Nature has a way to calm us and bringing some of it to the office makes the place beautiful and inviting. Unlike the outdoors, however, the plants in your office will be subjected to different conditions such as more warmth, low sunlight and likely less care. For this reason, you need plants that are adapted to these conditions.
Even if you have a window in your office, plants that grow in fluorescent light should fit your office space better since that’s the kind of light they will be exposed to most of the time. The plants that fall into this category include philodendrons, succulents, Pothos, English Ivy, peace lily, palms and many others.
Plants in the office improve the air quality, lift people’s moods and boost the productivity and creativity of those in the office. In some cases, their presence has been linked with reduction in employee absenteeism. Some plants also deter pests such as crawling insects from the office.
10 Best Plants for the Office with Low Light
With the conditions above in mind, the following plants emerge as the best for your office bet it at home or at your place of work:
1. Bromeliad (Bromeliaceae)
Growing plants without sunlight can be difficult but the ones already adapted to it such as the tropical Bromeliad are a joy in such conditions. The Bromeliad has vibrant colors and looks great on tabletops, shelves and some parts of the floor as per the species.
Bromeliads are suited to indirect sunlight which means that they need sunlight but not directly exposed to it. In fact, direct sunlight for long periods damages them and might even kill them off. For this plant, you just need to place it close to a window where there is sunlight. Ensure that the sunlight doesn’t directly hit it.
2. Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)
Another plant that thrives with indirect sunlight is the cast iron plant. It’s a hardy plant with rich green leaves that make the office and home look great when placed in a corner. While adding a great natural feel to the office, the cast iron plant (simply called the iron plant) requires very little care in watering and other aspects.
Cast iron plants grow quite slowly but are really tough. The only known aspect that can actually kill them fast is direct sunlight for extended periods of time. To help the plant thrive, wipe down its leaves with a wet cloth each week to increase its ability to absorb the light it getting for photosynthesis.
3. Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia)
This plant is called a dumb cane because all of its parts are poisonous. While they’re not very poisonous as to cause death, you can have issues when you come into contact with it. These include itching, swelling and others. You thus only have it in your office when there are no pets or children.
Its green and white leaves make it a beauty when placed in a part of the office. It only requires filtered sunlight such as that which comes through a glass window or curtain. You’ll need to give the particular species of dumb cane the right amount of light for it to thrive.
4. Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum)
The maidenhair fern prefers bright and indirect light to thrive. It’s one of the delicate plants but its ability to transform the look of a room makes it one of the best plants to have in an office with low light. You also need to provide high humidity and medium watering to avoid root rot. When watering them, use distilled water and not hard water for the best results.
5. Peace Lily (Sathiphyullum)
One of the best plants that grow in artificial light is the peace lily. This plant usually has a white petal growing around its yellow flower. Peace lilies thrive in medium to low light and will do well even with fluorescent light. The higher the light you give them, the higher their chances of producing flowers. They’re also great for purifying the air and keeping the room beautiful.
6. ZZ Plants (Zamioculcas zamiofolia)
ZZ plants (Zanzibar Gem) are a favorite for many offices and households given their low-maintenance nature. They require very little light and water with the latter being largely due to their having succulent rhizomes under the surface of the soil. These rhizomes store water that the plant can depend on when you forget to water it for a while.
7. Snake Plants (Sansevieria)
For succulents in office with no window, snake plants are among the very best. Also called mother-in-law’s tongue, snake plants are some of the best for purifying the air in your office. They have great looking lines and blade-like leaves which give them a unique look in the office. They’re also some of the best small desk plants that don’t need sunlight as they don’t weigh or measure much if you train them.
8. Pothos Plant (Epipremnum aureum)
Another hardy plant that will spice up your office space is the pothos plant. It grows with vines and requires watering only when the soil has dried up. The vines can be let to grow over surfaces as they don’t damage them. You can control how much it grows to get the size of the plant that fits your office space.
9. Marimo Moss Balls (Aegagropila linnaei)
This are the most unique of the plants we have on our list since they grow submerged in a container and not in pots. You’ll need a clear (transparent) container with a light background to make them pop in their deep green color.
Marimo moss balls are colonies of algae usually found at the bottom of the lake and can grow to sizable balls when fully submerged. Other than the water, you don’t need to do anything to see them thrive.
10. Philodendrons
A twining plant with traits similar to those of the pothos, the philodendron spice up the office with its green leaves and stems that range from green to a light purple. You’ll only need to water them every time the soil is dried up or the plant shows signs of wilting.
Any one or a combination of these plants will make your office look much better without the need for sunlight or lots of care. Depending on their sizes and growth patterns, you can have them on your desk, on a window and in a corner of the room.
Other plants worth trying out include aglaonema, nephthytis, dracaena, focus trees, peacock plant, Chinese evergreen, parlor palm, pepperomia, prayer plant, spider plants and the staghorn fern.
What makes a good office plant?
The aspects to consider when going for an office plant include the following:
1. Low light requirements
The best plants for an office require less light than their outdoor counterparts. Some of them can flourish with fluorescent light, filtered light or indirect sunlight.
2. The care needed
You have an office to work and meet your goals and taking care of your plant shouldn’t be your daily routine. For this reason, get a plant that needs little care from you and others in the home or office.
3. Low growth rate
A low growth rate means that the plant won’t require too much care and it also won’t grow over your precious items in a short while. Instead, go for plants with low to medium growth rates as they also require less care from you.
4. Appearance
Of course, you want a plant that looks good in your office. For this reason, get one with good looks whether they’re leaves, stems or even the flowers.
