Housewarming Plant Gifts: Bring Greenery to a New Home

An Aloe Vera makes a thoughtful, low-maintenance housewarming gift that tolerates infrequent watering and bright, indirect light. In our testing, it stayed happy with a well‑draining pot and light drinks, and the leaf gel is handy for minor topical soothing when handled safely. Do note it’s toxic to cats and dogs and sensitive to overwatering, so place it out of reach and avoid soggy soil to prevent root rot. Slow growth keeps its tidy footprint perfect for a windowsill or desk.

If you want a hardy gift that tolerates neglect, the Costa Farms Snake Plant is very easy for low-light corners. In our testing, it handled infrequent watering and slow growth well, and shipments from reputable retailers arrived well-packaged and healthy. Our experience shows size and fullness can vary from photos, so manage expectations or consider ordering a larger pot if display impact matters. Because it isn't pet-safe, place it out of reach, and inspect on arrival; overwatered soil or occasional pests may warrant repotting into a fresh, well-draining mix.

Looking to green up a dim corner, we found the Parlor Palm thrives in low light and adds tropical texture to living rooms or offices. It's an easy, low-water pick and pet-friendly for homes with cats or dogs, making it a safe housewarming gift. Our experience shows it’s sensitive to soggy soil, so use a well-draining mix and avoid overwatering to prevent root rot. During our review, occasional spider mites and brown tips popped up in dry air; a periodic misting or humidifier kept fronds fresh as it slowly grows.

When you want instant color, the Guzmania Bromeliad delivers a long-lasting, vibrant bloom that brightens shelves or entry tables. During our review, we found it surprisingly easy for a flowering plant: occasional watering and bright, indirect light kept it happy. Our experience shows the bloom occurs once per rosette, so don't expect a rebloom on the same plant, and it appreciates warm, humid conditions. It's generally pet-safe, though ingestion may upset stomachs; a pebble tray or humidifier helps avoid brown tips as this slow grower settles in.

This Just Add Ice red anthurium arrives gift-ready in a sleek 5-inch ceramic pot, and the vibrant blooms held color for weeks during our review. We had better results watering by checking soil moisture than relying on the ice-cube method, which can be inconsistent. Give it bright, indirect light—low-light rooms won’t keep it flowering. As with most anthuriums, it’s not pet-friendly, so place it out of reach while you enjoy the glossy leaves and long-lasting color.

The Burgundy Rubber Plant makes a bold statement with deep, glossy leaves, and in our testing it proved easygoing in bright, indirect light. Water moderately and let the top portion of soil dry to avoid root rot, as this plant dislikes consistently wet feet or dim corners. Be cautious of the sap, which can irritate skin, and keep it away from pets. Because large suppliers can have variable shipping, inspect the plant on arrival and prune any damaged foliage.

‘Janet Craig’ is a polished, low-light workhorse with glossy dark leaves that instantly class up an entryway or office. In our testing, it stayed happiest with infrequent watering and filtered or distilled water to avoid fluoride/chlorine leaf browning, and it tolerates lower light better than many houseplants. Growth is slow, so don’t expect a dramatic size jump quickly. Because it’s toxic to pets, we recommend placing it where curious cats and dogs can’t nibble the foliage.

Peace lilies are beginner-friendly and rewarding—ours perked up dramatically after a drink and produced elegant white blooms in bright, indirect light. We found some units arrive in compacted or very wet soil, so a quick repot into an airy, well-draining mix helps prevent issues. Keep the watering moderate and let the plant signal thirst with a slight droop rather than keeping soil constantly soggy. Not pet-safe, so give it a prominent spot away from curious cats and dogs.

Costa Farms’ Golden Pothos is an easy, fast-growing classic that quickly adds lush, trailing greenery to a new home. Our experience shows it tolerates a range of light but looks best in indirect light with moderate watering—let the top inch dry to avoid soggy roots. It may arrive with a bit of soil spillage from shipping; a quick tidy and a cachepot fix that. Toxic to pets and children if ingested, so display it up high or in a closed room.

A mixed cactus pack is a wallet-friendly way to start a mini desert garden, and these low-water plants thrive with strong, direct sunlight. In our testing, they were happiest when watered sparingly and potted in gritty, fast-draining soil. Inspect on arrival—some buyers report shipping damage or occasional pests—and handle with care; spines are no joke around kids and pets. Not pet-safe and slow growing, they’re best placed up high on a bright shelf or sunny window ledge.

Altman Plants’ Desert Fire collection brings a striking mix of red-orange succulents that look fantastic in bright, direct sun. During our review, these drought-tolerant beauties thrived on minimal watering and appreciated a quick repot into a well-draining mix since the included 2.5-inch pots are tiny, and we liked that each variety was labeled with care tips for gifting. Expect slow growth and be mindful they’re not pet-safe. Because some shipments vary in condition, inspect on arrival and give them a sunny windowsill or grow-light boost to maintain their bold color.

This compact Back To The Roots kit brings basil, mint, and cilantro to the countertop with beginner-friendly instructions and giftable packaging. During our review, cilantro popped up quickest, while basil and mint benefited from extra warmth and careful moisture—watch for mold and improve airflow if needed. Some buyers find the included cans flimsy, so you may want to transplant to sturdier pots once seedlings establish. Pet-safe and easy care in bright, indirect light, it’s a fun starter garden for small kitchens.

This Buzzy Seeds organic starter kit is a gift-ready bundle with nine non-GMO herbs, pots, and markers—great for a sunny kitchen windowsill. In our testing, most varieties sprouted well under bright, indirect light with steady moisture, though germination can be mixed depending on conditions. The 3-inch terracotta pots are charming but small, so plan to repot as roots fill in, and check for cracks on arrival. Pet-safe and beginner-friendly, it’s an easy way to learn and harvest fresh flavors.

For new homeowners who want a polished look with less upkeep, the Lechuza CLASSICO Premium LS Planter elevates any room or patio. In our testing, the built-in self-watering reservoir genuinely cut watering frequency, and the removable inner liner made repotting and cleaning remarkably straightforward. The durable, UV-resistant polyresin holds up indoors and out, though the premium price is higher than basic plastic pots. Our experience shows certain substrates can cause wicking or drainage hiccups, and replacement parts or accessories may be tricky to source when stock runs low.

For a fuss-free way to grow herbs, the Click & Grow Smart Garden 3 fits beautifully on windowsills and tight kitchens. In our testing, its self-watering reservoir and automatic 16-hour light cycle minimized daily maintenance, and the tidy, pet-friendly setup matched its easy-care, low-watering profile. Be aware it relies on proprietary pods, which add recurring cost, and the LED can feel quite bright in small rooms. During our review, we saw a few inconsistent germinations, so gifting extra pods and placing the unit in bright, indirect light helped growth.