How to Care for Gift Plants

Gift plants are a common offering at different times and for different occasions. Many gift plants are intended to live short-term, only until blooming is done. Some gift plants can live much longer, continuing to bloom, if given the proper care.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Watering can

1. Place the plant in a cool room with a temperature of 55 to 65 degrees F at night, and keep it out of direct sunlight during the day while in bloom. This is the temperature it was grown in, so it will thrive best in similar conditions.

2. Pinch or cut off the faded flowers once blooming has stopped, and put the gift plant in the brightest spot in the house. Avoid exposure to direct midday sun when possible.

3. Move the gift plant outside in the summer. Start it out in a shaded area, then move it into a slightly sunnier position every 2 weeks until it builds up a tolerance to partial shade without getting burned. It can safely be planted permanently in the ground at this time.

4. Water it carefully. The plant will need more water outside in the sun than it did inside. Allow the plant's soil to become only slightly dry between watering. Do not keep the soil soaked.

5. When the temperature outside begins to cool off, it is time to move your gift plant back indoors if you did not plant it permanently in the yard.

Tips & Warnings

• Keeping blooms pinched back in a more compact manner as opposed to trailing and sprawling will create a more hearty, healthy plant.
• Keeping the soil soaked will result in root rot, stress and eventual death of your plant. Pay close attention to the condition of the soil before you add more water.