What’s more relaxing than having something lift your spirits while immersed in work at the office?
This is basically what plants do; they improve productivity and spruce up your space. In this article, we shall discuss the best plants for office space.
By choosing the best low maintenance plants and providing them with the necessary care, you can keep your office environment vibrant and alive.
But not everyone has a natural talent for growing plants. Workplace plants should be low-maintenance, tolerant of dim lighting, and able to thrive in warm environments.
Ensure to go through this list before purchasing your plants because not all plants thrive in office spaces.
1. Snake Plant
Low-light office plants can improve team morale for those who work in crowded, dark environments. Only the hardiest office plants can endure these conditions, though.
The plants that can withstand these harsh environments are those that naturally flourish in densely forested areas with little light reaching the ground.
The snake plant (Sansevieria) is one of the best plants for office spaces because it can survive in low light and requires only infrequent watering.
These beauties only require watering once a month. This might be the thing you need to illuminate your IT team’s dimly lit office without croaking.
You might want one for your bedroom as well because these plants convert carbon dioxide to oxygen overnight.
However, the long, flat leaves of the snake plant can develop into great lengths over time. Give them lots of space to grow upward and big, sturdy pots.
2. African Violet
Modern African violet hybrids thrive in the same conditions as humans, with average temperatures and humidity. They’re also among the best plants for office space.
Even though sufficient light is required for blooms, African violets don’t care much about the type of light they receive, so a fluorescent lamp pointed at the plant is acceptable.
They are also popular small office plants. Even the smallest spaces can house a flowering office plant thanks to miniature violets with a diameter of fewer than 6 inches.
3. Tillandsia
Think outside the pot if you want to grow Tillandsia or any other soilless plants (also referred to as air plants).
You can use a fishing line to attach air plants to a piece of driftwood.
Air plant varieties can also be placed in a miniature terrarium or another unusual container, such as a teacup, shell, or vase.
The Tillandsia genus contains hundreds of species in the bromeliad family, all of which have spiked foliage that is green, silver, or rosy.
Air plants don’t require much light because they are epiphytes used to grow on shady tree branches, but those on sunnier desks are more likely to develop a flower spike.
Because the modified scales on the leaves will absorb the moisture the plant needs, mist the entire plant once per week.
4. Lucky Bamboo
This is also among the best plants for office space. The species known as “lucky bamboo” is not one of the more than 100 genera of true bamboo.
Instead, Dracaena sanderiana is related to the corn plant, another simple houseplant to grow.
Lucky bamboo stems are occasionally shaped by growers into creative designs like spirals, weaves, or even hearts.
Their stems will eventually outgrow their shaped forms if left to their own devices, but plants grow slowly.
When the stems are submerged in water, lucky bamboo can grow without soil and does well in low-light conditions.
Make sure the water level doesn’t go below the stems, though, or the plant might not be able to recover from this desiccation.
5. Pothos
Who can resist the heart-shaped leaves of the pothos? If you keep it moist in soil that drains well, it’s one of the best plants for office space that grow quickly.
You might notice monthly growth of more than a foot. However, pothos is toxic to animals, so be careful if you frequently allow pets at work.
Many people prefer growing pothos, which has long vines that can trail along an office’s or cubicle’s walls.
However, they can tangle, so keep the office scissors close by (and sanitized with some rubbing alcohol), so you can trim the vines.
Pothos prefers direct and bright light, but it doesn’t mind if it is forced to grow in a spot with fluorescent lighting or in low light.
You should look for “Neon” and “Silver Satin” pothos because they can tolerate low light or dark environments in offices very well.
6. Cactus
It might be difficult for you to settle on just one cactus. Wide adorable varieties are among the best plants for office space. Desert cacti (with hairy spines) and forest cacti are two groups of cactus.
Some cacti have flowers, such as the Christmas cactus, which is a lovely and hardy plant that can be grown all year round.
The Easter cactus is a simple plant to grow indoors, making it a good choice for beginners.
Because they don’t require pruning and grow slowly, cacti make excellent office neighbors. The only requirement is that they will need more sunlight to flourish.
7. Peace Lily
A peace lily is visually soothing with its broad, glossy green leaves, representing healing and hope.
