Episode: #13 9/12/06
Presenter: Sue McDougall

Giving a living gift will be remembered for many years to come. There is a huge range of plants that make great easy to care for gifts for friends and family and it can become very confusing selecting the right plant.

It is easy for the keen gardener, they usually love everything but what do you give the person who loves plants and is terribly forgetful at watering them?

Well you are in luck because some of the most modern contemporary plants on the market now are some of the most water wise and are perfect to give as gifts.

Echiveriea are brilliant succulents that make a statement and say ?look at me?. The particular variety called Blue Curl (Echeveria cv. ?Blue Curl?) has grey-blue foliage shades, with reddish-pink edges that curl. The foliage colour intensifies in a dry or sunny position and in the colder months. This is about the largest they get and in autumn long flower stalks develop adding another dimension to the simply stunning plant.

Vase plants (Aechmea fasciata) have been around for many years and are hard to pass up. Only requiring water in the vase and occasionally around the soil the huge flowers keep their colour for up to 12 months. Teamed up with a rustic copper planter it is a perfect choice for an alfresco area, or well, lit living area.

For many people who have everything a plant is a perfect choice and a Sansieveria is unkillable. Placed in a modern style glazed pot they are guaranteed to be a talking point and are ideal for offices or low lit rooms.

This amazing plant loves humid environments and lives on the moisture in the air. Usually you will find it growing in a shade house area or hanging from a tree. A little tip to keep it growing in summer is dunk the whole plant in a bucket that contains a weak solution of liquid fertiliser every fortnight.

Home made Christmas presents from children are always so nice to receive and Sue has a great, easy idea that the kids can create themselves and have hours of fun with. I am sure any grand parent would love to receive one; rock family paperweights. All you need to do is select some smooth polished rocks and some Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides).

Select the rock you want and draw a funny face on it. Then put some silicone on the top of the rock and put some Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides) in place as hair. You can be as crazy as you like. This plant will keep growing forever. Mist with a spray bottle occasionally or dunk in a container of water.

For anyone you know who loves gardening, one of the best gifts is a membership to the Garden Gurus online Garden club.