A gift guide for all of the plant parents in your life

A plant lover and stylist, Shayla Owodunni started sharing her love for plants through The Plant Penthouse in May 2020 — right as the rise in houseplant popularity took off.

Owodunni put together a gift guide for every different “plant persona.” She joined host Cathy Wurzer for a crash course on what you should keep in mind when purchasing a plant as a gift and offered up some suggestions on her favorite places to shop for plants and plant-focused gifts in the Twin Cities.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

The fixer

• What to buy: Plant supplies and hardware

“While plant parenting is never one-size-fits-all, there is one universal parenting manifesto: Our work is never done. Help the plant parents in your life get to work in comfort and joy with a few handy tools! From watering cans and rolling plant caddies to trowels, forks, and gloves, you’ll be sure to equip your loved ones with the best tools in the shed. You can find them at local shops like Tonkadale, Carousel + Folk, Sunnyside Gardens, Ergo Floral and Tangletown Gardens!”

The experimenter

• What to buy: Personal plant cuttings and propagation stations

“Plant cuttings are a fun and personal (not to mention affordable!) way to gift your favorite plants. A tip? To give the cutting the best chance of gifted survival, I recommend cutting your plant below the node. Propagations Stations come in all shapes and sizes – ranging from beakers to bookends. I’ve snagged plenty at HomeGoods, with many great styles available perusing around town.”

The problem-solver

• What to buy: Plant-centric puzzles and memory games for mindfulness

“In a recent article by AARP, puzzle makers say sales are up 300 to 370 percent over what they were in 2019! They are great for memory and meditation. Some ideas? Jigsaw puzzles, memory games — for example, a ‘Woodcut Memory Game’ matching unique wood textures, and ‘Plantfulness Cards’ for mindful lessons on changing your life with plants.”

The learner

• What to buy: Virtual experiences and “plantiful” books

“I did a live Airbnb online experience called ‘Propagating Plants with Hilton Carter’ and it opened my eyes to how fun and worthwhile online classes and workshops can be to help enthusiasts on the plant parenting journey.

Plantiful books I have in my collection? ‘Wild at Home’ and ‘Wild Interiors’ by Hilton Carter, ‘The New Plant Parent’ by Darryl Cheng and ‘Plant Parenting’ by Leslie F. Halleck.”

The hostess — or all-around enthusiast

• What to buy: Festive flora, and tabletop plants and pots

“As a hostess gift, plants like the Christmas cactus or a vibrant poinsettia make for eye-catching contributions to holiday décor. They come in a variety of colors to meet all of your seasonal styling, or gifting needs. Tabletop plants are another great option — check out The Greenery or PlantyQueens! You can also give your ‘planty’ gifts a warm home for the holidays with stylish pottery (try Foxwell Shoppe or Mother Co)! Trust me when I say there is an option for every plant parent palate, so here’s your opportunity to embrace some personality. 

With a few caveats: If you are not sure of the skill-level or home environment (lighting, etc.) of your plant parent, I recommend opting for:

1. Taking hints from what they already own: You can use that for recommendations at your local plant shop/nursery!

2. Go for an easy-care plant that can tolerate low light: My three go-to’s are pothos or trailing philodendron varieties; snake plants; or the zz.

3. A gift card to a local plant shop: Another great way to support local businesses!

4. Don’t have a local plant shop nearby? Go online!: Check out Bloomscape, The Sill and The Spruce.

Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.