Best Potted Plants for Mother’s Day

If you’re like many of us, Mother’s Day is one of those holidays that sneaks up on you. You know it’s sometime in the late spring, but the exact date always slips your mind. Unlike holidays like Christmas, which most of us would have a hard time forgetting, Mother’s Day is just one of those holidays that tends to slip through the cracks. Too often, we go from one day where Mother’s Day isn’t even on our radar, to the next day, when we suddenly realize Mother’s Day is tomorrow and we still don’t have a gift prepared.

If there’s one thing many of us can agree on, however, it’s that Mom is one of the best parts of our life. She’s sacrificed so much for our wellbeing and has always been there for us. That’s why we’re determined this is going to be the year nobody forgets about Mother’s Day until the last minute.

This year, we’re setting the record straight. Mother’s Day always falls on the second Sunday in May. In 2018, then, we’ll be celebrating our amazing moms on May 13. To help you get the ball rolling this year, we’re going to spend some time talking about one of the most classic and universally appreciated presents you can offer your mom — a beautiful potted plant.

It’s important to plan for Mother’s Day for several reasons. The first and most obvious reason is that it’s always best to plan for anything ahead of time. You’ll feel less rushed, more calm and collected and be less likely to buy impulsive presents you might have thought better of if you’d had more time to think it through.

Another reason it’s best to plan ahead for Mother’s Day is that you’ll be more likely to find the perfect gift. If you wait until the last minute, you might run into a store hoping to just grab something quickly before rushing over to give it to your mother. But you might find everyone else had the same idea, and the stores are all entirely sold out of whatever it was you wanted to give your mom.

Another reason is that some gifts take time to prepare. Maybe you need to order the gift online, and it takes time for the gift to arrive. If you do choose to give the gift of a potted plant, it takes time to find the perfect plant and the perfect pot and make them look beautiful. If you forget about Mother’s Day until the night before, you’ll never have time for a more detailed and thoughtful gift.

While it’s not for anyone to judge which gifts have more thought and love behind them, it seems most natural that the gift with more care and time behind it is superior to a gift you hastily grabbed off the shelf with little forethought.

These are all reasons it’s an excellent idea to spend a little time thinking ahead and planning the perfect gift and Mother’s Day experience for your mom. So mark your calendars for May 13, and don’t forget.

Which plants make the best Mother’s Day gifts? We can’t give you an exact answer, because the answer will be different for everyone. However, we can give you some tips to help you figure out which plants might be best for your mom.

When deciding on the best plants for Mother’s Day, here are a few things to consider:

1.How Much Space Does She Have?

Houseplants come in all shapes and sizes. Some, like tiny succulents, are so small they can fit on a narrow windowsill. Others, like palm plants, can easily grow so large they swallow an entire corner of the living room.

Because there’s such a wide variety in size, you’ll need to think carefully about how much space your mom has. Does she live in a small apartment? If so, you might want to limit yourself to smaller varieties. If, on the other hand, she lives in a large house with plenty of room to spare, you might feel free to explore larger options.

2.How Much Experience Does She Have With Plants?

Some plants are easier to care for than others. A cactus, for example, can go weeks without water, which makes them an ideal option for those who don’t have a lot of plant experience and might accidentally forget to water and care for a houseplant.

However, if your mom is an experienced gardener, she might enjoy the challenge of a more sensitive plant. In cases like these, feel free to try a more delicate plant that requires a little more care and attention.

3.Does She Travel a Lot?

Initially, this question might seem irrelevant. However, if your mom travels a lot, you do not want to choose a plant that requires constant care. If she is frequently out of town for days or even weeks at a time, this will limit your options.

If, on the other hand, there is someone available to care for your mom’s plants while she’s away, this opens your options back up. Whether this is another family member, a neighbor or a close friend, having someone to water her plants while she’s away means you can feel free to choose more high-maintenance varieties.

Now that you’ve considered the important factors of space, experience and potential travel, it’s time to look at a few choices we think would make great Mother’s Day plants. We offer a variety of houseplants for sale that will surely put a smile on your mother’s face.

1. Orchids

Orchids are beautiful and colorful, so it’s no wonder they’re one of the most popular houseplants available. Because of their slightly exotic-looking nature, you might assume orchids are difficult to care for, and are only for advanced gardeners.

