One of the many joys of miniature gardening is that it can be a really fun and personable gift that can last a long time. The one thing that we’ve learned about this hobby is that it’s so fun and rewarding – it becomes a little addictive! Personally I think that comes from the almost-instant gratification when you make a miniature garden: all the ingredients come together to make a super-cute scene that really isn’t that hard to do. This is why miniature gardens make such a great garden gift!
But wait. There’s more.
Giving the gift of miniature gardening to your mother can be an extra-added-long-lasting bonus for you because it will supply you with more gift ideas for the foreseeable future if she really takes to this new hobby! Think about it, how many times have you stressed about getting her a nice gift, at least three times a year, right? Your future Birthday, Mom’s Day and Christmas gifts are already lined up!
BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE!
Giving the gift of miniature gardening can be an extra-added-long-lasting bonus for you because it will supply you with
MORE GIFT IDEAS for a birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, Mother’s Day… you get the idea!
How to Gift Miniature Gardening
Here is a quick and easy flow chart to walk you through the process so you can choose the right plants. Be assured with this chart, you’ll be thinking of everything AND it’ll make the process stress-free and enjoyable for you too. Check out the photos with some of our past examples of set-ups too.
You’ll notice my very first question is, “Do they garden?”
The recipient needs to be some kind of gardener, or at least interested in learning about gardening, before you give them any plants.
I could tell you that being some kind of gardener isn’t a requirement and sell you something that will die in month just to make a sale, but that’s not how I roll. In order for the recipient to enjoy the gift of a miniature garden, they must have some knowledge of gardening or at least an interest in learning about it.
And what if they are not a gardener?
If you know that they will enjoy the idea of gardening in miniature but are not a gardener, why not introduce them to the hobby? Consider supplying them with more information first. This way they can get more comfortable with the idea, the plant-part of it and will come into the hobby when they are ready. And, no worries, they’ll still remember that it was you that introduced them to this awesome pastime – AND you now have even more future-gift ideas for them.
Otherwise, it’s like giving a person a puppy that they never expected to have and are not prepared to take care of it. Just because it’s a plant, doesn’t mean that they won’t stress about looking after it. But if you can give them inspiration and a way to grow and stay creative, now that’s a gift that will keep on giving.
A Miniature Garden Kit Idea Gallery
See below for more ideas on building your own kit. OR we have some kits here, up in our Two Green Thumbs Miniature Garden Center store.
Your Miniature Garden Shopping List
And here’s a shopping list if you want to assemble your own, to make sure that you remember everything:
- Tree or Shrub
- 2 ground covers, aka ‘mini bedding plants’
- Patio material
- Mini Patio Mix Kit
- An accessory for the garden bed
- A bench or patio set for the patio
- Instructions, an ebook or printed primer for the hobby
See what Miniature Garden Kits are in stock today here. Check back often, our inventory is always changing!
Like this? You might like our Mini Garden Gazette newsletter! It’s FREE and delivered straight to your inbox almost every week. Join us here. – Be sure to tell your Mom to join too! It’s a great way to stay on top of your hobby and stay inspired and creative.
I have done miniatures in the past and i loved it i want to start up again but i am much older now (82) and do not have as much energy. I have some black lanterns which i would like to use – perhaps a fairy garden in one, a sitting room in another and maybe a beach scene. they would definitely be indoors or in shade
are there trees or shrubs that can survive in a little pot? since the lanterns do not have drainage i know i am limited.
Hi Gloria, Without a place for the roots to grow, you’re limited but check out Meehans Miniatures in MD. Here is their webpage with low light plants that can be used as miniature trees but they’ll need some root space. https://www.meehansminiatures.com/indoor-plants/low-light-indoor/ – They only ship to a certain part of the US, I’m not sure where you are. If you aren’t not on their list of states that they ship to, take note of what plants you like and do a search in your area. Look for indoor plant shops or independent garden centers for the best results and ask for another idea of where to look if you don’t find them or they don’t have anything for you. VioletBarn.com is another resource for indoor miniature plants.
Another option are air plants – while there are not “trees” per se, you can still get a fun tropical vibe as they look great perched in the tiny pots. They’ll need light though. (They have indoor grow bulbs that fit regular lamps at your local hardware store or online.) Simple and easy.
And then a final suggestion knowing you are a miniaturist and we always love to figure out a way. :o) I’m wondering if you can somehow adapt the floor of the lantern to fit on top/right over the a potted tree and have the tree come-up in the lantern-part and the are roots hidden in the “floor.” This would give you a lot more plant choices if you can provide some root space. Either remove the floor altogether or cut a hole in it, maybe?