It’s The Perfect Time To Gift Friends an Almost-Free Friendship Plant

If ever there was a year to make sure holiday presents check multiple boxes, this is it: More people than ever are trying to make sure their gifts don’t break the bank and provide a sense of comfort to loved ones who are spending more time than ever at home. While there are plenty of low-cost ways to send someone a bit of homey cheer, my go-to home decor gift feeds right into one of the biggest home trends this season and makes me feel connected to my friends in a tangible way.

I call the tradition giving “friendship plants,” aka the green thumb version of a friendship bracelet. It costs almost nothing to do, but if you’re looking to give the gift of greenery this year, this weekend is the perfect time to get started.

The idea of a metaphorical friendship plant is simple: All you do is propagate a few cuttings from a plant you already own and love, and gift your friend the sprouted plants so that they can plant them at home. (This is not to be confused with the popular pilea involucrata, which is also known as a friendship plant in its common name, though those take to cuttings incredibly well, too.)

If you have a thriving plant—I especially like using philodendrons, pothos, and even my overgrown monstera, whose name is Fester—for this, the gift will be almost free. Keep costs down by gifting the plant in a Mason jar adorned with a bit of festive ribbon, though if you want to go the extra mile you can find a unique vase that reminds you of your intended recipient. (I’ve found so many pretty options at my local thrift store, but you can certainly order one at your favorite retailer.)

Here’s a quick breakdown of the process, including ways to elevate the gift so your friends think of you whenever they care for their new plant.

There’s no one way to propagate a plant, and some varieties of plants will take longer to sprout roots than others.

I like pothos, philodendrons, and monstera because they provide easy clues to look for: Simply cut a stalk below where a bumpy node has appeared, making sure that each cutting has a leaf firmly attached to it. Set the cuttings in a cup or vase filled with fresh water, and set it it aside. Change the water every few days and check the plants regularly to get rid of any stems that have rotted in water. In a few weeks, your cuttings will have sprouted roots and will be ready for their new soil home.

You can also propagate plants that have sprouted baby plants, or pups, much more quickly, though they often will need to be potted in soil and given as a gift that way. (I like to think of these as last-minute friendship plants.) You can also propagate succulents and cacti, but the process requires that you let the cutting “heal” and scab over before planting it in soil.

Gifting your plants will vary greatly based on the size and type of your cutting. If you’re gifting a monstera stalk or two, for example, you might want to invest in a pretty glass vase with a narrow neck that can both support the stem, and which your friend can use time and time again. Bud vases are a good option for this reason—just make sure you change the water before you drop your gift off.

If I’m gifting a bunch of pothos or philodendron cuttings—which is easy, given how quickly the vine-heavy plants like to grow—I opt for a Mason jar with a narrow lid. (You can buy a 12-pack of 16-oz jars from Amazon for $36, or a 24-pack of 8-oz jars for $29.99.) Cleaned salsa jars with the label removed will also do the trick—just be sure to get all the gunk off first.

To jazz up your jar, why not tie a jaunty ribbon around its mouth? Raffia, holiday-ready plaid, and glittery or velvet ribbons will all work, but these reusable fabric ribbons from Baggu will stand the test of time.

Of course, if you’re giving a succulent or a plant pup, you might want to spend a little time this weekend coffee bag pots. There’s also the tried and true method of gifting a pot itself. A set of 12 teeny terracotta pots costs just $18.99 on Amazon—just be sure to soak any terra cotta pot thoroughly before using it.

But the most crucial part of continuing a friendship plant tradition?

My first friendship plant was one that was gifted to me by my friend, who included a hand-written notecard (much like a recipe card!) with something like a plant genealogy. That’s how I know that my philodendron was a cutting from her philodendron (whom she named Sue), which in turn was a cutting from another friend’s philodendron. To keep the tradition going, I write a note that includes information about my philodendron (now named Herman) and its family, er, tree, whenever I gift a new friend with a cutting or two.

Because plants grow more slowly in winter, it might take your cuttings a few weeks to develop sturdy roots. If that’s the case, let your friend know to keep them in water for a few more weeks before transferring them to a pot. You can also dip cuttings in rooting powder before transferring to soil to help the process along, or simply focus on hydroponic plants, which can thrive in no soil at all.