Best Office Plants, Their Benefits, and Care Tips

There’s no question that plants are our friends. Having plants in your office brings serenity, color, and (literally) life to your workspace. Multiple studies point to the positive psychological effects of plants in the office. Plants not only lower stress levels, they also increase productivity, improve attention span, and promote job satisfaction!

As East Nashville grows more urban by the day, it’s important to ensure your office is enriched with essential greenery. Plus, plants are perfect for flex rental decorating, since you won’t have to worry about the hassle of hanging anything on the walls.

With Spring around the corner, now is an opportune time to think about what plant pal to pick up at your local nursery to spruce up your Private Office suite or Designated Desk!

Keep in mind plants have needs unique to each genus. Before you adopt a potted office buddy, here are some things to consider:

1. Light 
2. Water frequency
3. Planter size (in relation to desk/office size)
4. Growth rate

Light

Does your office have windows? 

I’m sure we all remember learning about photosynthesis in school. Plants need sun to make food. Like any organic creature, plants need food to stay alive. In some cases, very hardy plants can survive on a grow light. Ironically, though, plants will grow much faster if they have sufficient natural sunlight.

Water frequency

How often are you in the office? Consider low maintenance plants if you travel a lot. If you’re here 9-5 M-F, you have more plant options to choose from. With higher maintenance leafy friends, keeping a water reminder on your calendar may help.

Planter size

Obviously larger private offices have room for gigantic plants. But one thing to keep in mind is how many desks will also take up space. You may not want a jungle overtaking a coworker’s workspace, unless they’re into that. 

Will your plant stay on the floor, or will it live on your desk? Smaller plants are perfect desk companions. We also love seeing small succulents sit on sunny windowsills.

Growth rate

Even if your plant starts as a desk buddy, if it’s a fast grower, it may need to upgrade to a floor spot. Or just overtake your desk, no judgment.

Typically, the more natural light your office has, the faster your plant will grow. 

However, with our flexible lease terms and entrepreneurial community, you may outgrow and upgrade your office before your plants do!

In Center 615’s buildings specifically, these plants do really well with our humidity levels and light:

Aloe, Aloe vera

bright, indirect light, water 1x month*

Perfect for offices with a window. The little “pups” they push out during their growing season are adorable! They prefer their soil on the rockier, drier side. And yes, the natural gel in their leaves soothes skin irritation. Fun fact: there are records of aloe vera used as medicine dating back to ancient Mesopotamia!

Fiddle leaf fig, Ficus lyrata

bright, indirect light, water 1x week*

Be warned, these are high maintenance (here’s a good resource for troubleshooting) But if you’re around to keep a close eye on them, their gorgeous, glossy foliage is definitely worth the fuss. You can also find them in a wide variety of sizes, suitable for any (well-lit) space!

Snake plant, Sansevieria trifasciata

tolerates low light, water 1x month*

These. Guys. Are. Tough. If most plants you bring into the office wilt and wither, try a snake plant next time. Also cringingly known as Mother-in-law’s Tongue, they just might stick around longer than you’d expected.

ZZ plant, Zamioculcas zamiifolia

tolerates low light, water 1x month*

Another glossy goddess, these can be an easy maintenance alternative to a fiddle leaf fig. You can also easily propagate their stems, leaves, or rhizomes to fill every corner of your office with feathery tropical friends. (Check out the raven variety for a bold and dark look)

Pothos, Epipremnum aureum

tolerates low light, water 1x month*

While we don’t have any in our common areas, members love these in their office! With three common varieties to choose from, pothos’ tear drop leaves and elegant, trailing vines grow very quickly when they’re happy. Pothos are also super easy to propagate to make more plants (and give away to coworking neighbors)!

To adopt your next foliaged friend, visit one of these local shops:

• Gardens of Babylon
• Flora
• Turnip Truck (sometimes)
• Bates Nursery and Garden Center
• Lawrence and Clarke Cacti Co.

(Do615 also has a more extensive list)

Already have a plant not listed above that thrives at your Center 615 private office? We’d love to hear about it in the comments below!

*Disclaimer: Variables such as the material and size of a planter, soil type, how much light comes in through a window, time of year, and office temperature all affect a plant’s care needs. Center 615 does not guarantee plant success and is not liable for any dead office plants.