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I first started thinking about a gift guide for geeky plant lovers in the week leading to May the 4th. (If you know, you know!) But other things got in the way, both geeky-things (such as learning about the best types of soil for plants) and life-things.
So it took me six months to come back to the sticky notes of geeky presents for plant people and finish this post. And I’m somehow happy it did, because in the meantime I’ve received and bought other gifts that I’d consider perfect for nerdy plant parents.
Buying a present for someone who has ‘peculiar’ hobbies may have seemed easy at first (I borrowed the word ‘peculiar’ from Aunt Mathilda.) But as the years (and birthdays, and Christmasses) go by, it gets harder and harder to know what to get. And for the love of quantum physics, do not buy another collectible toy.
If you’re out of gift ideas and in need of some inspiration of what to get your geeky plant-loving friend, have a look at my list below:
1. Cyanotype kit
I started with this idea because it’s the absolute coolest one, and it requires a combination of old-timey skills and a bit of chemistry. You can buy this gift for photography, history, chemistry or arts aficionados; and they get both an experience and a final product to keep as a memento.
Cyanotyping is one of the oldest photographic processes.
Originally used to document botanical specimens by placing them on treated papers and exposing them to the sun, it was also an early way to create copies of architectural drawings, hence the word “blueprint.”
The final image is obtained by treating a surface (usually paper or cloth) with iron salts, adding your desired pattern on top of the surface and exposing your design to sunlight. The part left uncovered by your design reacts to UV light and turns blue, thus leaving an imprint of the design on the surface of the paper.
You just need a bit of sun, some plants or leaves and your cyanotype kit. Here are a few cyanotype kits I think you might like on Etsy.
2. Terrarium or terrarium kit
For geeky plant lovers who are into DIY, a terrarium kit should be the perfect gift. Terrariums are self-sufficient ecological systems that usually require low maintenance. But my favorite part about terrariums is putting them together. You can buy the kit with or without plants, but I think adding plants makes the gift even more wholesome. This is also a good choice if the recipient wasn’t very lucky (or skilled) with keeping houseplants, since a terrarium setup needs very little water to thrive.
Building a terrarium is a nice challenge for plant lovers who don’t have too much time to dedicate to their plants.
Here’s my collection of succulent kits that come with everything included.
And here’s a gorgeous woodsy succulent kit from the Succulent Gift Shop (ships from California).
3. Botanical poster
Gifting a botanical poster is a perfect fit for vintage-loving plant parents. Colorful, instructive and marked by the passing of time, these posters will definitely make plant lovers happy. You could go for a botanical illustration or opt for a mycology themed one, for the cottagecore geek.
My favorites are the ones that come straight from old atlases or instruction sheets, but there are also some beautiful prints out there. For most cases, I prefer prints because of the quality of the paper and the ink. While the real-deal atlas tear sheet might sound like a good idea in practice, I’ve had a couple of bad experiences with old paper disintegrating and yellow stains that were just musty-smelling.
You can save on cost by ordering an unframed one and picking your own frame. Here’s where I collected some of my favorite plant posters.
4. Sprout pencil
Eek! This one is for the zero waste geeks who are also into stationery. I first wrote about the Sprouts pencil way back in 2018, but it’s only been getting more popular since then. Sprout pencil is a unique gift that will delight plant lovers who are into sustainability.
Once the Sprout pencil has been shaved down to a stub, it’s ready to plant straight into your garden or a large pot. There’s a capsule on one end of the pencil that contains seeds (herbs, tomatoes, chamomile). Once the capsule dissolves, the seeds are released and they start germinating. I really love this concept and bought a few cherry tomato pencils for myself. I seriously can’t wait for spring and early summer to plop the pencils into my garden. All I need to do now is write and draw with the pencil until it’s not usable anymore.
The pencils are made from sustainably-grown PEFC/FSC-certified wood, biodegradable seed capsules and natural clay and graphite core.
The company was founded in Denmark, but they operate worldwide. So if you’re in the US, you can buy the Sprout plantable pencil via Earth Hero. If you’re in the European Union, you can buy the pencils directly via their website. The Sprout pencil is manufactured in Poland (for the European market) and in Minnesota (for the North American market).
And get this, for the colored pencils, the color of the plant that will sprout matches the color of the pencil.
Their website also lists a plantable eyeliner that’s vegan and made with ethically sourced materials. I’m not sure if it’s available in the United States yet, but do keep an eye out on the official store.
