Top 10 Plants For The Workplace

The office plants benefits include improving concentration, but there are also office plants air purifying abilities and natural mood boosters.

There are countless scientific studies that praise plants in the workplace including a 2010 study where work plants were proven to lower stress and anxiety by 58%. - Another 2015 report found that plants in the office lowered sickness and absences amongst workers.

With all of the benefits to equipping your office space with plants, it is a no brainer to add some of these office plant ideas! 

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1. SNAKE PLANT

The Snake Plant is a succulent with thick green spiky leaves covered with dark green zigzag patterns throughout.

Not only is the Snake Plant beautiful to look at, it is consistently rated as an easy to care for office plant.

This popular house plant is a natural air purifier and is the perfect addition for anyone who is looking to add greenery into their office or living space.

Snake Plant Lighting Needs: The Snake Plant requires filtered sun. Filtered sun is when sun exposure is filtered through a sheer curtain to protect your plant from direct sun rays.

Snake Plant Water Needs: The Snake Plant only requires a ½ a cup of water or until the first inch of soil is moist every 21 days. With such minimal watering needs, this plant can withstand a forgetful owner.

2. ZZ PLANT

The ZZ Plant is a low maintenance houseplant that is considered by many to be indestructible. - This plant can handle harsh conditions like minimal light and drought-like conditions making it ideal as an office plant with no natural light.

Native to East Africa, the ZZ Plant has long glossy green leaves that will brighten up any space in your home or office.

ZZ Plant Lighting Needs: The ZZ Plant prefers filtered sun exposure, with bright, indirect sunlight for the majority of the day. Although this plant prefers filtered sun exposure, the ZZ Plant can also thrive in other lighting conditions such as partial to full shade. 

ZZ Plant Water Needs: The ZZ Plant is resilient and can handle dry soil and drought-like conditions making this plant perfect for the plant owner who struggles with remembering to frequently water their plants. The ZZ Plant only requires water about every two weeks or when the first top inch of the soil is completely dry.

3. ALOE VERA

Aloe is a classic houseplant that can be found in the majority of plant lover’s homes.

Low maintenance with vast medicinal benefits, including healing burns and cuts as well as increasing white blood cells, the Aloe plant is the perfect addition to your plant collection. 

Aloe Vera Lighting Needs: The Aloe plant requires full sun exposure. Full sun exposure is when your plant receives direct sunlight at least 4 hours a day. The perfect location for your Aloe is near a southern or western facing wall.

Aloe Vera Water Needs: The Aloe plant has basic water needs and should only be watered every 20 to 28 days. The Aloe Plant will suffer if watered too often so be sure to only water your Aloe plant once the soil is starting to become dry.

4. SPIDER PLANT

Looking for office plants that clean the air? The Spider Plant is a natural air purifier and perfect for any office.

This popular houseplant with long, thin, green leaves that fall along the sides of the plant is native to the South African rainforest, so the Spider Plant prefers you mimic this environment.

Spider Plant Lighting Needs: The Spider Plant prefers filtered sun that mimics the canopy of its native rainforest environment. Filtered sun is when the plant receives indirect light for the majority of the day through a western or southern facing window. 

Spider Plant Water Needs: The Spider Plant requires water once its soil is completely dry. Once the soil is completely dry, water your plant with about ½ a cup of cup of water or until the first inch of the soil is completely moist. 

5. JADE POTHOS

The Jade Pothos is often regarded as one of the smaller Pothos species. Originating from the Solomon Islands, this plant only reaches an average of 7 to 8 cm in height.

The Jade Pothos has medium sized heart shaped leaves that are a solid, emerald green color. This plant loves to vine and is perfect for hanging baskets or ledges where its leaves can cascade downward. 

Jade Pothos Lighting Needs: Although the Jade plant is considered an office plant that doesn’t need sun, it prefers medium light exposure. Medium light is achieved when your plant is able to receive indirect light while sitting about 7-10 feet away from a south or west-facing window. 

Jade Pothos Water Needs: The Jade Pothos only requires 1 cup of water, or until the top inch of soil is moist every 14 days or until the soil is completely dry. The Jade Pothos is tolerant of sporadic watering, however, once the top two inches of soil is dry you should water your plant. Do not allow your plant to sit in water as this will cause rot.

6. PEACE LILY 

Want an office plant and flowers? Look no further than the Peace Lily!

Spathiphyllum wallisii is more commonly known as the ‘Peace Lily’ or the ‘White Sails’ due to the curved white hood that protects the golden flower underneath.

