Gift Guide: Cures for a Black Thumb

What to buy for the gardener with a black thumb? (We are using the term “gardener” loosely here, to describe the sort who, if not for a predilection for killing houseplants, would live happily in an indoor jungle.)

This holiday season, help a would-be gardener along. Remember: it is not kind to give anything you know a black thumb will end up killing (step away from the ferns). Instead, spread seasonal cheer with a tough-as-nails houseplant and simple tools and tips to keep it alive.

We’ve rounded up a few holiday gifts guaranteed to turn a black thumb green:

Can’t-Kill Houseplants

New York-based The Sill has been one of our favorite purveyors of houseplants since 2012, when the fledging company began its door-to-door houseplant delivery service the same month we launched Gardenista. We feel like we’ve grown up together; nowadays The Sill ships nationwide and offers an entire collection of Plants for Beginners which in addition to the ZZ plant shown above includes a few other good choices to purchase for a black thumb.

Haworthia Zebra is a hard-to-hurt succulent ($29.50 in a pot, choice of six colors), and Pothos Jade is another plant with a strong survival instinct survivor ($44, including square Olmstead planter in choice of six colors).

Watering Can

Perhaps the somber color of this stylish watering can will send a gentle reminder to a black thumb to avoid over-watering? See more favorites in 10 Easy Pieces: Black Watering Cans.

Plant Misters

A little humidity in the air won’t hurt anyone … especially if your black-thumb friend already is holding a fern or two hostage.

How Not to Kill Your Plants

For UK readers, How Not to Kill Your Plants is £11.89 on Amazon UK.

Glasshouse Terrariums

A tiny glasshouse will showcase a low-maintenance tillandsia or two. How hard can it be to keep an air plant alive? (See: plant mister, above).

Air Plants

At these prices, I would say: stock up on air plants. Buy your black-thumb friend a few backups…