The Importance of Plants in the Workplace
Although there’s little we can do about our working situations, we can improve our connection to Mother Earth by sprucing up the workplace with office plants.
Not just colourful accessories, plants in the workplace can improve our well-being and productivity and inspire us with their aesthetics. They’re calming presence also helps to alleviate stress.
We’ve listed our favourite low-maintenance high-reward desk plants that are easy to keep alive and care for (even if you take leave and forget about them).
Snake Plants
The snake plant or “mother in laws tongue” is one of the easiest houseplants you can buy. Being a resilient species, the snake plant is beginner-friendly. Only a little TLC is required to keep these plants alive.
If you’re buying a snake plant for your desk, look for one from the Dwarf Selection. Since some snake plant varieties grow several feet high, some might outgrow your limited desk space.
Characterised by its sword-like leaves, this spikey beauty will brighten a space - just don’t be tempted to touch the ends. The mildly toxic tips might cause skin irritation. Keep away from cats and dogs who nibble leaves!
Water Requirements: If you have plants in the workplace, add a dash of water every two weeks or monthly in winter once the soil is completely dried. Snake plants don’t tolerate overwatering and are susceptible to root rot - don’t flood your plant in water, even if you’ve previously neglected watering it.
Living Conditions: If you have snake plants in the workplace, know that these plants are survivors who thrive in bright or indirect sunlight, shady spots, and low-lit areas.
Aloe
Aloes are succulents with short or no stems and thick, fleshy leaves. Although a tough species to kill, aloes require ample light to thrive. These plants in the workplace are best suited for employees with access to direct sunshine or a window.
Aloes plants in the workplace are more than aesthetically pleasing; their leaves contain liquid with healing properties that treat light injuries, like scratching yourself on a snake plant!
Water Requirements: water weekly in summer and fortnightly in winter when the soil is dry two inches below the surface.
Light Conditions: If you have aloe plants in the workplace, know that these plants need six to eight hours of sunshine (indirect or bright) or fluorescent light daily. If the plant looks limp, it’s not getting enough light.
Aloes are more than aesthetically pleasing; their leaves contain liquid with healing properties that treat light injuries, like scratching yourself on a snake plant!
Lucky Bamboo
Featuring eye-catching swirls, leaves and braids, the lucky bamboo is a popular plant to decorate your desk. It also symbolises luck, health and fortune in Chinese culture, making it a good plant choice at work.
Water Requirements: Lucky bamboo can be grown hydroponically, meaning the plant can grow in nutrient-rich water. Using this method, you’ll need to replace the water regularly to prevent algae growth and make sure to keep the bamboo cuttings submerged in water.
Lucky bamboos also grow well in soil. Though these species prefer moist soil, they can easily be overwatered. For this reason, most handlers water the plant only when the soil is dry.
Living Conditions: Lucky Bamboos enjoy a warm, well-lit room. They’re indoor plants that won’t withstand the elements.
Peace Lily
The peace lily is a decorative plant that can live its whole life indoors. Easy to care for, peace lilies are desirable plants to start your collection of desk plants.
The peace lily typically flowers in spring, producing hooded white blooms that will add colour and lushness to the workspace.
The peace lily’s flowers exude a light fragrance that perfumes a stuffy, stale-smelling office. Additionally, The peace lily is known for its purifying qualities that clear the air of toxins.
Water Requirements: your lilies need regular feeding and might droop or wilt if you forget to water them. But they quickly revive after rehydration.
Living Conditions: peace lilies can tolerate most living conditions, including low-light locations, but will need a couple of hours of daily sunlight to encourage flowering.
Monstera
Monsteras are among the most common office plants. Its distinctive perforated leaves give it the nickname “swiss cheese”.
With their glossy, verdant leaves, monsteras are pretty plants that come in various sizes, with some small enough to fit your desk and others large enough to fill up vacant corners on the office floor. You can also plant them outside in an office courtyard.
Even if you decide on a smaller plant, ensure your space is large enough because monsteras are statement pieces that demand centre stage.
Water Requirements: the soil should be moist, not waterlogged or completely arid. Water every one or two weeks to achieve these conditions.
Living Conditions: monsteras need humidity and indirect sunlight
Pothos
Pothos are the perfect plant choice for those with the opposite of green thumbs. Inexpensive and undemanding, Pothos can survive most conditions - underwatering and overwatering - and different types of environments.
Pothos plants are trailing plants, meaning they have long and tangling vines. They’ll look better dangling in a hanging basket or from a shelf where they have space to trail than sitting on a desk.
Water Requirements: water every one or two weeks, allowing the soil to dry between feeds.
Living Conditions: pothos thrives in low and bright light and does well in nutrient-rich and nutrient-poor soil.
Pothos plants are trailing plants, meaning they have long and tangling vines. They’ll look better dangling in a hanging basket or from a shelf where they have space to trail than sitting on a desk.
Agloenema Chinese Evergreen
Aglaonema Chinese Evergreen is a beautiful yet tough plant. If you’re a first-time plant owner or have a spotty track record for keeping them alive, Agloenema Chinese Evergreen is perfect for you. They’re undemanding and can survive occasional negligence.
There are several variations of this plant, many featuring uniquely patterned foliage with pink splatters. They’re perfect office companions because they can grow in most areas and don’t require much attention.
Though they’d prefer to be placed on a window sill, soaking up the warm sunshine, their versatility allows them to adjust to less desirable temperatures and living conditions.
Water Requirements: preferring a damp environment, your Chinese Evergreen should be watered seven to ten days in summer and every two weeks in winter. Though if forgotten about for a couple of weeks, they’ll be fine.
Living Conditions: Agloenema Chinese Evergreen, like indirect sunlight, struggle with harsh midday sun and can adapt to low light if necessary.
Air Plants
Air Plants don’t require soil to survive, just frequent spritzes of water on their leaves.
The roots of air plants act as stabilisers you can attach to various surfaces like pieces of driftwood, stones, inside shells or containers, creating subtle desk displays that don’t take up much space.
With well over 100 existing species, you can choose air plants that match your office aesthetics.
Water Requirements: though air plants don’t need soil, they require ample water, more than they can absorb from the air. Water and mist the leaves regularly to keep them alive, as often as two to three times per week, with longer soaks every couple of weeks.
Living Conditions: place your plant under indirect sunlight on your desk or office areas where they can soak up ample moisture or steam (bathrooms or the kitchen).
Are you looking for an office space that is aesthetically pleasing and has natural flora in it? Office Hub can help you find your dream office space in London, Leeds, Birmingham, and many other cities in the UK. Contact us today and we will help you find the right office space for your businesses.
The roots of air plants act as stabilisers you can attach to various surfaces like pieces of driftwood, stones, inside shells or containers, creating subtle desk displays that don’t take up much space.
