10 Best Plants for your Office Desk
Here at Treleaf, we've had a few different locations for headquarters. It wasn't until last year, we finally found a place with windows and natural light. So, naturally, we had to add indoor plants! Our office plant collection is made up of plants from out personal collections, plants we've purchased specifically for our office and even plants that have been gifted to us. It's a special, curated office plants collection that has brought us an immense amount of joy.
Treleaf Cactrella Bare trellis
Since bringing plants into our office, the office space feels like a breath of fresh air. We get to style our office in a way we haven't before, especially paired with our trellises. That definitely beats looking at bare walls all day, every day.
In this blog, I will suggest some of the best plants for desk as well as office corners and their key care tips.
The best plants to choose for an office
1. Zamioculcas Zamiifolia (ZZ Plant)
Zamioculcas Zamiifolia, commonly known as the ZZ plant, is a succulent type plant that took the plant market by storm because of its low maintenance needs and tolerance to both low light and not needing to be watered often.
The ZZ plant has a robust root system, being made of tubers. These tuber resemble little potatoes and hold onto a lot of water, making this plant sensitive to over watering. I would recommend a watering schedule of once a month. And if you have an office with low light, no worries. The ZZ plant will put out slower growth, but can handle low light like a champ.
ZZ plant office plant
Photo by Pino Nguyen on Unsplash
Sunny office? Also, no problem to the ZZ plant. In the natural environment, the ZZ plant receives a lot of light. Just make sure to slowly acclimate your ZZ plants to the brighter light to prevent the foliage from burning. And you'll notice your plant growing a lot faster in brighter light.
The ZZ plant can grow quite big and unruly. Making it the perfect plant for a corner, adding to the ambiance of the office environment.
2. Snake plants
Snake plants, or Dracaenas or mother in law's tongue, are another great low maintenance option for indoor office plants. Like the ZZ plant, Snake plants are another extremely hardy and forgiving plant species. They are sensitive to over watering, so if you find yourself away from the office a lot, the snake plant is perfect.
Potted Snake plant
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
Snake plants also come in all shapes and sizes. The dwarf ones are great plants for a desk. But if you have an empty corner, you can also find massive snake plants to fill any blank space.
Snake plants thrive in both low light conditions are natural sunlight. So whether you have a dimly lit office or bright, direct sunlight, the snake plant will be just fine. Making it one of the best ideal office plant.
3. Epipremnum aureum (Pothos)
The classic Epipremnum aureum, you may know as Devil's ivy or pothos, is a houseplant that has stood the test of time and is one of the most popular low maintenance plants. Not only can the vines get massive and give you all the jungle vibes, it's also a great office plant. Very little maintenance is needed for Devil's ivy to grow because they will thrive off neglect and can tolerate low light conditions.
Treleaf Bare Palmella wall mount
While pothos are great with low light, they're not succulents. I suggest watering your pothos on a weekly or bi weekly basis depending on how much light it gets. Wait until the soil is dry before watering. The leaves will go limp with too many missed waterings. Read HERE to different signs of yellowing leaves.
Trailing plants can also be made into a statement plant by letting them climb up walls. Pair them with Treleaf wall mounts to add space between the plant and wall so the plant doesn't damage the wall and it adds to the office decor.
4.Philodendron
There's many different types of Philodendron and not all are created equally.
Trailing philodendron are similar to pothos but have smooth foliage rather than the rigged leaves on the pothos. Philodendron also require a little more humidity, so if you're in a humid area I highly suggest a trailing Philodendron. They have many beautiful colors and don't require bright light.
Trailing Philodendron with Treleaf wall mount
Standing Philodendrons are great for office spaces because they can make a great statement plant. Some light research may be required before purchasing a large Philodendron but, typically, most of the upright Philodendrons at your local big box store will do great!
Most Philodendrons do well in low light and like to be watered before the soil is dry. Learn more about philodendrons and their care here.
5.Peace lily
Peace lily plants are a popular plant because while they're not a really low maintenance plant, they're a very vocal, tolerant plant.
Place your peace lily near a window where it'll receive indirect sunlight and water on a weekly to bi weekly basis. Peace lily plants will tell you when they're thirsty. Meaning, the glossy green leaves will go limp when it's thirsty. But don't fret, just give it a good watering and the leaves will pop right back.
Peace lily flower
Photo by Lan Gao on Unsplash
Peace lilies are known for their white, hooded flowers that pop up twice a year. They have a slight floral scent. There's something so magical about admiring a blooming plant that can really help reduce stress.
6.Aloe vera plant
Aloe vera plants make great, low maintenance plants, if you were to give them have ONE thing; give them lots of direct sunlight. If your office space has a window with lots of direct sunlight, place your aloe on the window sill and watch it thrive. No need to worry about watering because these plants are succulent type plants and only require water once every couple of weeks.
Dwarf Aloe vera plant
Photo by Stephanie Harvey on Unsplash
The standard Aloe vera can grow a few feet tall and quite wide. But if you want an Aloe desk plant, I suggest some of the dwarf varieties.
7.Lucky Bamboo
Despite its name, Lucky bamboo, it's not true bamboo. Lucky bamboo is in the Dracaena family and closely related to the corn plant, another great low maintenance office plant.
Lucky bamboo is often found and grown in water. Which is nice to not have to worry about soil. Top the water off whenever you see the water line go down. Growers will often form and bend bamboo into different shapes, adding a fun decor to any office desk.
8.Cactus
If your office has a lot of bright light, other plants you could consider, is cacti. Cacti come in my different shapes and sizes. They also thrive off very little watering. Water you cactus once a month, and even less frequently during the winter.
Assortment of cacti and succulent
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Cacti are slow growing, don't need pruning and require very little care which makes them the ideal small office plants. Just be careful of the spines, they can hurt!
9.Chlorophytum comosum (Spider Plant)
Spider plants are a fast growing, ever giving houseplant. Spider plants have long green leaves that put off runners, or vines, that sprout little plantlets that are easy to propagate and share through out the office.
Spider plants prefer a slightly humid environment with indirect light. They also like slight damp soil but not soggy. If you notice the leaves on your Spider plant are turning a pale green color, then it's time for a water.
Spider plant on a desk
Photo by Lucian Alexe on Unsplash
Spider plants will need repotting about once a year, during the growing season. They have quite robust roots and won't be happy and will grow sparse if left too root bound.
10.Jade plant
Jade plants sometimes known as the money plant because it's said to bring good luck and prosperity. Jade plants are a succulent type plant with rounded leaves and a thick, tree like stem.
Jade plants thrive in bright, sunny areas. Low light conditions aren't ideal for them, they'll start to etiolate and suffer. Use a gritty soil mix and water once a month.
Small office Jade plant
Jade plants can be propagated from a single leaf cutting. So grab some leaves, read THIS article to read our propagation tips, and share some with the whole office.