Many offices around the world can look drab and uninspiring.
They can be cold environments that don’t inspire a lot of creativity with stuffy air and depressing colors.
Adding some plant life can change all of that and make it a much more vibrant place to work.
Here we will give you the complete guide to office plants so you can reap the benefits and have a much more enjoyable place to work.
What are those benefits?
There are several benefits to putting plants in an office. Here we look at some of the key reasons why you should increase your indoor plant life.
Nicer environment – Many offices can be one color with cheap hard-wearing carpets and those cheap polystyrene false roofs. Adding plants helps to break up that monotony. It’ll simply look a lot better and add much needed color.
Air quality – When you’re in an office, air quality can seriously suffer. This can especially be the case when the windows need to be closed. Having something that can trap carbon dioxide and give off oxygen will have the office feeling less stuffy and make it a lot easier to breathe.
Increased mood and productivity – Plant life has been shown to increase productivity and prevent reduced mood. Having that nice work environment and better air quality will make people happier, more alert and the end result will be more productivity.
Choosing the Right Plants
You need to check your environment to know which plants are going to thrive and which ones would struggle in an office. Here we take a look at key areas you need to consider.
Light – Plants need light, everyone knows that. However, some plants need a lot more than others. In an office, natural light is probably going to be limited and therefore you need a plant that is going to be able to cope with this.
Maintenance – All plants are going to require some sort of maintenance but some need a lot more than others. In an office, you’ll likely want plants that only require a minimal amount of water and also don’t leave a mess with fallen leaves and flowers.
Longevity – Some plants will look beautiful but won’t last for very long at all. You’ll want to have a plant that is durable and will be able to stand the test of time. Constantly needing to replant is not only time-consuming but also expensive.
Avoiding Big Mistakes
As well as knowing what the plant needs, you also need to know the needs of your workplace. There are some big potential mistakes you want to avoid and here we take a look at them.
Allergies – There is one huge consideration with plants and that is pollen. Getting any plant that is going to agitate someone’s hay fever would be a nightmare. Make sure that any plant you are getting won’t spark off any allergies.
Children and animals – Not many workplaces will have children or animals wandering around but if yours does, make sure that the plants are going to be safe. This includes making sure plants are safe to touch and also not dangerous to digest.
Spines – There are some obvious plants you want to avoid in workplaces and these include any that have spines, thorns, and prickles. Less obvious, however, are plants with stiff leaves. These may look like a good option but brushing past these plants can be very unpleasant.
Standing water – The amount of water that a plant needs is important and it’s likely you won’t have much drainage. Having standing water can be dangerous and therefore you want a plant that doesn’t need too much water.
Which Plants Should I Choose?
While it’s important to take on board all the advice above, there are a vast number of plants that will be perfect for an office. Here we look at some of the most common species you can choose from.
Philodendrons – This is a large family of plants that produce large and soft leaves with a minimum of maintenance. There are some climbing varieties of Philodendrons and you may wish to avoid these. Most species are excellent office plants with their large foliage.
Pothos – Another excellent species that produce large green leaves is Pothos. They grow brilliantly indoors with a minimum of light. Maintenance is very minimal and they will brighten up any office and freshen up the air.
Aglaonema – This is another species that have large green leaves but they often have lighter marks on them which can help them to stand out. There are also some varieties that have reds and pinks to add a splash of color to your office.
Nephthytis – No children or pets? Then this could be ideal. The arrow-shaped leaves will break up the dullness of an office and provide plenty of oxygen. The leaves can be a little toxic, however, and therefore it’s best to keep these to adult-only environments.
Anthuriums – The majority of plants that are suitable for office spaces are don’t have much color. Anthuriums, on the other hand, have colorful flowers, making them a very popular option. They don’t require much maintenance either.
Dracaena – A great option if you’re looking for something a little different. Some species look like little trees and can grow to be quite tall without getting out of control. They look great and are perfect for putting on the ground.
Palms – Another plant that is perfect for those looking for height. They also look different which is an added plus and don’t need much light. The negative here is that they do require more maintenance than a lot of other plants we’ve looked at.
Ficus trees – With their twisting and intertwining trunks, ficus trees certainly look a lot different. They grow to be tall and require more light than most other office plants. They are a great option for anyone looking for something that looks great.
Succulents – Worried about forgetting to water your plants? Succulents are a great bet. They do require quite a lot of light but only need a very minimal amount of water. It makes them perfect for placing on windowsills.
Should I install an Indoor Vertical Garden?
Vertical indoor gardens are becoming increasingly popular as you can install them onto a wall which means that they take up a lot less floor space than other plants. This makes them more efficient in terms of space. They also look great and will add an attractive feature to any office.
The downside is that they can be quite expensive to install and require expert installation. Maintenance is also required but many people see the benefits as far outweighing the negatives.
Once you have them installed they can be a great feature.
Add color to your office
As we have seen here, there are many great reasons to add plants to your office. Picking the right plants for your office is vital and will give your workplace fresher air, more productive staff and a happier office environment.
If you follow the tips we’ve looked at here, you won’t go wrong. There are many great species out there that require minimal maintenance and will suit an indoor office. All that’s left to do is choose which plants you like look of and enjoy the benefits you’ll get.
Conor
Hey everyone 🙂 My name is Conor. I'm passionate about technology, zen, and improving the quality of life so many of us share at a desk!