The holiday season is officially here! As much as I love this festive time of year, gift-giving can be stressful for me. I always struggle to find meaningful, budget-friendly presents that make my loved ones happy. But this year, I'm spreading holiday cheer by gifting my friends and family homemade plant-inspired presents. Not only is this a budget-friendly idea—it also allows me to share my plant passion with the special people in my life. Plus, don’t you agree that plants make wonderful gifts, plant friends?

In this episode, I'm sharing 5 DIY planty holiday gift ideas from simple to more advanced. Of course, I’m going to make sure there’s something for every skill level and budget. Let's get crafting!

 

In this episode, we learn:

• [00:00] What are some affordable DIY plant-themed holiday gift ideas?
• [04:58] #1 Thrifted propagation station
• [08:10] #2 Windowsill herb garden
• [10:30] #3 Stylish Kokedama
• [15:07] Looking for unique and soothing chimes as a holiday gift?
• [16:35] Looking for the best plant genetics and tailored care for your garden?
• [18:52] #4 Succulent Wreath
• [25:06] #5 Personalized Terrarium
• [31:20] Accompany your DIY crafts with my book!

 

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Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

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Thrifted Propagation Station

My first idea is perfect for the not-so-crafty gift giver on a budget. I simply thrift cute glass bottles and vases from local antique stores or secondhand shops. And then I take clippings from my own houseplant collection, arrange them in the upcycled glassware, and tie ribbons around each vessel.

For an extra special touch, I'll make “plant care” cards with propagation tips for each cutting. And voila! You've got adorable propagation stations. All this for under $10!

 

Windowsill Herb Garden

Everyone loves fresh herbs, so I think that potted herb gardens make fantastic gifts! Buy some basil, rosemary, and oregano plugs and plant them up in small terracotta pots (you can wrap 3 pots together for a pretty look). 

You can add a bow or ribbon. But my favorite part is making personalized herb care cards! I'll jot down my favorite recipes that use each herb, like rosemary bolognese sauce or basil bruschetta.

 

Stylish Kokedama

If you want to up your craft game, try making kokedama. These trendy “moss balls” display houseplants in a natural-looking mound of soil and moss rather than a regular pot. 

They're easier to make than you think! To begin, you'll need a houseplant, soil, moss, twine, and a bowl of water. Start by forming sticky mud balls from potting mix, bonsai/orchid bark soil, and water. Cut the balls in half, then remove a plant from its pot and nestle the roots inside one of the mud balls.

Next, rehydrate the moss in water so it's damp. Place the mud ball on the moss, then wrap the moss around it, securing it with twine. Shape as needed and tie off any excess. The end result is a living kokedama creation to gift plant lovers!

 

Succulent Wreath

Nothing says “happy holidays” like a wreath on the front door. For a twist, make one out of succulents! Start with a moss wreath form and poke holes throughout. 

Insert succulent cuttings, using greening pins to secure them. Some hot glue on the leaves works too, until the plants root into the moss over time. This allows the wreath to hang vertically right away.

After fluffing and shaping, I'll decorate my succulent wreath with a ribbon.

 

Thrifted Personalized Terrarium

For my favorite gift on the list, scout your local thrift store for unique glass containers and make customized terrariums! Jars, bowls, cookie jars – anything can become a mini garden.

Add a drainage layer of pebbles or LECA balls, soil, small humidity-loving plants, and moss inside. I'll use tweezers and a “tamper” tool to adjust everything.

Now for the fun part – Include meaningful figurines or decorations! The options are endless – you can create tiny themed worlds inside. It's so fun to carefully curate each terrarium for the special people in your life.

 

Wrapping Up

I hope these 5 ideas help make your holiday plant gifting easier and more enjoyable. Let your plants spread cheer this season by sharing them with friends and family. Making planty presents is a great excuse to play with your own plant collection too.

Please share photos of your creations because I'd LOVE to see how your plant gifts turn out! Wishing you and your loved ones a merry holiday season.

 

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

• How to Make a Living Succulent Wreath – Succulents and Sunshine
• Michaels Greenery Terrarium
• 17″ Living Wreath Sphagnum Moss Form
• Greening Pins
• Growing Joy Ep 168 Grow Your Own Tea: Intro to Herbalism With Juliet of Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine
• Growing Joy Ep 178 The Mushroom Miniseries: Mushrooms 101
• Growing Joy Ep 183 The Mushroom Miniseries: How To Grow Functional Mushrooms In Your Garden
• Growing Joy Ep 191 The Mushroom Miniseries: How To Grow Mushrooms Indoors

 

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Wind River Chimes

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Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on all Corinthian Bells wind chimes.

Proven Winners

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Find plant joy in leafjoy™. Head to provenwinners.com to find your local leafjoy™ dealer and let me know which plant you take home on socials!

 

 

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