How to wrap a plant for Mother's Day

A plant is the flower gift that's still there in June, but it needs to arrive looking like a present rather than something from a garden centre trolley. That's almost entirely down to hiding the plastic nursery pot.

Mothering Sunday lands in March in the UK, so it's also cold enough that a plant left in a car overnight will not thank you.

We don't sell plants - we make cards, pin badges and prints in house, printed in the UK. So this is a straight guide to the wrapping, and the card to send with it.

The rule that applies every time

• Wrap the pot, never the plant. Paper comes up to the rim and stops there.
• Tie at the rim with ribbon or twine so the foliage stays completely free.
• Tape a circle of card over the soil with a slit for the stem, so nothing spills in the car.
• Water lightly a day or two before, never on the day.
• Tuck the card into the ribbon rather than taping it to the pot.

Making it look like a present

• Slide the nursery pot straight into a plain ceramic pot - the single biggest upgrade for under a tenner.
• If you're wrapping, use soft paper in one colour with a wide fabric ribbon tied at the rim.
• Hessian with a fold-over cuff suits a herb or a foliage plant far better than pastel paper.
• Add one cut stem - a daffodil or a sprig of blossom - under the ribbon for the day itself.
• A hand-tied care label does more than any amount of tissue.

Which plants wrap well in March

• Potted hyacinths and mini daffodils - seasonal, scented and cheap.
• Peace lily or pothos if she's indoors and forgetful. Both survive neglect.
• A potted herb for anyone who cooks - it's used, not admired.
• An orchid if she already keeps plants alive; not if she doesn't.
• Avoid lilies entirely if there's a cat in the house - they're toxic.

What to write on the label

• Happy Mother's Day - this one lasts longer than flowers.
• Happy Mothering Sunday, Mum. Water it on Sundays and think of me.
• For the woman who keeps everything alive, including me.
• Happy Mother's Day - bright windowsill, not too much water.

Shop Mother's Day cards

How to write it so it lands

• Buy the plant two days early so you can water it lightly and let it drain.
• A ceramic pot cover hides more sins than any wrapping paper.
• March nights are cold - don't leave it in the car overnight.
• Write the care instructions on the card, not on a tag that gets binned.

Where to shop next

• How to wrap a plant for Christmas
• How to wrap a plant for Valentine's Day
• How to wrap a plant for Easter and spring
• How to wrap a plant for a birthday
• How to wrap a plant as a gift
• Plant gifts UK
• What plant to give for each occasion
• How to keep a gifted plant alive
• Gift wrapping ideas
• All guides
• Mother's Day ideas
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Pin badges

Frequently asked questions

Is a plant a good Mother's Day gift?

Yes, if you match it to how much she wants to look after. A pothos or peace lily survives neglect, an orchid doesn't. Both beat cut flowers on longevity.

How do you make a supermarket plant look like a gift?

Drop the nursery pot into a plain ceramic pot, wipe the leaves, tie one wide ribbon at the rim and add a handwritten care label.

Are lilies safe to give as a plant?

Not in a house with cats - lilies are seriously toxic to them. Choose a peace lily, herb or hyacinth instead, and check our pet safe plants guide.