On the most romantic day of the year, what makes your Valentine happy? The traditional box of roses? Chocolate? Cologne? Tickets to a ball game or concert? Well, if your significant other is a gardener, keep reading.

A Bouquet of Flowers

It may sound common, but a gift of beautiful flowers is hard to beat, on any day of the year, including Valentine’s Day. Kathy Valentine (yes, that’s her real name), president of The Plant Professionals, an interior plant design and maintenance firm in Lansing, MI, has some interesting thoughts for traditional floral gifting. “I always suggest a mixed bouquet keyed to the favorite colors of the recipient, rather than just red roses,” she says. “I also recommend bright bromeliads in fun planters for a lasting token of love.” Kathy warns, however, that bouquets may look quite different this year because of the loss of a key element. Leatherleaf fern, used as filler when stemmed flowers are presented in a vase, was heavily damaged by the recent cold in central Florida.

Another contributor to the bouquet approach is Debra Prinzing, founder and creative director of Slow Flowers LLC and slowflowers.com. She says, “Now, more than ever, it’s easy to get out of the one-dozen-imported-long-stemmed-red-roses rut at Valentine’s Day, and to do something creative in floral gifting. For example, buy local tulips, pot up an orchid, plant a tray of paper whites or force flowering branches that unfurl when you bring them indoors. These are great options, especially for gardeners.”

“The members at slowflowers.com are shipping American grown tulips, calla lilies, succulent gifts and mixed bouquets for Valentine’s Day gifting coast-to-coast,” Prinzing continues. “Local florists, even in the areas of the country where there’s snow on the ground, are tied into these national sources and they won’t disappoint.”

If the traditional approach doesn’t appeal to you, here are ten more ideas for the Valentine gardener:

Plant containers

There so many pot selections available that choosing one is almost overwhelming. Here are a several options, some which come in kit-form:

1. Kokedama. This is a method that originated in Japan. Roots are packed into ball with moss and clay to hold their shape. Kokedama merges traditional planting styles of kusamono and bonsai. Interested? Pistils Nursery in Portland, OR, has a DIY kit.
2. Hypertufa. This is a versatile material made from Portland cement, peat moss and perlite, and it makes a great container for plants. Gift your Valentine with a readymade hypertufa container filled with succulents. Alternatively, buy a kit, or even schedule a class. Harry P. Leu Gardens offers a hypertufa class February 24, 2018, at 1920 N Forest Ave, Orlando, FL. Charlie Thigpen’s Garden Gallery, Birmingham, AL, offers classes for $55 – gift certificates may be available. Call 205/328-1000 for scheduling information. Farmbrook Designs offers lots of options from which to choose, including an all-inclusive hands-on Hypertufa Kit.

Terrariums

There are many classes devoted to designing terrariums with succulents (and other plants). The selling point the no-maintenance aspect. Another possible DIY project, sign up for the “Make a Terrarium” class at Sugar Creek Gardens, St. Louis, MO.

A Whole Season of Fresh Bouquets

If you want to lavish your love with a field of just-picked blooms, Prinzing says, “Buy a CSA gift certificate from a local flower farmer — it’s called Community Supported Agriculture.” Learn more at slowflowers.com. Native Roots Farm, in Westville, Indiana, offers an optional floral bouquet along with its edible produce. Check with your local co-op to see if there is one nearby that offers a touch of romance with your veggies.

Lighting System for Indoor Plants

Whether your Valentine likes to start with seeds for the outdoor garden or to grow plants indoors, shine some light on the process with the Jump Start system from HydroFarm. It’s a great way to learn more about growing under lights with an entire kit that includes light, reflector, stand and adjustable height supplement.

Hydrofarm Jump Start – photo by Jean Starr

Garden Gloves

Gloves get wet, torn, buried or otherwise become useless, whether permanently or temporarily. For mid-season use, anything that keeps the worst of the dirt from encroaching under the nails is helpful. While some gsrdeners use vinyl gloves, others prefer leather, or synthetic nylon blends. If you are not sure which kind to give, sneak a look at some your Valentine’s old gloves to see what is likely preferred.

Lotions and Soaps for Gardeners

It’s good to have Technu on hand, especially if there is poison ivy lurking in the garden. It works by removing the oils before they can become serious irritants. After finishing up for the day, if you’ve had a run-in with poison ivy, and a subsequent use of Technu, a good hand lotion is essential. Fragrant creams and lotions are not your friends in the summer if mosquitoes are a concern. Visit Beesential for a hand-made skin cream from honey, beeswax and oils. Best of all, there is a fragrance-free option that mosquitoes won’t be attracted to.

Gardening Classes

Is your Valentine loves to learn about plants and gardening methods, check your local public garden for classes. Classes are also offers throughout the year at your local county extension services which are affiliated with your State agricultural university. You can find your county extension office at gardeningknowhow.com.

Books and/or Magazine Subscriptions

In addition to invaluable online resources like plantersplace.com, magazines are some of the best ways keep tabs on the gardening world. But if your Valentine has become smitten with a particular plant, like African violets, orchids, hostas, succulents, etc. there are societies with regular publications that really dig down to the nitty-gritty details.

Bird Feeders

For a winter distraction, having a bird feeder within view of a favorite window can bring your Valentine hours of pleasure. Make sure to add a bag or two of seed to go with it.

Finch Feeder – photo by Jean Starr

Flowering, or Brightly-Colored, Potted Plants

1. Amaryllis. These are flowering bulbs that will bloom indoors. My personal favorites include varieties like ‘Opal Star’ (Cherry Crush) or ‘Razzle Dazzle’? Eden’s Bloom offers bulbs through their online store for early spring color. Click to learn more about amaryllis.
2. Bromeliads. This is a group of spikey, colorful plants that fortunately fall into the ‘low maintenance’ category, but don’t for a minute assume that means boring. The leaves are their claim to fame, ranging in color from deepest purple to bright chartreuse and every combination in between. Your local florist should have a fair selection of bromeliads, but if not, try ordering online from tropiflora.com.
3. Cyclamen. A bit on the tricky side, but oh, so worth it! Check out Nina Koziol’s feature, Growing Cyclamen on PlantersPlace.com for tips.
4. Kalanchoe. One of the easiest plants to grow, kalanchoe is a blooming succulent that comes in many different flower forms and colors. Check with your local florist to find one that will bring long-term color to your Valentine’s home (and with very few needs!).
5. Albuca spiralis. This plant can be irresistible. Picture leaves the size of medium spaghetti, only green and curly. Shirley Temple curly. It seems plant producers have also fallen in love with this African bulb, and came up with a catchy name, ‘Frizzle Sizzle’. Classified as a succulent, albuca spiralis goes dormant in the summer but because it blooms in springtime, it makes the perfect gift for a Valentine’s Day. Find it at Telos Rare Bulbs,
6. Gorilla Tubs. Once a potted plant has been selected, why not pack it in a useful and attractive package? Formerly called TubTrugs, Gorilla Tubs are versatile, lightweight containers that can be reused for harvesting, hauling, storing, mixing soil and more. Alternatively, chose one in red and fill it with all sorts of garden gifts.

So there you are, alternative gift ideas beyond the traditional for the Valentine gardener. Best of all, there’s nothing to prevent you from making a gift from this list AND adding a box of chocolates. Editor’s Note: Cacao is a basic food group. Well, it is at my house!