Got a plant as a gift? What to do in the first week
Most gift plants come straight from a greenhouse in foil or a sleeve, so the first week is about giving them air, light and a good drink only when they need it. Take off the foil or poke holes in it, check for a drainage hole, put the plant in bright light away from drafts, and feel the soil before you water. Keep it apart from your other plants for a while to check for pests, and look it up before a pet gets curious.
Should I take off the foil or plastic sleeve?
Decorative foil looks festive, but it traps every drop that drains through the pot. UGA Extension and UNH Extension both say to remove foil and other waterproof covers or punch holes in them, then set the pot on a saucer. If you love the foil, take the plant out to water it at the sink, let it drain, and slip the foil back on, as University of Illinois Extension suggests.
Why it matters: roots need air as well as water. Nebraska Extension explains that roots sitting in water die and rot, and Illinois Extension notes that a plant rarely recovers from root rot. Poinsettias are especially touchy about it, according to University of Delaware Extension and NC State Extension.
The tall paper or plastic sleeve that protects a plant on the trip home should come off once you're inside. Nebraska Extension says a sleeve left on too long can make the lower leaves yellow and drop.
What if the pot has no drainage hole?
Iowa State Extension says a pot without a drainage hole keeps the soil wet until the roots rot, and a layer of gravel in the bottom doesn't fix it. The simple answer is to double pot: keep the plant in a plain pot with a hole and set that inside the pretty one. Illinois Extension recommends the same setup, and adds that you should never let the inner pot sit in water.
After watering, empty the saucer or the outer pot. University of Maryland Extension and Clemson Extension both say the pot shouldn't sit in the water that drained out.
Where should I put my new plant?
Most gift plants were grown in a bright greenhouse. UGA Extension says most potted gift plants want plenty of indirect light, and UNH Extension adds that too little light turns leaves yellow and makes flowers fade faster. Virginia Cooperative Extension agrees that most need bright light, though the exact amount varies by plant. Turn the pot now and then so it grows evenly.
Drafts and sudden heat do as much harm as poor light. UGA Extension, UNH Extension and Nebraska Extension all warn against spots near outside doors, heating and cooling vents, radiators and fireplaces. Keep leaves from touching cold window glass at night.
For temperature, UGA Extension suggests about 60 to 75°F (16 to 24°C), and Nebraska Extension about 65 to 75°F (18 to 24°C) by day. Slightly cooler nights help flowers last longer, according to UGA and UNH Extension.
When should I water it?
Gift plants get overwatered more than anything else, because watering feels like the caring thing to do. UNH Extension, Maryland Extension and Clemson Extension all say to skip the fixed schedule and check the soil instead. Clemson suggests pushing a finger into the mix to the first knuckle, about an inch, and Maryland suggests about two inches down, so either depth works. Lifting the pot helps too: a light pot is a dry pot.
A few gift plants like different treatment. Azaleas stay evenly moist, according to NC State Extension, Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Chicago Botanic Garden. Orchids in bark dry out between waterings. Our poinsettia care card, Christmas cactus care card and orchid care card cover each one.
Should I repot it right away?
Clemson Extension says to repot only when roots fill the pot, poke out of the drainage hole or the plant needs water very often, and to avoid repotting a plant that's flowering, struggling or resting. Penn State Extension also names spring, when growth starts, as the best time. A gift plant in bloom is better left in its pot for now. UNH Extension says a growing gift plant may need a bigger pot after about a year.
Should I keep it apart from my other plants?
New plants are the most common way pests get into a home. Colorado State University Extension says scale, mealybugs and whiteflies are the pests most often brought in on bought or gifted plants, and suggests keeping newcomers apart for at least three weeks. Sources differ on how long: University of Minnesota Extension suggests one to two weeks, and Clemson Extension suggests six, checking about once a week. Longer is safer.
When you check, look under the leaves, along the stems, on the soil and around the pot. Clemson and Penn State Extension list the usual suspects: mealybugs, scale, whiteflies, aphids, spider mites and fungus gnats. Our spider mites and thrips guide and fungus gnats guide show what to do if you find any.
Should I fertilize a gift plant?