5. Board game about plants
What geeky soul doesn’t like a good board game? Plant-related board games can be a lovely present for plant lovers who are also into game nights.
Having fun while learning about nature in general or playing in a botanical game world will surely make plant lovers happy. I’m planning on writing a separate post for plant-related board games, so I’ll just leave the name of a few games here and come back and link to the new post once I’ve published it.
Herbaceous Sprouts published by Pencil First Games (2019)
Age: 8+
Length of Play: 30 min
Agricola published by Lookout Games (2007)
Age: 12+
Length of Play: 30 – 150 min
The Yoga Garden Game published by Yoga Kids
Age: 4+
Wildcraft published by Learning Herbs
Age: 4+
Length of Play: 30 – 40 min
Arboretum published by Z-Man Games (2015), republished by Renegade Game Studio (2018)
Age: 8+
Length of Play: 30 min
6. Botanical playing cards
If your geeky present recipient is not into board games, how about getting them a pack of playing cards? It’s a good way to learn more about plants because some botanical playing cards are adorned with gorgeous illustrations, as well as plant facts.
I’ll be the first to admit that plant-themed playing cards are not so easy to find. Here are a few sets that I found on Etsy after quite a bit of research.
7. An online class to learn about plants
If you want to offer a gift to plant lovers who are eager to learn, why not pay for some online classes that will teach them more about plants?
Online classes are flexible, so it’s a nice gift for plant lovers who like to learn but don’t really have much time for that. A few houseplant courses that I have on my list include:
Happy Houseplants from Chris Satch from The Sill
Plants at Home: Uplift Your Spirit and Your Space from Christopher Griffin
8. Herbarium (or an antique herbarium)
Did you have to make herbariums for school assignments when you were a kid? I didn’t, but I made one anyway out of an old notebook and cello tape. It was hideous and crumbled upon the lightest touch. And I’m happy it got lost in the shuffle some time in my teenage years. (I still suspect my mom threw it out.)
Ok, moonwalking on memory lane, back to the present. Yeah, that’s not the kind of herbarium I’m talking about. The ones they sell nowadays are vintage-inspired and very dainty. Have a look at this one, for example. How cute is this?
9. Plant moisture meter
We’re veering into tech territory for a hot minute here. A plant moisture meter helps you measure the moisture of your plants’ soil, so it takes the guesswork out of watering your plants. This gift is for the plant-loving gadget-loving geek. For the rest of us less techy inclined, this tool can be a plant-saver.
Here’s a plant moisture meter that has good reviews at the time of publication.
10. Coloring books
Adult coloring books have been a thing for at least five years now, and I totally get why. It’s really relaxing to doodle around (inside or outside the lines) while letting your mind wander. It gets you doing things with your hands in front of a piece of paper, not another screen. It’s tangible and colorful and at the end you’re left with a beautiful illustration that you contributed to.
I don’t know, that just screams accomplishment, but maybe I’m just an overly anxious millennial. I still think buying a coloring book with botanical illustrations would be a good idea if you’re looking for a gift that would de-stress the plant lover in your life.
Here’s a gorgeous A-Z of botanical illustrations coloring book for adults published by Defining Design Art.
11. A subscription to a plant-identification app
This has been a life-saver in the garden this year, but it works a charm for houseplants too. Because nothing is more annoying than buying a plant that comes with the “tropical foliage” label. Ok, but what foliage? And what does that even mean?
You can gift a subscription for a plant-id app such as Picture This (my app of choice) or offer them an app store gift card with a list of pre-researched apps for geeky plant lovers. This way, you’re keeping it personal and showing that you’ve put some effort into it.
12. Pop-culture inspired planters
Agh! Where should I start? You have Star Wars planters, Totoro planters, even The X-files planters.
The easiest way to shop for a geeky plant parent is to buy a planter that is inspired by the pop-culture element your plant lover likes most.
13. A gift card to a plant store
I left this suggestion for last because we know how some people feel about gift cards: impersonal and low-effort. I beg to differ. Especially when it comes to a plant houseplant hobby, the joy of finding and collecting plants from your wishlist tops the joy of getting a surprise gift. And you don’t necessarily have to get a gift card for the gardening section of Home Depot. You can get gift cards or vouchers for online plant stores, local mom-and-pop plant nurseries, Etsy stores or even from the small businesses themselves.
I hope this list gives you a starting point for buying a nice present for your plant-loving geeky friend. But you should just know that spending a couple of hours with them and letting them geek out about their passions, hobbies and goals is also a great gift.
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