Don’t think of the garden as a last resort as there are so many easy and inexpensive choices to make.  For example if you’d like to impress the boss, I’d suggest a Madonna Lily in flower – they are great for an air conditioned office.  Add a designer pot, sit it on the desk and you’ll be thought of every day.

Dads are easy, a gift voucher will keep him in vegetable seedlings for almost a year.  Mums require a little more thought – would a bright red poinsettia complete the Christmas table decorations or maybe a hydrangea in a pot for the front door to welcome guests.  Covered in large blooms at this time of year, the colour choices are wonderful. I love white as it maintains its colour without fussing with pH levels.

Younger gardeners are enveloping the latest trends – air plants in glass bowls, glass terrariums in all shapes and sizes, Ficus lyrata (Fiddleleaf Fig),  and currently, the most popular gift are the wide choices of cacti and succulents.  The unusual shape of cacti are a great choice for the young male, whereas girls love multiple small succulents planted in bowls and ceramic pots.

If you are visiting friends and unsure of their décor, the ideal plant is a citrus, particularly lemons and limes which can be grown either in the ground or in a large pot.  Ask at your point of purchase for a cultural leaflet to add to the package.

Many of today’s gardens are compact with villas and apartments demanding smaller plants such as bonsai.  Cultivation of bonsai can be extremely rewarding, and the giving of such a gift can stimulate a new hobby – keep in mind that bonsai can’t be grown inside indefinitely.  They require fresh air, a sheltered position and daily watering.

A great choice for the keen gardener is a NSW Christmas bush which are flowering now. This ensures getting a true red. Finally, remember to water your living Christmas tree and may you and your family be blessed with a happy and healthy Christmas.