topic Re: Neep Help with Plant/Flower Info Please in Community Chat

Neep Help with Plant/Flower Info Please

ThinkingOutLoud — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 20:49:32 GMT

I need to have a gift delivered to someone since they weren't able to come to a get-together. I found a gardenia plant that looks nice but I'm not familiar with them and have a couple questions:

- do they take much care (ie how often need water...)?

- are they hardy (ie if miss watering, do they die for good or rebound...)?

- how long do they last?

Is there another plant you'd recommend instead?

tia!

Re: Neep Help with Plant/Flower Info Please

Kachina624 — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 20:54:34 GMT

I'd select a poinsettia or Christmas Cactus. I find the odor of gardenia very offensive and strong. Can't stand them. Also they are not easy to grow.

Re: Neep Help with Plant/Flower Info Please

PA Mom-mom — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 20:59:57 GMT

@ThinkingOutLoud A gardenia is too much trouble. Likes certain conditions and is susceptible to disease. Per @Kachina624 a Christmas cactus if a better choice and will remind the recipient of you when it flowers.

Re: Neep Help with Plant/Flower Info Please

ThinkingOutLoud — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 21:04:06 GMT

ok - Thanks for the replies. I'll keep looking. I want to find something that works for winter and not Christmas since it's less than a week away.

Re: Neep Help with Plant/Flower Info Please

cookie16 — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 21:04:35 GMT

I agree with Kachina. I would stay away from gardenia and personally choose a Christmas Cactus. They are pretty easy to take care of and the flowers are beautiful. They come in assorted colors too. I have 3 different colors and they bloom at different times of the year for me. And you can make additional plants very easily.

Re: Neep Help with Plant/Flower Info Please

Whitney400 — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 21:10:59 GMT

What about a Christmas Amaryllis? Many florists have them available and they are really beautiful.

Re: Neep Help with Plant/Flower Info Please

Another new name Sue — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 21:21:03 GMT

I'll join others here in saying that gardenias are nortoriously finicky about growing conditions. Definitely Christmas cactus or amaryllis. Christmas cactus will live for years with good care, water and light, maybe an occasional repot.

Re: Neep Help with Plant/Flower Info Please

mspatmac — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 21:28:35 GMT

I vote for a Christmas Cactus. Gave one to a friend 4 years ago and it's still going strong.

Re: Neep Help with Plant/Flower Info Please

Kachina624 — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 22:17:01 GMT

@mspatmac wrote:
I vote for a Christmas Cactus. Gave one to a friend 4 years ago and it's still going strong.

@mspatmac They're very easy to grow as long as they're not over-watered and they're reliable rebloomers.

Re: Neep Help with Plant/Flower Info Please

Kabella — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 22:22:55 GMT

@ThinkingOutLoud A Gardenia Plant is beautiful but does not do well as an indoor plant. It does best in zones 9 & 10 outdoors with morning sun in a more hummid climate. I have one on the side of my house in fl. where it gets plenty of sun & rain. Planted in the ground & hardy.

I think the flowering plants mentioned here are the best for indoors in the winter months. I can suggest a Bromalaid or African Violets. There are other that I know of but won't last for long indoors. Also there are many varigated leaf plants that do best indoors which give color with their leaves.

Re: Neep Help with Plant/Flower Info Please

Kabella — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 22:39:54 GMT

@Kachina624 I love Poinsettia's but can't keep them indoors because they are poisoness to animals. I have 2 red potted ones on each side of my outdoor entry.

Re: Neep Help with Plant/Flower Info Please

Kachina624 — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 22:43:35 GMT

@Kabella I've seen some beautiful ones growing in hanging baskets, or are your cats (?) trapeze artists too?

Re: Neep Help with Plant/Flower Info Please

Kabella — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 22:51:50 GMT

Hahahaha!!! @Kachina624 Yes they fly too lol!!!!

Re: Neep Help with Plant/Flower Info Please

moonandthestars — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 01:55:54 GMT

@ThinkingOutLoud I did well with a gardenia plant! maybe it was a mini tree? It does need alot of sun and alot of attention tho. And I do love the scent. Maybe because it was my mother's favorite. It's very sentimental to me. I personally have not done well with a christmas cactus I purchased from here - maybe it's roberta's. It just grows longer and longer but has never bloomed! Pointsiettias are beautiful and easy to grow and they do rebloom the next years too but they are toxic to kitties so that's a problem, imo. Gift wise and personally I do love mini lemon or orange trees. I think they are good looking and do bare fruit and little flowers but they are somewhat expensive. How about tulips? Or other flowering bulbs in a planter (paperwhites?) (daffodils?)

Re: Neep Help with Plant/Flower Info Please

River Song — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 02:47:07 GMT

So many house plants are toxic to pets.

Some plants that are not:

- phalaenopsis orchid

- African violets

- bird's nest fern

- spider plant

Personally, I would send a blooming orchid plant. It's elegant, showy, easy care and the flowers last a long time.

Re: Neep Help with Plant/Flower Info Please

moonandthestars — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 03:27:42 GMT

@River Song Orchid plant is a very good idea!

Re: Neep Help with Plant/Flower Info Please

occasionalrain — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 04:46:58 GMT

Poinsettias, Amaryllis, and Lily's are poisonous to pets, so if the recipient has pets choose the Christmas Cactus.