Tips For Choosing The Right Plants For Your Office Space

Plants can enhance your office environment, providing colour, shape and texture to counterbalance the equipment and functional furniture. They can also contribute to better air quality and boost the mood and morale of your employees. 

However, choosing plants for an office space is a whole different ball game to grabbing a succulent or two from a supermarket shelf to put on your kitchen window sill at home. To make sure that your plants fit in and thrive, you need to consider a variety of factors including the amount of space available, the lighting and layout. 

Here are some helpful hints to bring some fabulous foliage into your working day. 

Work out wear the plants will be placed

Plants are more than ornaments to brighten up a dark and dusty corner; in order to thrive they need to have a good amount of space and light. Don’t be tempted to buy a plant that is the wrong size and species for its intended spot. Remember that most species of plant will grow bigger, so factor this in when deciding where it will go. 

For example, plants for reception areas should be placed out of the way of foot traffic so that they are not in danger of being kicked over, which is not only potentially hazardous ( and messy…) but will be likely to cause serious damage to the plant. 

If you have a spacious office with ample natural light, you can consider large floor plants such as miniature trees or rubber plants. If you have a smaller office, then it will be suited to plants that can sit easily on desktops or shelves, such as spider plants or succulents.

Consider environmental conditions

Plants are very sensitive to temperature and humidity, and should not be placed near radiators or air conditioning units. Will it be able to withstand being left without heat or cooling air when the office is closed up over the weekends and bank holidays? Plants need good air circulation, so open the windows regularly. 

Check how much light the plant needs

The plant will need to be placed with a light source that suits it. Some plants need bright sunlight for the majority of the day, and should be placed near a south-facing window. If your office tends to be dark and lacks a strong natural light source, look for plants that can survive in low light environments. 

Put a care and maintenance plan in place

Even the best placed plants will need regular maintenance to keep them in good condition. Make sure that you follow the plant care instructions regarding feeding, watering, and pruning the plants. Large-leaved plants should be wiped with a damp cloth every couple of weeks to keep the leaves free from dust and dirt.