Looking for an instant office pick-me-up? Inspire fresh and creative ideas by bringing some life to your workspace in the form of indoor plants.
Not only will they make your office space look fantastic, plants also improve air quality, reduce stress and increase productivity by keeping us in touch with nature.
Sunlight, water and temperature are important factors to consider when selecting your new desk buddy. Be sure to choose wisely as not all plants thrive in an indoor office environment!
Here are our top ten.
1. Mother-in-law’s tongue
This striking plant can be kept in small pots or larger planters depending on the space you have. One of the most resilient indoor plants of the bunch, this hardy plant needs little light and just a cup of water a week.
According to a recent study by NASA, mother-in-law’s tongue, also known as the snake plant, filters a chemical called formaldehyde, which is commonly found in cleaning products.
2. Trailing plants
Where space is tight look for trailing indoor plants, like devil’s ivy, mistletoe cactus or chain of hearts, to spill over the edge of shelves, benches or even drip from hanging baskets suspended from the ceiling.
Trailing indoor plants bring this small study nook to life.
(Photo: Eve Wilson)3. Peace Lily
This verdant, low-maintenance indoor plant, thrives without too much watering and little sunlight and also works to naturally to purify the air of nasty pollutants such as acetone.
4. Fiddle-leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata)
Arguably the trendiest of the bunch, prepare to be the talk of the office with a fiddle-leaf fig sitting pretty near your desk.
These guys can be a little sensitive so we recommend watering your FLF when only the top inch of soil is dry, keeping it in bright but indirect light and cleaning the leaves once in a while with a damp cloth.
Fiddle-leaf fig plants are a lively presence in the stylish home office of this light-filled Melbourne home.
(Photo: Armelle Habib)5. Yucca
Originating from the desert, Yucca’s are hardy drought-tolerant plants however, they thrive on sunlight so are better-suited to well-lit offices. They are highly sensitive to water-logging so only need watering sporadically and require good drainage.
Warning! Stay away from the Y. aloifolia variety, especially in an office environment, as they have very sharp spines that could potentially cause injury.
6. Janet Craig (Dracaena deremensis)
You really can’t go wrong with a Dracaena indoors. As long as the soil dries between watering, you’re looking at one super-chilled plant. Dracaena’s can grow quite large if allowed, so are best kept off the desk and on the floor.
Dracaenas are great if you’re looking for an indoor plant with a bit of height.
(Photo: Kristina Soljo)7. Orchid
Contrary to popular belief, orchids are one of the most low-maintenance flowering plants out there and are guaranteed to add a touch of elegance to a room.
The best thing you can do for orchids is pretty much nothing at all. Try and duplicate an orchid’s natural environment, by giving them only 2-3 tbsp of water every two weeks and as much natural light and airflow as possible.
8. Bamboo palm
Turn your office into a tropical oasis with a Bamboo palm. Perfect for indoors, Bamboo palms survive in low light conditions, unlike most other palm varieties. They also work to filter Xylene and formaldehyde from the air as well as transpiring a litre of water a day – making them great humidifiers!
9. Maidenhair Fern
If you’re after a delicate desk mate, become friends with a maidenhair fern. Just be sure to keep the water coming as ferns tend to dry out fast, especially in air-conditioning! Tip: Invest in a water spray bottle.
Bring your meeting table to life with some hanging greenery!
10. Aspidistra
If lush, leafy greens are what you’re after but you’re not too good at keeping them green, Aspidistra is the desk plant for you. Also known as the ‘cast-iron’ plant, Aspidistra’s are virtually indestructible, able to survive on very little sunlight and water – perfect for offices with poor natural light.
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