In the United States, Grandparents Day takes place on the first Sunday after Labour Day. What a blessing it is in these uncertain days to celebrate grandparents’ unconditional love and support. Plants are the perfect gift for this special occasion. Apart from spending time with your grandparents, we think that plants make the best gifts.

If your grandparents aren’t into buying more things, houseplants will make their homes healthier and more cheerful. They’ll also benefit from the well-documented mental health benefits.

These three criteria will help you choose the perfect plants for your grandparents.

• Houseplants should be new and new to them. Many of us remember the African violets on the windowsills, the African Violets in the corner of the house and the African Violets on the shelf of our grandmother’s home. These plants are making a comeback among millennials and Gen Z. Your grandma is likely to enjoy having some new plants around her house.
• Plants should be easy to maintain and stress-free. Nobody wants to send grandma on endless shopping trips to buy bottles of fertiliser, orchid bark or indoor trellises.
• Plants should be easy to maintain for older adults. The plants should be small and easy to carry. They shouldn’t require climbing or reaching high places. It is therefore not possible to grow oversized plants such as fiddle-leaf fig and monstera deliciosa.

Here are six suggestions for plants to give your grandparents.

1. Madagascar jasmine (Stephanotis floribunda)

What a show-stopper! When it is in bloom, the Madagascar jasmine will delight your senses. The waxy, rubbery leaves are as beautiful when the plant is in dormancy.

This plant is best when it’s slightly rooted and bound. (This doesn’t happen often to plants.) Only needs repotting once every three years.

It thrives in moist rooms, such as bathrooms or kitchens. The Madagascar jasmine likes bright indirect lighting and does not mind temperatures as low as 64°F in winter.

2. Panda plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa)

It’s a succulent with thick, juicy leaves, so it doesn’t require frequent watering. It doesn’t need to be watered often because it is a succulent.

The leaves of the panda plant are also very tactile, with their burgundy edges. They are covered in fine velvety hairs and are soft to touch. The panda prefers full sunlight from a window facing south or bright, filtered light. It can grow up to 1 to 2 feet high and remains compact until it reaches maturity.

3. Crispy Wave (Asplenium Nidus)

It’s so perfect-looking that you might even think it is artificial. Nope, it’s real. It’s perfect.

It prefers low or medium indirect light and a high level of humidity. It grows best at 70-80°F. It doesn’t care if you give it too much water, but please don’t leave it in wet soil for long.

Crispy Wave can be moved outdoors during the summer, provided it is kept in a shady spot under a canopy.

Crispy wave is a great grower with a long life span. It’s also super fun to propagate using spores. What a great experiment for kids and grandma.

4. Pilea peperomioides

We’re biased, yes! But we really believe Pilea makes the perfect gift for grandparents.

The Pilea does not require excessive light or water, and its growth pattern is compact throughout the plant’s life.

It is also low maintenance in that it only requires one repotting per year.

Pilea produces a large number of plants in a short time during its spring and summer growing seasons. We think that grandma might let you bring some Pilea puppies back to your home the next time you visit.

5. Peperomia obtusifolia

Green Gold Obtusifolia’s glossy texture and two-toned leaves will add a touch of colour to any space.

This Peperomia can be placed on a windowsill (especially the variegated varieties), but it prefers bright, indirect light during the summer months. In the winter, you should bring it closer to the light.

You can prune the new growth in the summer when the plant is at its most active. If you treat it well, it will reward you with beautiful white flowers that can reach up to 5 inches in length.

6. Nerve plant (Fittonia Albivenis).

This houseplant with a bold pattern comes in several colour combinations, including deep green, pink and chartreuse. The veining of the leaves’ surface isn’t only for aesthetic purposes. The veining helps the plant retain and capture as much sunlight as possible in its rainforest habitat.

Fittonia stem cuttings are very easy to propagate, making it a great plant for grandparents.

Fittonia is a plant that grows in the Fittonia family.