For the holidays
Gifting a plant?
A plant outlasts the wrapping paper, as long as its care goes with it. Here's what the plants of the season need, and two ways to send that care along.
The plants of the season
Each one links to its full care guide: light, water, soil, and what to do once the flowers fade.
Poinsettia
toxic to pets
Keep it out of cold drafts, and take off the foil sleeve or poke holes in it. Water trapped in the foil kills more poinsettias than anything else.
Amaryllis
toxic to pets
The flower is already packed inside the bulb. Water sparingly until the stalk shows, and turn the pot a little each day so it grows straight.
Christmas Cactus
🐾 pet-safe
Choose its spot and leave it there while it has buds. A move or a draft can make them drop.
Cyclamen
toxic to pets
Happiest in a cool room. Water from below, and when it dies back in summer, that is a rest, not the end.
Kalanchoe
toxic to pets
Treat it like a succulent that flowers: bright light, and let the soil dry out between drinks.
Norfolk Island Pine
🐾 pet-safe
A living tree for the holidays and for years after. Keep the soil evenly moist, because dry spells cost it lower branches for good.
Giving to a home with a cat or dog? Of these, the pet-safe ones are Christmas Cactus and Norfolk Island Pine. The care library has more.
Before you wrap it
- Keep it warm on the way. If it's cold out, wrap the whole plant for the trip and don't leave it waiting in a car. A chill on the way home is enough to make a poinsettia drop its leaves.
- Ask about pets. Several holiday plants are toxic to cats and dogs. The labels above say which.
- Mind the foil. A decorative sleeve holds water against the roots. Take it off, or tell them to.
- Send the care too. A printed tag or a link means nobody has to remember what the shop said.
Send the care with it
Print a care tag
Pick the plant, print its tag and tuck it into the pot. The tag carries the basics, and its QR code opens the full care guide. No account needed to make one or to scan it.
Gift a cutting with its care
Sharing a cutting of a plant you track in DueDrop? Open the plant, choose Copy, then Gift a cutting. You get a link to send with it, showing how often you water and feed it and what pot and light it likes. Nothing else from your account is shared, and you can turn the link off whenever you like.
Got a plant as a gift?
Add it to DueDrop and you'll know when it needs water. Pick the plant, and its watering and feeding schedule fills in from the care guide. Each day, one glance shows which plants are due, and a reminder can come by email or phone notification at the hour you choose.
If it came with a gift link, open that first. Once you have an account, the plant is ready to add with its care filled in.