And the crown will sprout hooded, white, oval flowers every two years. You’ll find them among the best plants for office space.
However, peace lilies need maintenance, so it’s not a plant you can ignore. Find a location for your peace lily close to a window that receives filtered light.
This plant prefers loose, well-draining potting soil, and you should keep it more damp than dry.
However, as soon as you notice the peace lily drooping, it signals that it wants water so it can perk back up immediately.
If you bring your pet to work, you should also be cautious around the peace lily plant because it is toxic to animals.
8. Spider Plant
These common fast-growing houseplants and office plants produce rosettes that develop into arching leaves, also known as ribbons.
Only older plants bear tiny star-shaped flowers. Choose the ‘Bonnie’ spider plant, which has yellow flowers, if you prefer a compact spider plant.
The spider plant is also among the best plants for office space. These plants don’t need a lot of maintenance.
They thrive in areas with indirect light and prefer warm, humid workspaces, so keep them away from air conditioning vents that produce dry air.
Your spider plant will need to be repotted if it starts to look sparse over time so that its roots have more room to spread.
Cut off the young plants and propagate them in fresh clay or plastic pots with well-draining soil to produce a few new plants that will decorate your office.
9. Jade Plant
Jade plants, also referred to as the money plant, are a good way to bring luck and prosperity into your workplace.
These succulents grow cheery upright leaves that are thick, fleshy, and shaped like teardrops. They’re also among the best plants for office space.
Your succulent plants need adequate light to thrive in an office setting. This plant and other succulents do not do well in low lighting.
Succulents should be placed on sunny sills rather than in direct sunlight because the leaves will burn.
If you love growing jade in your office, try other succulents such as hen, chick, and string of buttons.
Succulents of all kinds add tons of texture and visual interest to your workspace. In addition, succulents are toxic to animals, so make sure they are out of reach for any visiting pets.
10. Spiderwort
Spiderwort is a small plant with lovely purple foliage that will look elegant on a desk or shelf.
Even though it needs little maintenance or work, it still grows lush leaves. It’s among the best plants for office space on our list.
Spiderwort prefers humidity, but if your office is dry, try to mist the plant once per week as part of your watering routine.
Increase the misting frequency to once or twice per week if the leaves start to turn brown.
The plant thrives in common potting soil and nearly any amount of light. However, a plant’s need for brighter light increases with its degree of variegation. Keep it out of the sun’s direct rays to prevent leaf burn.
11. Parlor Palm
The frothy, graceful parlor palm moves its fern-like green foliage in response to light breezes. It prefers some warm light, but not too much or too little.
The parlor palm is a very attractive office plant that can easily improve an office with little to no effort on your part because it adapts to low light and can’t tolerate too much watering. Weekly watering ought to be adequate.
There’s no need to worry about killing the plant by neglecting to water it; when it needs water, the fronds will turn yellow.
The parlor palm is regarded as one of the best plants for office spaces because it rarely needs repotting, tolerates air conditioning, and grows slowly over many years.
12. Nerve Plant
With a nerve plant, you can enliven a dark office. Its ovate green leaves are adorned with prominent veins, frequently in white, silver, or pink.
However, the nerve plant is not one to be overlooked, so keep in mind to water and mist it since it prefers high humidity levels.
It falls over when it’s dry, so you’ll know if it’s in trouble if that happens. You can revive it with some good watering.
Regardless of the color of its veins, this plant can tolerate both diffused light and office fluorescent lighting.
13. Ponytail Palm
This is also among the best plants for office space. The adorable ponytail palm’s sassy, strappy green leaves can make coworkers smile. Despite the name, it is not a palm but a succulent.
The plant maintains its small size when grown in a small pot, making it ideal for desktop display.
In a larger pot, it could develop into a floor plant that is 6 feet tall. In addition, it is a long-lived plant that can withstand neglect and grows slowly.
Put a ponytail palm somewhere in the office with bright, indirect light to keep it happy.
Also, pot it in a small pot filled with cactus/succulent potting soil that has additional peat moss added to the mix to improve the soil’s quality.
14. Prayer Plant
The unusual patterns on the green foliage of prayer plants make them interesting to look at. You can also include them among the best plants for office space.
