Table of Contents
- Best Plants for Valentine’s Day Gifting
- Anthuriums
- Heart Ferns
- Plants for Valentine’s Day: Hoya Hearts
- String of Hearts
- Plants for Valentine’s Day: Variegated Monstera
- Plants for Valentine’s Day – The Wrap-up
- FAQ
Do you have someone special in your life who is an avid plant lover, but you know virtually nothing about plants? Then you’re in luck because this article will give you a list of the best plants for Valentine’s Day gifting as well as care instructions so you can keep your loved one and the new plant happy.
Best Plants for Valentine’s Day Gifting
Anthuriums, Heart Ferns, Hoya Hearts, String of Hearts, and Variegated Monstera make the list of the top 5 Valentine’s Day plants for gifting. Continue reading to find the perfect plant for your loved ones.
Anthuriums
Anthuriums, with their flowers in red, white, or pink, are the perfect plants for Valentine’s Day gifting. The waxy, almost plastic-looking blooms consist of a heart-shaped spathe—a kind of modified leaf that borders a flower cluster—and a distinctly phallic central spadix. But note, not all anthuriums are created equal: Anthurium andreanum, known as the oilcloth flower, tail flower, or florist’s anthurium, is sizeable but much harder to keep happy in the average home than the much more accommodating Anthurium scherzerianum.
Caring for your Anthuriums
● Flowering Anthurium needs bright, indirect light (direct sunlight will scorch the leaves and flowers!). Low light will slow growth and produce fewer, smaller flowers.
● Water thoroughly when the first inch of the soil becomes dry to the touch, stopping when water starts draining from the drainage holes. Avoid overwatering (Anthurium roots are susceptible to rot!). The more light and warmth your Anthurium gets, the more water it will need, so check the soil for dryness every few days. These plants will provide signs of stress or thirst, so pay attention: thirsty plants will be light if you lift them and have droopy or puckering leaves. You will not need to water as often in the winter when the plant is not actively growing.
● The Anthurium prefers warm temperatures (70-90°F), but don’t worry – these plants are incredibly adaptable and flourish in typical household temperature ranges. However, be careful of temperature extremes: if your thermostat drops below 50°F, the Anthurium will stop growing; if your house gets too hot, your Anthuriums will wilt.
● Most Anthuriums thrive on humidity, but the flowering varieties can tolerate more dryness. If your humidity level is less than 50%, consider using a humidifier to increase the level to at least 60%.
● During the growing season (spring and summer), feed your Anthurium once a month using a complete, ¼-strength liquid fertilizer. Note — too much fertilizer can do more harm than good. To encourage more blooms, use a fertilizer higher in phosphorus during the growing season.
Heart Ferns
If your significant other is a fan of terrariums, buy a heart fern (Hemionitis arifolia), plant it in a fancy glass apothecary. This dwarf plant is loved by many for its glossy heart-shaped leaves held aloft on thin black stems. They are excellent plants for Valentine’s Day!
Caring for your Heart Ferns
● Providing your heart fern with indirect sunlight from a nearby window is the best choice. Direct sunlight will scorch the leaves.
● The heart fern likes to be moist at all times but never soggy. Letting your fern sit in too much water will cause root rot. Put water only when the first inch of soil is dry.
● Your heart fern needs high humidity of at least 60 percent. Placing a humidifier nearby can help keep the air at the moisture level it needs.
● Keeping your heart fern warm is essential to its health. It does not like any temperature below 60 degrees. The best temperature for a healthy fern is between 60 and 80 degrees. Since it does not like drafts, a terrarium is a good idea.
● You will need soil that drains well and is moist and rich with humus. A good combination is two parts garden soil, two parts humus, one part sand, and a bit of aquarium charcoal. Adding bark to the mix is also a good idea since the heart fern is epiphytic. In other words, it likes to grow on trees.
● Fertilizing your heart fern once a month or every other month is all it needs. Use ¼-teaspoon of fertilizer per gallon of water. A fertilizer of 15/15/15 is best. Do not overfeed because it can hurt your plant.
