5 Fab Indoor Plants For Your Office
Did you know indoor plants create healthy environments where people flourish? Many people enjoy living and working in green spaces, and like having indoor plants around. But is there more to it?
The answer is – YES! They look amazing! And there are many proven scientific health benefits about indoor plants. Here’s what research tells us about some of the benefits living and working with indoor plants.
🌿 Indoor Plants Improve air quality
They are natural air-filters! Plants absorb harmful toxins in the air while releasing oxygen into the workplace.
A cleaner more invigorating work environment will lead to better employee health.
🌿 Reduce your stress
Even if you love where you work, sometimes stress is unavoidable! University of Sydney (UTS) research found that offices experienced the following benefits:
- 37% reduction in anxiety;
- 44% reduction in office hostility;
- Reduced chronic fatigue by 40%;
- 58% reduction in reported depression.
🌿 Plants may boost your productivity and creativity
One of the Fab 5 indoor plants may turn out to be the best cubicle-mate you’ve ever had. Many studies have found that plants in the workspace increases productivity and creativity.
And creative blocks are no joke! Whether you’re out of ideas or stuck on the same one for a little too long, office plants can provide inspiration.
🌿 Plants can help attract talented people
Did you know that 50% of employees have no natural light in their place of work?
Also, one in five people said they have no natural elements in their office, whatsoever.
That means that a lot of us are working in a dark, lifeless space, which if you ask me, doesn’t seem like an appealing place to be.
That’s why there is an upward trend of potential employees taking the physical space into consideration when searching for new opportunities.
Surround yourself with plant wellness and go green in your workplace! Why? Because they are a great investment!
But, I can hear you say: What if I don’t have a ‘Green Thumb’? How do you know which plants will survive? Which plants are best for me and my workspace? You most likely don’t have an indoor plant expert beside you! So I’m here to help you choose the right plants to freshen up your office space.
Here are the ‘Fab 5 Indoor Plants’ that will make you the envy of your colleagues once installed in your office.
1. Zanzibar Gem
(Botanical name: Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
Almost the perfect plant. Tolerates low light, low water and even drought. You can neglect this one and it will still bring you joy by always looking healthy.
Often known as the ‘clean air plant’, the Zanzibar Gem is the perfect office plant, for work or home.
To keep it contained for any space, prune it. But, if left to its own resources; it will spread its wings, filling a much larger space than the top of the planter pot.
Keep this one dusted so the foliage is able to show off its beautiful shine.
2. Pothos Ivy
(Botanical name: Epipremnum aureum)
The Pothos Ivy has three main varieties. ‘Golden Pothos’, the ‘Neon Pothos’ and the ‘Marble Queen Pothos’.
Lack of airflow does not affect them much and so they thrive in indoor spaces. They also live for a long time without the need for high light.
The more light they have, the more water they will need. So keep them away from strong light (window or artificial) and they will be easier to maintain indoors.
Their colour will change into a dark greenish shade with less light.
3. Sansevieria
(Botanical name: Sansevieria trifasciata)
Also called ‘mother-in-law’s tongue’. It is a sturdy and bold spiky looking plant and requires very little maintenance.
It tolerates low humidity, low light and low water.
There are over 70 varieties, but the most common are:
‘Superba’, ‘Golden Hahnii’ and ‘Sansevieria Twist’. All come in various sizes and are slow growing.
This indoor plant puts up with any environmental condition you can dish out! Don’t overwater this one.
4. Janet Craig
(Botanical name: Dracaena deremensis)
Janet is a great girlfriend to have. She adapts beautifully to any office or home conditions. With her dark green cluster of strappy foliage and is naturally shiny and lush. Its cane-like stem structure can also be propagated without the need for roots.
Keep the leaves clean by wiping them off with a damp cloth. Janet Craig poses as a remarkable office plant and you should invite her to move in with you right away!
5. Succulents
There are too many varieties to list here, so I will give you the general rules about keeping succulents. They are a desert plant, which thrives on sun and little water.
So do not try to keep a ‘cute’ succulent on your desk if there is no direct sunlight reaching your plant. No need to overwater, a small amount every month should do it.
‘Now you know about the Fab 5 fine-looking, almost no effort indoor plants. Go and surround yourself with plant wellness and go green in your workplace. It’s worth the investment’!
GUEST BLOGGER
Special thanks to Guest Blogger Elaine Tunn. Elaine is the CEO of Interior Plantscape Association (IPA) and has kindly written this article for publication on the Social Ocean blog. The IPA is a professional association representing the growing indoor plant hire and maintenance industry across Australia and New Zealand.
If you need assistance from an indoor plant expert, reach out to one of the IPA members or the association directly via the links below.
IPA LINKS