UNH Extension says a newly bought plant doesn't need fertilizer while it's flowering, and that too much fertilizer builds up harmful salts in the soil. UGA Extension adds that plants you keep for months benefit from occasional feeding at label rates. The Chicago Botanic Garden says to hold off on kalanchoe and azalea while they flower, and to start feeding a moth orchid only after the flowers drop.
Why is my gift plant dropping leaves?
UNH Extension lists drafts, uneven moisture, dry air, temperature swings and too little light as the main reasons gift plants drop leaves and buds. Nebraska Extension adds cold, such as a chilly trip home below 50°F (10°C), and a sleeve left on too long. Some plants simply react to being moved: Iowa State Extension says weeping figs and tropical hibiscus often drop leaves in a new spot and usually grow new ones within a couple of weeks.
Some gift plants are meant to be enjoyed for one season. Virginia Cooperative Extension notes that many decline in a home's drier air and lower light, and UGA Extension says the same of potted mums. That's normal, and you didn't do anything wrong.
Is my gift plant safe for cats and dogs?
The ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list is the best place to start. Here is what it says about common gift plants:
| Gift plant | ASPCA listing for cats and dogs | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Poinsettia | Toxic | Mild: the sap irritates the mouth and stomach |
| Christmas cactus | Non-toxic | The ASPCA lists Schlumbergera bridgesii; the Thanksgiving cactus often sold under the same name isn't on the list, but NC State lists it as non-toxic |
| Moth orchid | Non-toxic | |
| Amaryllis | Toxic | Can cause vomiting, diarrhea and drooling |
| Easter lily and other true lilies | Toxic to cats | Can cause kidney failure in cats |
| Kalanchoe | Toxic | Usually vomiting and diarrhea |
| Mums | Toxic | Vomiting, diarrhea and drooling |
| Cyclamen | Toxic | The tubers are the most dangerous part |
| Azalea | Toxic | Can be serious |
| Peace lily | Toxic | Irritates the mouth; it isn't a true lily |
True lilies need the most care. The US Food and Drug Administration says every part of a lily, even the pollen and the water in the vase, can cause kidney failure in cats, and that waiting to get help can make the damage permanent. Keep lilies out of any home with a cat.
The ASPCA also notes that eating any plant can upset a pet's stomach, so non-toxic doesn't mean it's fine to eat. If a pet chews a plant and seems unwell, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. Our pet-safe houseplants guide has more plants to check.
Bringing a plant to a Thanksgiving host? Our Thanksgiving hostess gifts guide marks which of eight gift plants are safe for pets.
How does Grove help with a new plant?
If the tag didn't say what your new plant is, a plant care app that identifies plants and checks their health from photos, such as Grove Plant Care, can name it and flag early signs of trouble. Grove identifies the plant from a photo, runs a health check from a few photos, and builds a care plan that explains its reasoning. Watering shows up as a check, and you can assign tasks, so whoever is home looks at the soil before anyone pours. If the plant is staying in another room for a few weeks, it's still on everyone's list.
Grove Plant Care is in private beta and isn't in the App Store or Google Play yet. Join the waitlist to try it first.
Sources
- Care of Holiday and Gift Plants (Circular 951) : University of Georgia Cooperative Extension
- Care of Flowering Gift Plants in the Home : University of New Hampshire Extension
- Keep Gift Plants Under Wraps : Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County
- Poinsettias : University of Delaware Cooperative Extension
- Holiday Houseplants : N.C. Cooperative Extension
- Care of Specialty Potted Plants : Virginia Cooperative Extension
- Holiday Plants That Keep Giving : Chicago Botanic Garden
- Container Drainage Options : University of Illinois Extension
- How to Select Quality Plant Containers : Iowa State University Extension
- Moving Indoor Plants Outside for the Summer : Iowa State University Extension
- Indoor Plants: Watering : Clemson Cooperative Extension
- Indoor Plants: Transplanting and Repotting : Clemson Cooperative Extension
- Common Houseplant Insects and Related Pests : Clemson Cooperative Extension
- Watering Indoor Plants : University of Maryland Extension
- Repotting Houseplants : Penn State Extension
- Tips for a Bug-Free Houseplant Haven : Penn State Extension
- Managing Houseplant Pests : Colorado State University Extension
- Insects on indoor plants : University of Minnesota Extension
- Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants : ASPCA Animal Poison Control
- Lovely Lilies and Curious Cats: A Dangerous Combination : US Food and Drug Administration