Remember that bad acquisition? The one who couldn’t handle the office environment and left all dried up in the middle of busy season? Or that great candidate who needed a lot of attention but really brightened up the place? Acquiring the right office plant has a lot more to do with fit than with the color of your thumb. To cultivate a mutually beneficial working relationship, scan the résumés of these office plants for a skill set that aligns with your organization’s goals.
How to Find the Right Plant for the Job
Let’s Talk Light
Every plant has its place, and that place depends on sunlight. Give that swivel chair a spin to assess lighting conditions.
- Would you consider your office to be a cave? No light? No hope either? Well, then you definitely need a plant. Go to section #1, on windowless offices, ASAP.
- Is the nearest window north-facing or more than seven feet away? Is the light coming in usually obscured by a tree? Don’t fret; just proceed to section #2, about low light.
- Do you sit next to a west- or east-facing window? Or are you five to ten feet from a south-facing window? Then section #3, medium light, will best lead to plant-office synergy.
- Are you beside a south-facing window? Are you practically blinded by the sun through that window? If you’ve answered yes, section #4, bright light, is the one for you.
#1 Windowless
Maybe you landed your dream job but not your ideal office space. If so, it’s up to you to make your corner of the building a happy place. Though no succulent would last a day in a basement, you can still add some greenery.
| Question: | Do you love to drown your plants or leave them out to dry? |
| Answer 1: | Drown them |
Marimo Moss Ball: Deep Thinker
Considered a national treasure in Japan, this soft, green moss ball is actually made of algae. Marimo grows at the bottom of cold lakes, where the currents preserve its circular shape. If your office could use high returns on a small investment, consider a simple terrarium with shells and sticks. Marimo moss balls are low maintenance, and best of all, you can’t possibly overwater them. Do, however, change out the water weekly and give each marimo a little squeeze (it can double as a messy stress ball). For serious investors, a small aquarium could be just the thing to brighten a dark office space. Marimo gets along swimmingly with most fish.
| Answer 2: | Dry |
Snake Plant: Self-Starter
Designed for drought, the snake plant doesn’t mind if you vacation every once in a while; it will keep doing its job with only a monthly watering paycheck. Its reaching leaves need very little light, though it may need to be passed to a sunnier desk once a month for a vacation of its own. Snake plants look great lined up in a long, skinny box, accenting their unique verticality and maximizing your desktop plant factor.
#2 Low
Just a touch of natural light is all it takes to grow several fantastic plants—and reap the benefits of their hard work. Even better: most low-light plants are also low maintenance and withstand lighting changes fairly well.
| Question | Since you can’t go wrong with either of these plants, do you prefer (A) variegated leaves or (B) a deep green color? |
| A: | Variegated leaves |
Pothos Plant: Productivity Powerhouse
Once you know the basic shape of a pothos plant, you’ll spot it everywhere: office buildings, the mall, and nearly every photo taken in 1975. But don’t knock it; pothos deserves all the hype it’s gotten through the years because of its tolerance for low light and its high visual interest. Give it room to grow—down from a bookshelf or a hanging pot—and a thorough drink whenever the leaves droop, and the pothos plant can liven up your office for decades. Some are quite the overachievers, with vines trailing up to ten feet.
| B: | Deep Green |
Zamioculcas zamiifolia: ZZ Does It
There’s no companion quite like Zamioculcas zamiifolia—ZZ for short. It is the epitome of low maintenance and always looks its best. ZZ can tolerate very low-light conditions, and adding light only makes it grow faster. It doesn’t mind cramped working conditions, though its stems may stretch up and gracefully arc over into your desk organizer. As far as watering goes, just forget about it. ZZ needs only the occasional drink every few weeks.
Plant Perks
Adding a live plant to your desk comes with an attractive benefits plan. Though there’s no 401(k), check out this healthcare package.
Sources: Lohr, Pearson-Mims, and Goodwin 1996; ellisonchair.tamu.edu; Park & Mattson 2009 |
#3 Medium
When it comes to light, moderation makes for many a happy plant—and often a faster-growing one.
| Question: | Do you have medium light but (A) occasionally like to close the blinds? Maybe you have medium light most of the year, with (B) some bright light during summer? Or is your light situation (C) consistently medium? |
| A: | Occasionally close the blinds |
Spider Plant: Life of the Office
With cheerful, bright leaves, the spider plant is a forgiving and fun coworker. A spider plant that is happy in its pot will produce small spiderettes—mini protégés that shoot off from the main plant. Don’t let brown tips concern you; they’re typical in even the healthiest of spider plants. If you want a more manicured look, however, you can trim them off. Spider plants aren’t picky and will work well in many different light levels and locations.
| B: | Some bright light |
Umbrella Plant: Cost Effective
For those with floor space to spare, the umbrella plant, or Schefflera, can reach up to six feet when properly staked. Though the plant flourishes best in bright, indirect light, it can still grow well—only slower—in medium light. One other perk: Schefflera offers more bang for your buck and is often cheaper than other plants its size.
| C: | Consistently medium |
Purple Waffle Plant: Great Communicator
The purple waffle plant sends clear signals. As soon as it needs water, its leaves collapse, looking a bit like the plant has fainted. With hydration, it pops right back up and keeps growing. Its deep purple color makes it stand out beside the average houseplant. Purple waffle tends to be low growing and can work well in a tight space.
#4 Bright
When it comes to light, many plants accept nothing less than the C-suite: lots of natural light and a great view. For these sun-seekers, finding the right watering routine will require patience and, perhaps, careful note-taking. But once the relationship is established, these plants pay dividends with their out-of-this-world looks.
| Question: | Do you have (A) a sink in the vicinity? Or is (B) filling up your water bottle—let alone a watering can—a lengthy chore? |
| A: | We have a sink just down the hall |
Air Plant: Unique Talents
As its name suggests, the air plant, or Tillandsia, draws nutrients from the air around it, rather than from soil. This means there are endless ways to accommodate it: in a small glass cup, wired to a frame, or even hung upside down. Xerographica, often called the “queen of air plants” because of its large size, even works as a casual paperweight. Don’t be fooled by the lack of soil though. Bright, indirect light is a must-have as well as water—and lots of it. The easiest way to water an air plant is to place the entire plant in a bowl of water for a few minutes, remove, and place upside down on a towel. Once completely dry, return the plant to its holder. When it begins to look and feel dry, it’s bath time again.
| B: | Other than the distant water cooler, it’s a desert here |
Succulents and Cacti: Dressed to Impress
Succulents certainly have stylish colors and shapes that would fit right in at a tech startup. But while their hipster look is appealing, their claims to ease-of-care are overhyped. They require little watering, which may be simple for some, but proceed with caution and place succulents only in the sunniest of spaces. For those desiring a succulent who are less seasoned in plant care, start with an aloe vera plant, which tends to be less temperamental. Though harder to handle physically, cacti may be easier to care for. To meet their needs, think desert conditions: well-draining soil, a little drink, and lots and lots of sunshine.
_
Article written by Katie Olson
Illustrations by Carol Cramer
