Rooted in Happiness Archives

7 Best Office Plants For Your Desk at Work

Our homes aren’t the only place that could use a little décor to help create a peaceful and serene environment — our place of work can benefit from the same. Aside from hanging pictures with positive sayings and decorating our desks with photos of family members, having plants throughout the office can also make us smile. Not only can they make you feel good, but studies have shown that employees are more productive when workplaces are decorated with some indoor office plants.

Could your office use a pick-me-up? If so, here are some of the best plants to do just that.

Bamboo

We love using bamboo around the office due to the calming effects it has on work spaces. It’s also known to clean the air, which is another added bonus for your health. These bamboo plants are the perfect size for that space on your desk that appears to be rather empty, and, in addition to the health benefits you experience, you may even find that one brings you a bit of good luck throughout your work day too.

Bonsai

Indoor bonsai will need some sun in the morning, so if your office has south- or west-facing windows, these are an excellent choice to place on the window sill. Maintenance is on the simpler side for indoor bonsai, as they tend to respond best when being watered every two or three days rather than every day.

Cactus

This cactus dish garden is perfect for the office, mainly because of its size. No larger than a paper plate, one of these can fit just about anywhere, but we recommend using one for your desk if your individual work space could use some enhancements — just be strategic about where you put it so that no one who comes to visit you gets stuck by it. These cacti and succulents can survive in low light and no light with very little water, making them a great office plant for any new plant parents.

Snake plant

Sanseveria Zeylanica, aka snake plants, are a showstopper in any office that could use some brightening up. This office plant grows straight up with a glossy, speckled leaf and is extremely low maintenance — you’ll love this plant if your motto is “Work smarter, not harder.” Snake plants are susceptible to root rot, so watering only every three or so weeks is ideal. They also tolerate all types of light as long as it’s not direct (which you rarely get near a desk anyway), making this versatile plant a must for any cubicle in need of some edge.

Orchid

Orchids, the 2023 Flower of the Year, prefer filtered light rather than direct sun, so they’re perfect for spaces that are out of the way of the sun’s rays. We suggest using these to brighten up a corner of your office that’s a bit darker than the rest of your work space. They also only require watering about once or twice a week, so maintenance won’t be too difficult!

Philodendron

Philodendrons are ideal for office environments since they’re relatively easy to grow and can tolerate a ton of different conditions. They’re usually OK even with just occasional care. If this sounds like something you’re interested in, a sandstone garden would be a great choice. It includes a mix of green plants, including silver philodendron, and is the perfect size for a desk, ledge, or shelf.

Peace lily plant

When you’re going to spend 40-plus hours a week in your office, keeping calm is key. A peace lily plant can help with that, and it comes with the bonus of being able to clean and purify indoor air. Keep your peace lily away from cold, drafty windows and out of direct sunlight for best growth results. Peace lilies are an especially good office plant because they can tolerate periods of drought, so they’ll forgive you if you forget about them while you focus on a project deadline.

Health Benefits of House Plants

Our new series, Rooted in Happiness, shares the many mental, emotional, and physical benefits of plants. From boosting productivity to reducing stress, we bring you expert health tips on different types of plants proven to better your quality of life.

Plants—they’re alive, colorful, scented , and did we mention just plain beautiful? While many people are aware of the many decorative benefits of plants, few realize that they have the ability to improve your mental and physical health. Whether you live in the “Concrete Jungle” or the vineyards of Northern California, every home can benefit from bringing the great outdoors inside.

Benefits of Plants Infographic

They Reduce Stress Levels

Have you ever noticed that the minute you step out into a lush forest or beautiful park, you instantly feel at ease? It’s not your imagination—people actually feel calmer when surrounded by greenery.

Plants Improve Air Quality

Believe it or not, some plants are so good at purifying air and supplying oxygen that NASA actually requires them to be onboard certain spaceships.

But even your typical green plant has the ability to:

Reduce carbon dioxide levels in your home.
Control humidity levels.
Reduce pollution levels in your home (specifically the pollutants benzene and nitrogen).
Diminish airborne dust levels.
Lower room temperatures.
Add pure, clean oxygen to a room.

Plants Help You Heal

Plants may not be a miracle cure, but studies have shown that something as simple as looking at a picture of nature can decrease pain levels. Take, for example, a 1993 study that looked at how artwork and simulated windows in hospitals affected patient healing. Amazingly, patients who looked at landscape photographs (compared to others who had white panels or abstract paintings in their room) reported less anxiety and needed less medication.

The reason? Scientists believe that the calming effects of nature images can reduce cortisol levels and improve your mood, effectively speeding up the healing process. If a picture can do all that, imagine what live plants could do!

Health-Promoting Plants to Bring into Your Home

Lavender

Lavender isn’t just a beautiful bloom for your garden–the flowering plant can provide various health benefits due to its gentle and calming scent. Lavender is often used in Epsom salts, soaps and candles to help promote relaxation and relieve stress. Lavender essential oils can also be placed in a diffuser–let it run through the night and experience the soothing scent for less restlessness and insomnia.

Rose Bush

“Stop and smell the roses” isn’t just an expression anymore! Studies have shown that just by looking at a rose, people were able to decrease their stress levels and feel more level-headed.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera has been used a natural remedy for generations, surpassing the test of time as new methods and medicines have been developed. The clear gel from the plant’s leaves soothes the skin and is typically used for sunburns, psoriasis, frostbite and general burns.

Snake Plant

Sansevieria, also know as the snake plant or mother-in-law’s tongue, is well known to improve the air quality of your house. Snake Plants remove toxins from the air like trichloroethylene, formaldehyde and toluene all while converting the carbon dioxide you release into oxygen. Another great benefit? They’re notoriously easy to care for. Looking for more easy-to-care for plants? Learn more here.

Fern

If your home suffers from low levels of humidity, skip the humidifier and consider buying a fern. Within days, you’ll notice that your skin and hair feel less dry and your home’s air is easier to breathe.

Peace Lily

Like the Snake Plant, Peace Lilies are a great pollutant remover. They can absorb harmful air-bound substances like ammonia and xylene that may be present in your home. Not only will you breathe better, you’ll breathe lighter—the peace lily has a pleasant, calming aroma since it produces flowers.