When you have a friend or family member in the hospital, your first instinct might be to send a floral arrangement. Although we absolutely adore flowers at Boyd’s Flowers in Wilmington, we usually recommend sending live plants to patients in the hospital. Whether you select a blooming variety or an overflowing planter of lush greenery, a live plant will warm-up your loved one’s room and accelerate their recovery. Plus, live plants last longer because they’re alive. So, your loved one can appreciate your well-wishes long after he or she has recovered and returned home from the hospital.

Why Live Plants Are the Best Gifts for Hospital Patients

Live plants have therapeutic effects on everyone, but these effects are fantastic for patients, as they recover from illness, injury, or surgery. Plants not only clean the air and replenish oxygen, studies have shown that they impart specific benefits on hospital patients. Indoor plants have been shown to reduce both physiological and psychological stress.

Hospital patients with plants in their rooms tend to have lower blood pressure, experience less pain, require less pain medication, and report feeling more energetic than patients occupying rooms without plants. Patients with plants in their rooms have even expressed more positive feelings toward hospital staff than those without the uplifting vibes that live plants deliver.

The Best Get-Well Plants for Hospital Delivery

Some of the best get-well plants for the hospital are pure-green beauties. Popular potted plants include pathos and spider plants, peperomia, arrowhead vine, and Chinese evergreens. These plants and others are heavy-hitters when it comes to purifying the air, balancing humidity, and creating a calming atmosphere.

One of our get-well favorites, the Ceramic Dish Garden, delivers both air-cleaning, good-for-you greenery and color. This artfully arranged garden features a variety of verdant plants potted in a tranquil-colored green ceramic planter. Your recipient will delight at the addition of stem vases and bright blooms speckled throughout the arrangement, offering a burst of temporary color. Plus, the arrangement is just the right size to brighten a hospital room, without overwhelming it.

Ceramic Dish Garden

How to Choose and Send a Plant to a Hospital

If you have a loved one in the hospital, the following tips will ensure your cheer-up gift gets delivered without any hiccups:

• When selecting a plant or gift to send to your loved one, make sure it’s a gift they’ll be able to enjoy. Consider whether he or she has any pollen allergies or sensitivities to fragrances. If so, we recommend selecting a non-blooming live plant or even an edible gift.
• Before ordering, contact the medical center to find out whether they allow deliveries, specifically the delivery of flowers or live plants.
• Ask if they have any instructions regarding deliveries, such as allowable delivery times or days.
• Be sure to get your loved one’s room number, too!
• When you contact our florist, be ready to relay the hospital’s name and address. We’ll also need the recipient’s room number and full name.
• If you like, we’ll also deliver a note with your gift. It’s a good idea to have your brief message ready when you order.

Gift Baskets, Stuffed Animals, and More — What to Send When You Can’t Send a Plant

Some hospitals have policies that do not permit floral arrangements or live plants in patient rooms. If you can’t send a live plant, there are still plenty of ways you can deliver cheer to your loved one’s hospital room. Consider sending a get well gift like a gourmet basket, a pampering kit, or a cute and cuddly plush friend.

No matter the gift you choose, our professional florists and well-wishers at Boyd’s Flowers in Wilmington, Delaware can help you deliver high spirits and good health to your loved one. Contact us to order a delivery today!

For sample Get Well messages to include with your flowers, or tips on how to write the perfect Get Well message, visit our Card Messaging page.