Plants can act as great mood boosters and are fantastic for the mind and body. So, why not add some tropical zen to your friends’ and families’ homes with some of our exotic plant pals from around the world?
It’s worth remembering that every time you buy a plant, The Stem plants one tree. We’ve partnered up with Eden Reforestation Projects to make this happen. So you can be sure that you’re not only buying wonderful living plants that will not only be loved by your family and friends but will help to make the environment better through more trees planted! What’s not to love?
The Stem’s Christmas Plant Gift Guide
The Flamingo Flower / Anthurium is a gorgeous plant that hails from the rainforest of Colombia and Ecuador and it’s no doubt that she’ll make heads turn with her dark green foliage and bright, long-lasting pink flowers.
The Anthurium is very hardy and can go without too much attention if need be, so this beauty could be a great gift for a novice horticulturist or a busy professional. Anthurium also has some great health benefits, as one of the plants named in NASA’s clean air study, which found that certain houseplants could remove nasty indoor chemicals such as formaldehyde and ammonia from the air. Good vibrations all round!
It’s clear the Flamingo / Anthurium is a real success story. Just in case you needed any further convincing, the plant is also a winner of the Royal Horticultural Society's ‘Award of Garden Merit’, which is awarded to good quality plants that grow well in the UK. The Flamingo Flower is waiting for you!
Moving continents, we have a special plant to show you, called the African Milk Tree. The clue to the continent is of course in the name! Which makes a perfect addition to our Christmas plant gift guide!
The Milk Tree hails from Central and West Africa and is an easy-to-take-care of succulent although she’d fit in right in amongst cacti with her appearance. She has amazing spiky red leaves contrasting against a green body.
This special African succulent doesn’t like too much watering and tends to grow quickly. Whilst beautiful, be careful about damaging the plant as the sap from the Milk Tree is irritating to skin.
The Milk Tree is pest-free which means that this stunning plant will be durable and should remain healthy for a long time.
The Bonsai Money Tree / Pachira is another exotic entrant, found in tropical wetlands in Central America. The Pachira has bright bold green leaves and will make a great feature piece plant in your home. Another easy-care plant, the Pachira likes indirect sunlight and occasional watering.
If you’re into Feng Shiu and want your family and friends to have good fortune in the new year, the Pachira could be the perfect present, and is sure to bring some good chi for the new year!
Next up on our Christmas plant gift guide, a little out of the box as a gift for this Christmas, is the Terrarium? It’s a fascinating enclosed plant ecosystem that comes in a glass sphere that requires little maintenance!
The terrarium provides a great environment for the plants inside, as the glass walls allow light to enter whilst trapping any heat. The sealed environment creates a consistent water cycle, with the condensation caused by the heat eventually working it’s way back into the soil.
The terrarium ecosystem doesn’t want direct sunlight, and if you get condensation, just open the cork top for a while. The terrarium is a funky centre-piece that could make a great gift at Christmas.
Green Pearl (Echeveria ‘Green Pearl’)
The Green Pearl / Echeveria is a house-favourite and much loved plant that hails from Central America. This succulent has a beautiful aesthetic, with pale green leaves appearing in a symmetrical form. A great plant to sit on a desk or on a countertop to add some vitality.
The Echeveria is not a large plant and only requires watering during its growing season, and hence makes a great gift for someone tight on space or for those with a more minimalist approach to their homes.
The Echeveria, whilst easy enough to maintain, does like a good bit of sunshine. The plant was named after a Mexican botanical artist, Atanasio Echeverría y Godoy and is sure to awaken the inner creative soul!
For another alternative option, why not buy our hydro-herb kit as a Christmas gift?
Hydro Herbs are a great way for anyone to grow their own herbs indoors and have some fresh, ready to go herbs for cooking. Not only will the Hydro Herb kit be a thoughtful gift, but you’ll also be able to go round and sample the herbs in your friend’s or family member’s cooking. Talk about a great investment!
Orchids (Phalaenopsis)
Orchids make a stunning present as their flowers can last up to a year, and it’s a much more sustainable option than buying cut flowers. We have a variety of Orchid types available including:
Moth Orchids are relatively easy to maintain and don’t require as much humidity or light as other types, however, placing them in a bathroom by a window will enable them to thrive.
Use our christmas plant gift guide for a greener Christmas this year
Hopefully you’ve got some solid options with this list - your family and friends will love receiving one of our special plants for Christmas and if you want to have a further browse for ideas have a look at our full-range here. Happy plant shopping ahead!