In his 1992 book The Five Love Languages, author Gary Chapman concludes there are five distinct ways humans express their love and ask for love to be expressed back. All five ways, which Chapman calls languages, are enjoyed to some degree by everyone, with varying levels of importance, however, a person will usually be drawn to one primary language.
The five love languages are: words of affirmation, physical touch, receiving gifts, quality time, and acts of service. Keeping your loved one’s primary love language in mind will help you pick meaningful gifts for Valentine’s Day and beyond.
Gift Idea for Words of Affirmation
If words of affirmation warm their heart, there’s no better way to add the boost of positive phrases into their life than by gifting them a ceramic message pop for their favorite houseplant. If you’re giving a gift for Valentine’s Day, consider the ‘I Dig You’ plant pop to let them know how you feel.
Gift Idea for Receiving Gifts
If receiving gifts is your loved one’s vibe, surprise them with a blooming plant or beautiful bouquet. Anthuriums, Bromeliads, and Orchids are all relatively easy to care for as houseplants and can bloom multiple times throughout the year. And if your Valentine shares their space with a curious cat or dog, both Phalaenopsis Orchids and Bromeliads are considered pet-friendly or non-toxic plants by the ASPCA.
Gift Idea for Acts of Service
If acts of service is your loved one’s primary love language—spend the day giving their houseplants some extra love by wiping down plants’ leaves, pruning unruly foliage, and giving them a thorough watering. You can even gift them a plant care upgrade like a functional yet stylish grow light or propagation vase.
Gift Idea for Physical Touch
If your loved one or partner’s love language is physical touch, we recommend gifting them supplies repot their plants, including your time and extra hands! Give them a Houseplant Repotting Kit, which includes everything you need to repot a tabletop plant, or put together your own kit with a bag of organic potting mix, a new planter with saucer, and any other plant care supplies your giftee could need.
Gift Idea for Quality Time
If quality time is the love language that speaks to your loved one, consider snagging two tickets to one of our in-person or online plant care workshops. You’ll brush up on your plant care knowledge (and learn something new) alongside your favorite person via Zoom.
Words By The Sill
Empowering all people to be plant people—a collection of articles from The Sill’s team of plant experts across a variety of plant care topics to inspire confidence in the next generation of plant parents. Welcome to Plant Parenthood™.
