Plants for the (Home) Office

Published on January 15, 2023

It's official - we work better when we have a few plants around us. But while plants are great for offices, the office environment, with its air-conditioned rooms and lack of natural light, isn't always great for plants. Fortunately, some plants will survive and even thrive in these conditions. Here are 5 of the best plants for offices.

Office Plants You'd Love

Sansevieria, also known as mother-in-law's tongue or snake plant, is a fantastic architectural plant with stiff, upright leaves, usually variegated green and white. It's low maintenance and can cope with low light levels. Water it every couple of weeks when the compost feels dry, and dust the leaves occasionally. Avoid overwatering, as this may kill the plant.
Zamioculcas, sometimes called the ZZ plant (its full botanical name is Zamioculcas zamiifolia), is an excellent houseplant for newbie gardeners or busy office workers. The glossy ferny foliage has a fantastic contemporary look, perfect for the modern office, and there's even a variety with black leaves – look out for Zamioculcas' Raven'. Zamioculcas plants like bright, indirect light and regular watering to moisten the compost. Feed them in spring and fall with a liquid houseplant feed.
Succulents are ideal for a sunny windowsill, as they need plenty of light and little watering – in fact, too much watering will cause root rot and is likely to kill them. There's a huge range of succulents to choose between, from spiky cacti to eye-catching echeveria with their geometric whorls of leaves. Check individual succulents' watering requirements, as some need more or less than others.
The spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is one of the easiest and most uncomplaining houseplants. Its pendant clusters of arching variegated leaves look great, cascading from a high shelf or the top of a filing cabinet. Spider plants prefer bright, indirect light. Water them regularly enough to keep the compost moist but not sodden, and feed 2-3 times a year with a liquid houseplant feed. Spider plants are easy to propagate – peg down new leaf clusters in small pots filled with multipurpose compost, water regularly, and cut them off from the mother plant once they have had time to develop their own root systems.
The peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) is one of the most popular indoor plants and prefers partial shade, making it ideal for an office environment, especially rooms with east-facing windows. It doesn't like the cold and will do best in temperatures above 21°C (70°F). Don't overwater it – let the compost dry out between waterings, but mist the plants to keep up humidity levels (these plants come from tropical rainforests, after all!) Deadhead faded flower spikes after the hooded white flowers have faded.