The good news is that this is completely untrue. Orchids are actually quite easy to care for, and anyone can enjoy them, regardless of prior gardening experience.

2.Succulents and Cactuses

If your mom is frequently away from home and would do best with a plant that doesn’t require constant watering and attention, she might enjoy a cactus or succulent. These plants naturally grow in arid climates and are quite capable of going weeks at a time without water. They also require very little additional maintenance, since they grow so slowly.

Succulents and cactuses both come in a huge array of different colors, sizes and shapes. Some are spiky, some are soft and still others are smooth. No matter what your mom’s taste is, you’re sure to be able to find something she likes.

3.Flowering Houseplants

When we think of houseplants, we most often think of greenery that lasts year-round. We may not often think of bright blossoms and flowers. That doesn’t mean flowering houseplants don’t exist. When you’re shopping for potted plants for Mother’s Day, why not consider an African violet or a peace lily?

African violets are gorgeous plants that can thrive indoors and produce small, purple blossoms that will brighten up any room. Peace lilies are also beautiful, with their distinctive dark green leaves and white flowers, but did you know they’ll also help clean the air inside your house? These are just two of the many flowering houseplants you might choose from.

4. Lilacs

Lilacs aren’t just well-loved for their beautiful and distinctive purple blossoms. They also have most fragrant scents , making them highly desirable, whether they’re in a bouquet or planted in the yard.

While you might gift lilacs in a pot, they won’t keep very long there. They’ll blossom for a little while, but if you want them to survive for years to come, lilacs will need to be planted outside. Once they’re in the ground, these beauties will return every year, where they’ll continue to grow and add more blossoms to their branches.

5. Azalea

This plant is another option you can gift in a pot, but that will need to be planted before too long. These beautiful flowering shrubs come in varieties that can sport stunning red, purple or pink blossoms. The blossoms might not last extremely long, but they’re so beautiful they’re worth waiting for. Best of all, the blossoms will appear each year around the same time as Mother’s Day, making them the perfect reminder of the love between you two every year.

While this plant will certainly grow, it won’t immediately shoot out in size and take over the entire garden. Azaleas are a good choice to plant in garden spaces where a more extreme grower would not do well.

6. Virginia Bluebells

If you’re looking for a flower that’s both striking to look at and does well in a pot, look no further than Virginia bluebells. Their blossoms will bloom during the spring months before going dormant in the summer and returning again the following spring. As a bonus, they love the shade, making them a great option for settings where sunlight is hard to come by.

7.A Mason Jar Terrarium

Looking for a way to gift a plant while also including a more personal touch? Why not try creating a terrarium in a mason jar? To do this, just fill a mason jar with soil and rocks, and plant a tiny bit of greenery. If you want to add an extra touch of fun, you might also add a miniature garden ornament or decoration.

This is a great option for several reasons. Firstly, it’s highly personal because you created it yourself. Second, it takes up virtually no space at all, making it ideal for situations where your mom doesn’t have a lot of room to spare. Finally, it’s extremely easy to care for and is limited gardening experience.

Most likely, you’ll have bought your potted plant at least a few days before Mother’s Day. Until you gift it to Mom, it’s your job to keep the plant looking fresh and beautiful.

Every plant will have slightly different care requirements, so we recommend asking about it at the garden center or nursery you purchased it from. If this is not an option, a quick Internet search should provide a few answers. Some good rules of thumb to follow are:

• Provide the plant with some sun.
• Keep the soil moist, but not soaked.
• Be careful not to bend the leaves or stalks or cause the plant any undue stress.

If you are still unsure on the perfect gift this Mother’s Day, check out our top 5 picks for Mothers Day.

Visit Patuxent Nursery to find beautiful shrubs, houseplants, perennials and much, much more. We’re located in Bowie, Md., and we’re proud to supply the surrounding region with top-quality plants and gardening supplies.

Contact Us

If you live in or near Bowie, be sure to stop in and check out our full in-store selection of houseplants as you get ready for Mother’s Day. We can’t wait to help you pick out the perfect gift for your mom. If you have any questions at all about our selection or anything else, contact Patuxent Nursery.