It’s true that this plant is very interesting at different times of the day; its leaves are flat during the day, but at night, the foliage folds up to resemble praying hands.
Prayer plants aren’t the easiest plants to grow and care for because they don’t tolerate drought well and don’t like being close to air conditioners.
Although other plants might not be able to tolerate them, they can survive in shady areas of the office. Also, they don’t have many preferences when it comes to the soil.
To keep the soil just moist enough to touch, you can frequently water them. Avoid using cold water on prayer plants as these beauties prefer a room or warm temperature water.
15. Peperomia
Peperomia has floppy but sturdy foliage that has a wide range of textures, hues, and variegations, making it difficult to specify a common appearance for the genus.
However, they’re among the best plants for office space because they are all slow-growing, drought-tolerant, and low-maintenance plants.
This plant forgives minor carelessness. Put it in bright, indirect light or a little less light, water it when the soil is dry, and fertilize it occasionally.
Peperomia are adaptable plants that do well in either regular potting soil or regular potting soil with some peat moss added.
16. Cast Iron Plant
This plant is known as the “cast-iron plant” for a number of reasons, including its popularity in workplaces.
It requires very little care and is difficult to kill, and because of its glossy, deep green leaves, it does a great job of enlivening a gloomy office corner.
This plant is also among the best plants for office space. The hardy, resilient cast iron plant doesn’t require much watering and can thrive in low light.
It only really asks that you keep it out of direct sunlight, which will burn its leaves.
Choose “Hoshi-zora,” which grows green leaves with yellow and white speckles, or “Variegata,” which produces green leaves with white stripes, for more eye-catching foliage.
17. Chinese Evergreen
Chinese evergreen plants enjoy the dim lighting found in offices. Their large, glossy leaves won’t quickly become shaggy because they grow slowly as well.
Chinese evergreen is a favorite among the best plants for office spaces because it’s simple to grow, prefers to be left alone most of the time, and has a variety of leaf colors.
The more colorful and variegated the leaves are, the more warmth and light they will need to thrive, even though the plant does well in low light. If the air in your office is particularly dry, mist your plant.
18. Dwarf Umbrella Tree
The low-maintenance dwarf umbrella tree is a good choice if your office is well-lit.
It’s a tropical houseplant with drooping, pretty leaves that grow to resemble flower petals or, to some, an umbrella shape. It can grow to a height of 4 feet, making it ideal for smaller offices.
You might need to turn the plant occasionally to keep it more evenly balanced as it grows because the tree tends to lean toward any source of light it detects.
Although it prefers more light, this plant can tolerate any kind of office lighting (except direct sunlight).
19. ZZ Plant
The ZZ plant, also known as Zamioculus zamifolia, is a succulent that has become very popular as a houseplant due to its tolerance for low light and its tendency to grow with little water. It’s also among the best plants for office space.
In addition, this plant can survive with only fluorescent lighting. The common ZZ plant’s ladder-like leaves add a nice touch to the office.
20. Aloe
Aloe plants are simple to grow if given an abundance of bright light. It’s one of the best plants for a window sill in a bright office.
Place the plant near a window that gets plenty of sunlight and leave it; these succulents only require occasional watering.
21. Philodendron
The carefree philodendron will bring cheer to any office, whether bathed in natural light or tucked away in a cozy corner, with its glossy green leaves and trailing habit.
Although the philodendron is frequently used for hanging baskets, it also does well when growing up a small trellis or totem pole.
It’s also among the best plants for office space on this list. The philodendron needs consistent moisture to maintain its lush appearance, so a self-watering pot will be a lifesaver for those species lacking a reliable caretaker.
22. Oxalis
Oxalis are indoor plants that, bloom or no bloom, add a splash of color to the workspace.
The plants are well-liked at the garden center around St. Patrick’s Day because of their distinct shamrock-like appearance.
Although they thrive in low humidity, these plants need bright light for the best color.
Conclusion
That’s all on the best plants for office space in this article. Office plants offer a welcome distraction from the hectic work environment and don’t require much in return.
Moreover, you are also taking care of yourself by taking the time to look after the plants. Thanks for reading!
