Office Plants: How to keep the Right Plants for your Office Clean and Thriving
Plants are an amazing way to spruce up your office. A flourishing office plant brings a sense of freshness and peace to the surroundings, and it isn’t unusual to see many decorating a small space. Whether it is an individual or the whole team, you may find your business has more plants than you ever planned.
Office plants do more than freshen up a space. With the right plants, you can notice some benefits such as:
Cleaner air, especially with plants that thrive on hardy conditions such as Snake Plants. Cleaner air decreases the risk of stress, headaches, and migraines.
An increase in productivity. According to this study by Cardiff University’s School of Psychology, teams often perform better when surrounded by greenery
Reduction in stress. Plants can increase a feeling of peace and help dispel stress that your team may be having
There are more benefits to plants in the office but with most things that come into the office space, how do you take care of them besides watering and pruning? We’ve got some tips that will help you manage your office plant life with low effort.
The Right Plants for the Right Office
Not all plants are ideal for an office space. For example, plants that lose flowers and leaves can be a headache to take care of, while plants that exude a heavy scent can create headaches for smell-sensitive team members. So when you are out at a greenhouse or store, you need to be sure the plants will work for your office. Even if your space is mostly private, you never know who may be visiting.
Consider a few things before choosing the right plants:
What level of care do you want to give? If watering every day is not going to fit in your calendar, you may want to consider a lower effort plant like a succulent. If cleaning up pieces of your plant sounds aggravating, think of a plant that ‘sheds’ less. In all of this, you want to consider the impact if you neglect your plants. While you may see it as harmless, a dying or dead plant in a pot can look poorly on you in the office.
What look do you want your plant to have? Some plants, such as ferns, are simple but beautiful. Lush flowering plants bring a freshness to the office look. Depending on your office needs and decor, the right plant can help create a look that invites your customers in while serving a purpose.
What do you actually need? A bigger plant like a Mass Cane Floor Plant can fill out corners in a large office, but in a smaller office it can become overwhelming. Do you have the floor space for large plants or should you stick to hanging plants and window boxes? Really look at your space and determine what plant size would be best. Remember to also consider watering and pruning.
Light Up Your Space with Office Plants Wisely
What is your office space like? You’ve now looked at the size of your space but consider your lighting. Most plants need some amount of sunshine to properly thrive indoors. This is very easy with offices where light is a priority, with large windows that can open and allow in light almost constantly. Other offices, however, have very minimal light and sometimes have none.
Lots of light is great for many plants but too much of a good thing can be hazardous to the life of your plant. Too much light can ‘cook’ your plant, drying them out quickly and turning them from green to yellow-brown. In office spaces where light is intense, choose plants that can thrive in indirect, bright light, such as:
Fiddle Leaf Fig
Succulents
Areca Palm
Alternatively, what should you do if you have low light areas? Plants can survive in the shade with some care and attention. Look for plants such as:
Pothos
Chinese Evergreen
Spider plant
What if your office is a mixture of both high and low light, as many are? Look for medium light plants that do well in indirect light. These plants are also a great option:
Arrowhead Vine
Rock Begonia
Bird’s Nest Fern
How to Keep Your Plant Looking Great in the Office
Above all else, don’t neglect your plants. Skipping a day of watering is okay but it can have some repercussions. In your office cleaning duties, be sure to include your plants.
Avoid your plants drying out by consulting either online or at a greenhouse with watering schedules and if you need grow lights. When you have lower light areas, plants can struggle to thrive. Look at having them rotated from one area to the next to get them some light. Some businesses also find spots outdoors to place their potted plants. Remember that you want your plants to look green and colourful, not brown or yellowed.
Big leafy plants will need dusting and so will smaller plants. Dust can block the plant’s ability to process sunlight and stops your plant from breathing properly. This can shorten the lifespan of your plant, so you want to keep this as part of your routine. The right way to dust your plants depends on the surface you have to clean:
Large leaves with a smooth surface: Use a soft, damp cloth with lukewarm water. Wipe from base to tip and clean both the top and underside.
Delicate leaves: use a softer paintbrush or thick bristled brush to sweep away the dust.
Sturdy plants or bushy plants: Place them in the sink for a rinse with lukewarm water. After rinsing, place the plant somewhere out of sunlight to dry.
It isn’t just dust that can bother your plants. Tiny pests and dead leaves not only compromise the health of your plants but can cause unsightly effects on your plant. No one wants to see bugs crawling over green leaves and it can be a hazard to office health. Carefully inspect your plant for any bugs and dead leaves and remove them carefully. Proper maintenance of your plant keeps it looking clean and ready for presenting to clients and staff.
Office Plants can help provide a better space, but take care of them
Choosing to add office plants to a setting is usually an easy decision for many office managers. But you don’t want to go into purchasing any plant you can get your hands on. Do your research and take your time. There is no saying you need to buy all your plants at once. Start small and add to your collection slowly, so that you know what is working and what you may need to rethink.
When it comes to care, you want to keep your plants’ health in mind. Always:
Water
Prune
Dust
Move into light when possible
Plants can provide a sense of serenity to your office and with the right care, they can last for a long time. With healthy greenery on display, you are telling your customers and employees that you care for their health and are meticulous in providing excellent care. A win-win for everyone!
Need help keeping on top of your office cleaning? Talk to Clean Works about how we can help you!