● The best size pot for your heart fern is about four to six inches. You do not want to crowd the roots, but too much space can dry out your plant. The best type of pot is clay with gravel or pebbles at the bottom.
Plants for Valentine’s Day: Hoya Hearts
The sweetheart plant or Valentine’s Hoya (Hoya kerrii) is one of the classic plants for Valentine’s Day: small but perfectly formed and with an unmistakable message of love. Hoya Hearts are about as indestructible as houseplants come unless they become oversaturated with water. Be warned, however—very few of these Hoya cuttings go on to grow any further than the original single leaf. This plant may be ideal for possessors of tiny windowsills but may disappoint others, that hoped their plant would grow along with their relationship.
Caring for your Hoya Heart
● This plant needs bright, indirect light year-round.
● Water thoroughly during spring through fall, allowing the potting mix to dry out a bit between waterings. This succulent won’t tolerate soggy soil. Be sure to use a pot with drainage holes and empty the drainage tray. Use room-temperature water for your houseplants; cold water can shock them. In winter, water sparingly gives the plant just enough to keep the mix from drying out completely. Brown or wrinkled leaves indicate the plant is too dry.
● This plant needs average warm room temperatures (65-80°F) year-round; however, it will tolerate a minimum of 50°F. Keep Hoya kerrii out of drafts and away from heat/AC vents.
● Grow in a good-quality potting mix.
● Feed monthly spring through fall with a water-soluble fertilizer specially made for succulents, diluted by half.
String of Hearts
One of the most desirable houseplants of 2017 was the string of hearts, Ceropegia linearis subsp woodii, and enthusiasm for this strange little trailing plant remains unabated in 2018. Despite the delicate appearance of its heart-shaped, silver-engraved leaves held on wire-thin stems, this is a tough plant that will persist in many spots in the home.
Caring for your String of Hearts
● The string of hearts is a semi-succulent plant, which means it is more tolerant of dry soil than wet soil and is prone to rot in soaked potting soil. The soil should be lightly moist in spring and summer.
● Keep your string of hearts in bright light, with some direct sun (but not all day) for the best color and plenty of leaves. If you notice large spaces between leaves, the chances are the plant is not getting enough light.
Plants for Valentine’s Day: Variegated Monstera
The variegated Monstera deliciosa is the must-have houseplant. Assuming your other half is a plant nut, your ability to source one of these as a Valentine’s Day gift will surely seal your reputation as a partner who’ll go the extra mile.
Caring for your Variegated Monstera
● In their native habitat, monstera grows with their roots exposed to the air, so they do not tolerate wet, dense soil. All variegated monsteras need very well-draining potting soil.
● Monstera plants are native to tropical rain forests, adapted to light filtered through the forest canopy. Mimic those conditions by placing your variegated monstera a few feet back from the south or east-facing window.
● Most houseplants that are watered too often will develop discolored leaves that drop or a bad case of root rot. Monstera, in particular, is very sensitive to high soil moisture, so you’re better off watering a bit too little than you are watering too much. Let the first inch or so of soil dry out between waterings. Use your fingertip to push into the top of the soil and check for dampness or dryness; don’t just try to judge the soil moisture by how it looks.
● A variegated monstera will be comfortable at an average room temperature, anywhere from 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit. But don’t let things drop below 60
Plants for Valentine’s Day – The Wrap-up
Every plant is unique. You can find a plant to perfectly cater to your loved one’s style. You can find the perfect Valentine’s plant for gifting with so many options available.
FAQ
Yellow, brown, wilting, or falling hoya leaves are often the result of water stress, particularly overwatering.
Chain of Hearts is likely to grow slower indoors or when the plant is in too much shade. If you want the plant to grow more rapidly, place it in a brighter location around the home. The brighter the position, the better the growth rate. The same applies to pot size; the larger the pot, the faster the plant will grow.
Generally, this is a sign that the roots are too wet or the plant is getting too much direct sunlight. Place it further away from the window and feel the soil to determine whether it needs water.
