The ultimate guide to office plants
Discover the best easy-care plants for offices and find out how to look after them, to enjoy a fresher, greener work environment
The average UK full-time employee spends 36.4 hours a week working, and for many of us, much of that time is spent in an office. While the COVID pandemic saw a substantial move to working from home, it also rekindled people’s affinity with nature and their desire to bring the outdoors in, adding a 50% rise in the sale of houseplants to an already increasing trend.
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The benefits of a green office
There have many studies on the advantages of adding plants to office environments, with claims of plants providing a 15% rise in productivity, boosting creativity and seeing 1.6 fewer sick days per year. The potential air purifying qualities of plants may even reduce incidences of ‘sick building syndrome’, so it’ not surprising that workplaces are considering ditching minimalism for a greener approach.
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While small, isolated studies may not conclusively prove many of the claims they make, research into horticulture and wellbeing does support the biophilic principle that people are attracted by connections to the natural world and that this is beneficial to their mental health. Which is why plants are key to a happy, healthy working environment
Plants for low-light
Aglaonema or Chinese evergreen is easy to care for and often has variegated leaves
Dracaena trifasciata or snake plant is a tough succulent also known as mother-in-law’s tongue
Zamioculcas zamiifolia or ZZ plant has fleshy evergreen leaves which needs little watering
Caring for office plants
Kali Hamerton-Stove is Managing Director of The Glasshouse – a not-for-profit organisation, which trains and employs female prisoners to grow, install and maintain plants in urban settings, including many offices. Kali says there are some growing considerations that are specific to offices.Statement plants for offices
“The biggest challenge is lighting” says Kali. “Offices don’t always have great access to natural light. We need to have a variety of plants and solutions for different degrees of light. The next biggest challenge is heating and air conditioning. We have to be careful of placing plants in locations where there’s a vent or a heating outlet. It can affect the plant’s health quite quickly. Then there’s the people factor. Sometimes people aren’t always as aware of the plants around them as they should be, and the plants get moved around.”
Looking after office plants
RHS Urban Show
For more indoor plant inspiriation, the RHS Urban Show in Manchester 18 – 21 April 2024 is packed with ideas, advice and expertise. Find plants and containers perfect for your work or home office and get tips direct from the growers. There'll be immersive urban gardening experiences, expert talks and demonstrations, delicious food and drink and, of course, lots of plants to take home.
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Listen to Gardening with the RHS podcast on houseplants
Read the RHS guide to looking after house plants
Read more about the new RHS Urban Show 2024