Many exciting houseplant related goodies are out there to get your hands on and try, and I've tried a lot over the years. Some have been total duds for me, and others have been game-changers in helping me to grow my indoor plants better.
My favorites, which could help you, too, are listed below.
Whether you're buying for a family member's birthday during the holiday season or just treating yourself, here are a few products and ideas that would make any houseplant lover happy.
You may be looking for a perfect gift for a plant lover (or items to help your friends get started on their journey) and if you are, I've got you covered here too.
Before I get started, I want to highlight the following two points as part of our six reasons why you can trust us pledge.
I've had this portable humidifier for several years and it's been a great help for my more temperamental tropical plants. I ruled out a large electrical machine because I didn't want to increase humidity throughout my entire home and found this portable one does the job perfectly at a much cheaper cost.
A large number of plants that we grow in our homes come from tropical parts of the world and are adapted to higher humidity levels. However some homes have low humidity levels that can make growing some plants tricky or even impossible. Read more about humidity and houseplants.
The single most efficient way you can boost humidity levels is to use a humidifier. Pebble trays and misting aren't going to do much in comparison.
Here are the reasons I recommend this particular model.
It's less powerful than an industrial-sized machine and so would only be suitable for smallish rooms or placing close to plants that need that boost. This would be suitable for most people, but if you have a complicated setup or many houseplants that need higher humidity, you may need to invest in something bigger.
Shop NowYou can buy expensive and fancy Hydrometers, but I really like this one. It's small, has a magnet on the back so I've attached it to a metal noticeboard in my kitchen. It's very reliable, powered by a small battery, I've had mine going for almost three years. You can change the battery once it goes on you too.
You need to know the humidity levels in your home (and they can change during the day and from season to season) to make adjustments to help your plants. This is where a Hydrometer comes in.
They're often simple devices that will instantly measure the levels in the immediate area. Sometimes they come with a thermometer like this one does, so it provides two measurements in one device.
The reasons I like this one are.
Grow lights will let you grow houseplants in places that don't receive any natural light, they will also supplement low light locations. Even if the light levels are decent a grow light can provide a boost that will help your plants reach their full potential. Almost essential for anyone serious about growing a wild indoor jungle or wanting healthy plants.
Most homes are too dark to grow houseplants at efficient levels. Very few provide exactly what plants truly want. It's true many will make do, but growth may be slow or stop altogether.
Grow lights provide additional light to houseplants, supplementing natural sunlight. This is particularly useful in indoor environments with limited access to sunlight. I'm a fan of both the Soltech and SANSI brands.
I think if you're in a market for a grow light it's worth exploring both of these companies as a starting point for happy houseplants and building up from these if needed.
Shop NowI was never sure about these meters but then I got a huge Rubber Plant in a massive container and it was almost impossible to establish when it needed watering. The meter solved this problem and I use it weekly on this plant as well as a handful of others when I'm in doubt. It's a bit unusual, but could also make a great gift for someone.
A moisture meter is a valuable tool for plant care, offering several benefits for both novice and experienced gardeners. In simple terms, moisture meters provide accurate readings of the soil moisture level. This precision helps indoor gardeners avoid overwatering or underwatering mistakes.
As overwatering is the biggest reason houseplants fail indoors, anything that can help prevent this from happening is worth considering. I like this one in particular because:
Some people don't like them. It's true that if you have a very open potting mix the readings are less reliable. You also need to remove it from the soil after use otherwise over a period of time it will stop working. But in most cases they're truly helpful, even for those with a green thumb already.
Shop NowThe beauty of all Dr. D. G. Hessayon's books is that they contain very simple accurate advice that's straight to the point. It's a fantastic reference book for hundreds of houseplants and any plant person should love them. I always refer to his books and they're full of helpful information.
You're normally in safe hands with any of the Dr. D. G. Hessayon books and this one is no different.
The only moan I have about these books is that because they cover so many plants there isn't a huge amount of room to expand on care topics. But for someone who wants a broad amount of information, identification help with Latin and common names etc these books should be on your shortlist.
"The Indoor Plant and Flower Expert" is his latest and most up to date book. This combines and builds on the information from the previous two, and why I'm linking to it below.
Shop NowThis is a smallish book, compared to the others listed here, coming in at 144 pages, but it still has a lot of information packed into the pages. Books can make the best gifts and this one is well worth a look and something I refer to when I run into problems with my own plants.
This is a super fun book to give as a gift to someone who likes or dabbles with houseplants. It's not a joke or novelty book though and is surprisingly useful to the beginner and intermediate houseplant owners.
There are several in this range including one about Succulents and Cacti. They're great compact books packed with useful tips without giving you information overload.
Shop NowSometimes my interest in houseplants wanes a little. I mean it's my hobby and also my job and sometimes I'm all "planted out". I've lost count of the times I've picked up this book when I'm not feeling my houseplants, and it's reignited my passion as a plant enthusiast. The photos are stunning and the whole book is generally just an inspiring piece of art. I just hope they bring out a second edition.
Plantopedia: The Definitive Guide to House Plants is huge. Both in content (416 pages) and physical size. It's a perfect coffee table book, but also one to read and refer to.
It makes for an absolutely gorgeous gift for someone into houseplants and who "already has everything". A new plant parent can benefit of course, but as someone who is very experienced with houseplants I really value my copy and will recommend it to anyone.
It's a little pricey for a houseplant book, but it does feel like a premium product. Easy to pick up and take inspiration from, or to learn something about a houseplant you've just brought or are thinking of buying.
Shop NowAmazon might not have a broad range of unusual or rare houseplants, but if you're looking for a fairly common plant there is a good chance you'll find it here. I've brought a handful of times and generally been pleased with the service.
You can buy almost anything from Amazon, including houseplants. Next day delivery is common and many sellers are businesses with physical shops in the real world. So quite often you're buying plants from expert sellers.
They don't tend to sell rare plants and sometimes you have to pay for delivery as it's not covered by Prime. This can mean that it could be better value for you to go to a local store or supermarket to pick them up directly.
Shop NowIt might seem an odd place to find houseplants, but you can find everything else here so why not plants? I've got a few cuttings over the years and been very pleased. It's definitely more of a specialist marketplace here, but if you find something you really want at a fair price then you can find a bargain.
Buying houseplants from eBay used to be a no no. But the buyer protections have increased over the years and you can be confident (in most cases) you will get a great plant for a decent price.
If you're looking for a rare plant or cuttings, eBay is worth a look. I do think specialist online houseplant stores can often be better in range and price, but you can get some very dedicated DIY sellers on eBay meaning you could source a general bargain.
The range of plants can sometimes be lacking, but if you're searching down something rare and having no joy, eBay should be worth a look. As always read the descriptions carefully and look at the sellers feedback.
Shop NowI have bought from multiple sellers on Etsy over the years and always been pleased. Packaging has always been excellent and the sellers know what they're doing (at least from the ones I've brought from). If you're after a common, uncommon or rare plant you're likely going to find it here so if I'm ever struggling to find what I want, I come here.
Etsy hosts a diverse range of independent sellers and small businesses, offering a wide variety of houseplants and gift ideas. This allows buyers to explore unique and uncommon plant species that may not be readily available in mainstream stores.
Make sure you do your research on the seller prior to purchase, even if you can get your money back, you don't want to waste your time sorting it out. No matter who I buy from, delivery always seems to be slower for some reason, so factor that in, if the plant is intended to be a gift.
The review system is good as buyers will often leave comments and upload photos of their plants they've received. This feedback system allows potential buyers to assess the reputation and reliability of a seller before making a purchase.
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