Transform your office with these low-maintenance office plants
Five plants that survive strip lighting, air conditioning and the holidays, and make the office nicer to be in.
The benefits of greenery in the workplace
A few plants change how a room feels: the air seems fresher, the noise softer and the afternoon a little shorter. Studies of offices with plants report fewer headaches, better concentration and people who simply like being there more.
Snake plant: the ultimate air purifier
Upright, striped and almost impossible to kill, the snake plant is the one to start with. It copes with low light, forgives a missed watering and keeps working through the night.
- Water every two to three weeks, less in winter.
- Happy in shade, faster in bright indirect light.
- Wipe the leaves now and then so they can breathe.
ZZ plant: the hardy survivor
Glossy leaves that look polished even under strip lighting. The ZZ stores water in its roots, so it is the plant for the desk that gets forgotten over the holidays.
The best office plant is the one that is still green in March. Start with the forgiving ones, and add the fussy ones once you know your light.
Spider plant: the versatile air cleanser
Fast growing and generous with offshoots you can pot up for colleagues. Hang it high and let it trail.
Pothos: the trailing beauty
Trails from a shelf or climbs a pole, and tells you when it is thirsty by drooping, then perks up within the hour.
