Mother's Day is just around the corner, and maybe you're wondering what to get your mother, grandmother or stepmother to honor her on that day. Cut flowers are stunning, but they can also be stunningly expensive and short-lived. This year why not opt for a plant that--with the proper care--will bloom on and on. In fact, we think the choices below are pretty enough to give as gifts any day of the month:
Blooming Plants
Potted blooming plants are a good alternative to cut flowers. Most offer a long blooming period that will last well into summer. All prefer bright light to semi-shady conditions and are happiest when kept uniformly damp.
Bromeliads
If Mom doesn't have much of a green thumb, bromeliads, or epiphytes, are good low-maintenance gift plants. They'll last a couple of years or more and should be fertilized about every six months with a diluted (one-quarter rate) general fertilizer.
Hanging Plants
Easy-to-propagate spider plants thrive in sunny or semi-shady conditions. Water when the soil surface is dry and fertilize once a month during the growing season.
Roses
Ever-popular roses come in miniature varieties that can easily be cared for in the home. They do require direct sun for a minimum of six hours per day and should be fertilized once or twice a month with a rose fertilizer.
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