Growing herbs in your kitchen is always a good idea. As many of us look to personalize our kitchens despite having limited space, kitchen decor that's also useful is a win. Not only do potted herbs provide lively pops of green as well as lovely aromas, these plants also grant you instant access to fresh ingredients. You'll find yourself incorporating fresh herbs into more meals simply because they're right in front of you, ready to be plucked.
Rub the inside of a banana peel on to your plant's leaves to clean them and leave a glossy sheen. Some swear by it as a natural and free alternative to chemical leaf-shine sprays. Banana skins contain potassium and natural oils. In theory, these lift away dust while polishing, making the leaves look healthier. It's also completely free, since it repurposes something you'd usually throw away.
I review indoor hydroponic gardens for WIRED and have been a proud plant parent for almost 30 years, so I can say that even if you have a running mental catalog of all your recipient's houseplants and know which ones they don't yet have, you may not know what they have space for, or what kind of substrate or pot they'd like to be using.