Quick Hostess Gifts - Dress up a Plant

Are you tired of handing your hostess the same old clay and plastic pots filled with plants? You can turn almost anything that will hold soil into a plant slipcover.

Since I have quite a few plants in my house, I enjoy looking for fun “pot covers” for some of them. The great thing about these decorative elements is that you don’t even need to take the plant out of the plastic pot it came in until it gets a bit bigger and needs to be re-potted.  Oversized soup mugs come in so many colors and designs. Pop a very small Poinsettia into one of them or use a large tea mug with a Christmas design to create an attractive hostess gift. Tuck a Christmas cactus into a Christmas tin. If your hostess has a black thumb, you may want to substitute a pretty pillar candle for the plant.

For a hostess gift that keeps on giving, buy a few herbs in small pots and stick them in a fun container that matches the kitchen. Some things I have used in the past are a serving dish in the china pattern the hostess uses, a jello mold, or a cake pan. If you are fortunate enough to live near a thrift store, keep an eye out for some of the vintage made in the USA pottery that shows up occasionally. Although McCoy is getting pricy, I’ve found California and UPCO pottery for a few dollars. These planters look great with a few herbs tucked into them.

If you plant your herbs directly into the container, make sure the hostess knows to water sparingly or to re-pot into a container with drainage holes. I prefer to tuck Spanish moss around the pots the plants came in instead of planting in the containers.

Finally, my favorite gift uses a large, clear mixing bowl. I buy a package of mini round Christmas ornaments and a small Poinsettia or Christmas Cactus. I put the plant in the center of the bowl and fill the sides of the bowl with ornaments. It makes a quick and pretty centerpiece.

For more hostess gift ideas, be sure to visit the discussion board.

-Katelyn Thomas

Katelyn Thomas is a freelance writer who has been making handmade gifts for friends and family for many years. She enjoys creating special gifts using materials she finds in the garden or around the house. She also writes for the gardening site at bellaonline.com and for her work from home site at workinginpjs.com.