whether as a miniature indoor garden or a tea light holder (or both, if you have battery-operated tea lights and remember to remove them every time the plants need watering).
The Conservatory: Gardens Under Glass
This book is a perfect gift for both plant nerds and reading enthusiasts (bonus points if your Valentine is both!). Conservatories, often known for their botanical, cultural, and social uses, have evolved throughout history to be truly magnificent structures. They’ve served as large gardens and homes to art pieces, filtering beautiful light through their glass and making their appearances around the world since the 18th century.
The Conservatory: Gardens Under Glass features not only text but photographs and structural drawings that showcase the history and uniqueness of these buildings. It’s a nod to the people who’ve developed them throughout the years, highlighting the importance of conservatories where conservation efforts are concerned, as well as how they’ve been used to help protect portions of the environment. If your plant-loving Valentine has a soft spot for reading, this will be a great gift to shed light on the history of one of their favorite subjects.
Paper flowers (cards and envelopes)
These cards feature artwork by Mary Delany, an 18th-century artist who created beautiful paper blooms by layering paper against stark black backgrounds. Mary Delaney’s paper creations were scientifically accurate and served as beautiful botanical illustrations, enhanced by Mary’s attention to detail with her shading and depth.
This set includes flat cards (postcards) with cornflowers, rhododendron, sunflowers, and more. The Princeton Architectural Press printed these designs on thick paper. They’ll make a beautiful gift for any Valentine who loves plants and wants to share that love with the people around them through letters and postcards. Since these are flat cards, they can even serve as wall art and be framed and hung up for an exquisite touch to the space!
Live succulent DIY kit
Glick’s Greenhouse is selling a live succulent DIY kit that comes with your choice of a natural wash, red wash, or white wash pot. Each pot has a heart on a string, giving it a lovely touch for your plant-loving Valentine! The kit comes with one planter, a bag of soil, planting and care instructions, and six live succulents. The succulents vary from kit to kit, so you aren’t guaranteed to get the ones featured in the listing.
The cement planter has a removable plug in the bottom of the pot to allow for drainage, which any plant-care enthusiast knows is an important aspect of a pot. This kit will not only enhance your space but allows your Valentine the fun of planting their arrangement of succulents however they want! Since it includes care instructions, it’s also the perfect gift for a houseplant or succulent beginner.
Pressed plant notecards
The Princeton Architectural Press also sells a set of flat cards and envelopes that feature the work of Beatrix Farrand , a 20th-century landscaper. She would preserve hundreds of flowers from her garden in Maine by pressing and archiving them, and she created an array of private gardens during her lifetime. These thick cards showcase prints of these pressed flowers, giving them a unique appearance. For your flower-loving Valentine, these cards will be a perfect gift to write notes on, send in the mail, or hang up as artwork around your home (without the responsibility of caring for the pressed flower itself).
These ideas will surely please any plant nerd in your life, whether it’s for Valentine’s Day, a birthday, or just because! With these starting points, you’ll have a good idea of what they love and what you can get them in the future to satisfy both their love of plants and their curious nature.
