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There's no doubt that 2020 has been a year for the books. So many big changes have occurred, and one of the biggest changes has been the dramatic uptick in remote employment opportunities. While there are certainly benefits to working from home, many have found a subsequent need to really bolster the whole mood of the home office environment.
One of the most beneficial ways many have found to spruce up the home work space is through incorporating some truly inspiring plantlife into the area. There is a whole world of plants out there to choose from, but some simply work much better in the home office environment than others. If you're on the hunt for some top office thrivers, then follow along. Here are 15 of the very best choices in office plants today.
The Snake Plant, or mother-in-law's tongue as it's often called, is a top pick for the home office environment due to its smaller size, slow growth, and vibrant, yellow and green colors. These plants are also great for plant newbies, as they don't really need much care. Simply give them a little water every few days, and there's not much more to worry with. Just make sure to get a miniature version such as the Futura Superba or Whitney so that you don't end up with the much larger versions of the plant.
African Violets are another, great mainstay of indoor house plants, and they make a beautifully colored addition to the home office space as well. These flashy, violet bloomers will generate flowers, and the plant's leaves themselves are of a very interesting, silky-feeling composition. African Violets also thrive in the same conditions humans do, so no extreme temperatures or humidity is needed. These are great for novice plant growers too, as they don't require a whole lot of regular care.
English Ivy is a very common plant seen growing outdoors in many regions. These hearty growers are also a great addition to the office because they will grow exactly where you let them. Want to grow ivy along some of the hard lines in the office such as the edge of your desk or walls? These guys will do just that. If you don't like the direction they are headed, simply clip that extension of the plant or even move it to where you'd like it. These also require next to no care and don't care if there's not a vast abundance of light on hand.
Anyone familiar with the desert landscape will probably recognize a cactus right away. In fact, there are many miniature varieties of cacti that flourish quite well in a home office environment - no desert required. You don't have to worry about constantly watering or caring for these either, but make sure not to get too touchy-feely, or you might just get poked by the plant's signature thorns. Desk cacti really are one of the most curious and eye-catching of all office plants, and some will even bloom into some beautiful flower clusters as well.
Aloe is not only a great plant for office aesthetics, but it's also highly useful. Aloe is a champion of soothing irritation, burns, and even heartburn if consumed. The only downfall to this one is its desire for lots of light, so you'll need to place it near a window if you're to have a successful grow. Several variations of the Aloe plant exist too, so you can pick one that's just right for your space requirements. Make sure to plant them in a sandy cactus mix soil and don't water too often, and you'll be in business.
Cons
Tillandsia are part of a very eye-catching kind of plant group - air plants. Air plants, as their name suggests, don't grow out of a soil-filled pot but rather grow in an open-air means. Most anchor them to something stylish like a piece of driftwood for that extra luxe look.
These are also great for creating a very interesting mini terrarium setup in the office area. Typically, Tillandsia present with green, silver, or rosy, spiked foliage and don't need much light. More light, however, does mean much more of a chance of these growing some eye-catching floral spikes. Spray them gently with a mist bottle from time to time, and that's all the water they will ever need.
Wood Sorrel, also known as Oxalis, can provide a great touch of color to the home office space. These plants grow leaf patterns that look much like shamrocks and typically come in a light purple color. These colors can become quite vibrant and in different hues, however, depending on the exact plant type and the amount of light provided to them. Some also put off some beautiful yet quaint, yellow flowers with a nice, floral scent.
Pothos plants, also known popularly as Devils Ivy, is another great, nearly care-free addition to the home office space. These vibrant green plants produce rounded, ovular leaves and even tell you if they need water or not based on their appearance. Yellow means too much water, while drooping leaves means they are thirsty. Don't fear though, as these guys don't need much water and won't require much care at all. Another great perk to these is that, per the experts, they are one of the most effective house plants for purifying the air.
The Rex Begonia plant is sure to draw your attention and add life and vibrance to your office space with its lush growth pattern of purple, green, white, and black leaves and very interesting leaf textures. This one's all about the foliage show and definitely won't disappoint. They also don't require much light or any special accommodations in order to grow very successfully. Those looking for the office-ready versions of this plant should look for Stained Glass, Marmadukes, or the Escargot version of the plant for best results.
Lucky Bamboo, or more scientifically, the Dracaena Sanderiana plant, is a fantastic, classy, and Eastern play on the otherwise mundane office space environment. These lookers are actually a cousin to the corn plant and grow in the typical bamboo fashion, upright in rigid stalks, but with whimsical sprouts that can be shaped into a whole array of interesting shapes and designs. This type of bamboo grows very slowly and is virtually maintenance-free aside from wanting regularly moistened soil to grow in.
The Philodendron plant represents health and whimsy because of its bright, green leaves and free-flowing growth style that sends care-free trailers hanging down in all directions around it. As to maintenance, these plants require very little care, and a watering every one to two weeks is sufficient for their tastes. They do, however, prefer a medium balance of light exposure, though less light often brings ample success too. This is widely believed to be the most popular house plant choice in the world.
Jade plants are quite the cute yet curious-looking addition that many love in the office area. This unique succulent grows small, shiny, thick leaves all along a hearty stalk and are often seen as luck-bringers throughout traditional lore. They are native to the southern regions of Africa and can even provide some colorful flower plumage that's usually pink or white in color. Make sure they have a medium-most soil to grow in and just a few hours of light each day, and the rest is all automatic enjoyment.
You've likely seen Peace Lilies before but maybe didn't know exactly what they were. These very popular indoor plants grow tall and with large, ovular, bright green leaves and can produce some rather gorgeous white flower appendages at the ends of their flowering stalks. Peace lilies need medium lighting and watering and absolutely love being misted from time to time. While not exactly ideal for a desktop plant, these make excellent decorative plants to be placed at the base of your office walls or under the window.
The Red Aglaonema, or Chinese Evergreen, is yet another undeniably eye-catching potential addition to the home office environment. These brightly-colored plants grow just fine in lower light levels and produce some spectacular red, pink, and green leaf colors. Medium to dry soil makes these guys happy, and they can grow anywhere from just 10" tall up to an impressive 4' depending on the plant sub-type. For those in search of a little extra luck, these are another of the "luck plant" variety.
Last but certainly not least, if you're looking for an office plant that offers a large presence, the Monstera, as its name suggests, is a great choice. These large plants offer a great aesthetic pickup to any wall or corner and require very little care or consideration for light levels. Just keep their leaves from getting overly dirty and mist them from time to time, and all will be fine. Also known as the Swiss Cheese Plant, Monstera only grow at a rate of about one to two feet per year, so you don't have to worry about them rapidly outgrowing their assigned space. If you like a sizeable presence, bright, large, green leaves, and an occasional, white flower bloom, these may be just the right pick.
Whether you make some picks from this list or would prefer to venture out and find other office plants entirely, there are some key considerations you should take into account in order to be sure of the right picks. The following represent some of those considerations that are most key to making the right choice in your home office environment.
- Overall Resilience
- Light Requirements
- Overall Size
- Continued Maintenance Requirements
- Potential Allergens
- Pet Conflicts
There are many plants that can be brought inside and that will absolutely flourish in a home office atmosphere. To choose the right ones for you, consider the above-mentioned characteristics of any potential plant picks. Once you've done a little research, making the right choice can be a highly rewarding experience that brings a lifetime of indoor plant enjoyment to your office, friends, and family as well.