This popular plant is native to the tropical rainforest of Colombia and Venezuela and thrives in indoor conditions that replicate this environment.

The Peace Lily is perfect for experienced plant owners that are able to provide filtered sun and high levels of humidity for the plant. If these conditions are met, the Peace Lily is a great addition to any home or office.

Peace Lily Lighting Needs:  Your Peace Lily prefers filtered sun, where the light filtered through a sheer curtain, or is not able to have the sun’s rays directly hit the leaves/flowers of your Peace Lily. The ideal indoor location for your Peace Lily is about 5 feet away from a southern or western-facing window, where it will receive direct light for an hour a day.

Peace Lily Water Needs: The Peace Lily water requirements begin with maintaining consistently moist soil. In order to maintain consistently most soil, the best watering method for your Peace Lily is watering from the bottom. For busy plant parents, keep a deep tray with a few inches of water underneath your lily’s pot. Refill this tray every few days to maintain moisture for your Peace Lily 

7. MADAGASCAR DRAGON TREE

The Madagascar Dragon Tree is a drought-resistant plant that is ideal for office spaces where constant TLC may not be available.

Native to Madagascar, this plant has green, spiky leaves with red edges. This plant can grow up to 6 feet tall so will be the perfect centerpiece in your workplace.

Madagascar Dragon Tree Lighting Needs:  A big question for many plant lovers is, is office light enough for plants? Although extremely resilient to low light conditions, this plant prefers medium light exposure, making it perfect for dull office lights. Medium light is achieved when your plant is able to receive indirect light while sitting about 7-10 feet away from a south or west-facing window. 

Madagascar Dragon Tree Water Needs: The Madagascar Dragon Tree soil should be kept slightly moist. This plant should be watered every 3 days with about ½ a cup of water or until the top inch of soil is moist. Like most plants they need much less water during winter.

8. YUCCA 

The Yucca plant also known as the Spanish Bayonet or the Adam’s Needle is a low-maintenance, beautiful plant that will add a tropical element to every workplace.

This plant has a thick circular-trunk and spiky green leaves that appear fan-like. Low-maintenance and drought resistant, this is the perfect plant to add some nature to your office. 

Yucca Lighting Needs:  The perfect conditions for a Yucca plant is filtered sunlight,  when sun exposure is being filtered through a sheer curtain or the sun's rays are not able to directly hit the leaves of your plant. The ideal location for your plant is about 5 feet away from a southern or western-facing window, which provides no more than 1 hour of direct sun.

Yucca Water Needs: The Yucca plant is drought-tolerant, but also very sensitive to waterlogging. Make sure your Yucca plant has excellent drainage and only water when the top layer of soil has completely dried out. This plant requires a watering schedule of once every week with about ½ of water or at least until the top inch of soil is moist. 

9. RUBBER PLANT

The Rubber Plant has glossy, rounded leaves that grow close to the plant’s stems. This succulent is known for its air purifying abilities and minimal sun and water needs.

If you are able to provide your plant with water once a week and a location where it will receive indirect sun, this resilient plant will thrive in most conditions.

Rubber Plant Lighting Needs: The Rubber Plant prefers filtered sun. Filtered sun allows your plant to receive indirect sunlight through a thin sheet or curtain throughout the day. The ideal location for your plant requires bright indirect light that will be about 5 feet away from a southern or western-facing window. This will provide a touch of direct light for no more than 1 hour a day before that direct exposure is once again obstructed.

Rubber Plant Water Needs: The Rubber Plant does not have complicated watering needs. Water your plant once a week until the soil is completely moist. Wait until the soil dries out before watering.

10. PARLOR PALM

The Parlor Palm is a bright green plant with long thin leaves that spray out in a fan-like appearance.

Known for its chic ability to add classiness to any room, this is the perfect plant to boost an office lobby or as a centerpiece in a meeting room.

In addition to its beautiful appearance, the Parlor Palm is also low-maintenance requiring little sun and minimal water needs.

Parlor Palm Lighting Needs: The optimal sun exposure for the Parlor Palm is indirect sun, where sun exposure is being filtered through a sheer curtain or is not able to have the sun's rays directly hit the leaves/flowers of your plant. The ideal location for your plant if it requires bright indirect light will be about 5 feet away from a southern or western-facing window. This will provide a touch of direct light for no more than 1 hour a day before that direct exposure is once again obstructed. 

Parlor Palm Water Needs: The Parlor Palm does not require frequent watering. Only water this plant once a week with ½ a cup of water or until the first inch of soil is moist. Be careful not to overwater your Parlor Palms, as overwatering can kill it. This plant requires even less water during winter.