What Plants Are Best for Home Offices?

More people are working from home, making a cozy and productive office space key. Adding low-maintenance houseplants can make your space better and improve your health. But, which plants are best for a home office? Find out the top picks that can cut stress, clean the air, and boost productivity¹.

Choosing plants that do well in low light and dry air is important for home offices. You can pick from air-cleaning succulents to easy-to-grow flowers. The right plants can turn your office into a peaceful, nature-filled space. Learn about the best plants for home offices and how they can make working from home better².

Benefits of Having Plants in Your Home Office

Adding plants to your home office brings many benefits. It can make you more productive, improve your mental health, and make your work area better. Studies show that plants can reduce stress and increase productivity³.

Spaces with plants have a 15% higher well-being score and are 6% more productive⁴. Plants also help lower sickness rates among employees³.

Reduce Stress and Increase Productivity

Plants make you feel calmer and better mentally⁵. Offices with plants see a 37% drop in anxiety and a 58% drop in depression⁵. There’s also a 44% drop in anger and a 38% drop in fatigue⁵.

Plants make your space more peaceful and refreshing. This helps you focus better and be more productive³.

Improve Air Quality and Mental Health

Some plants clean the air by taking in pollutants and giving out oxygen⁴. Dr. Fraser Torpy’s study found that indoor plants cut carbon dioxide levels by 10% in air-conditioned offices and 25% in buildings without air conditioning⁴.

Good air quality in your office is good for your health. It makes you feel more focused and energized³.

Right plants make your workspace welcoming and uplifting. This makes work better³. Big windows can also make your office feel bigger and connected to nature. This boosts creativity and productivity³.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Office Plants

When picking plants for your home office, think about a few key things to make sure they do well. The first and foremost is the lighting. Many offices have little or indirect light. So, pick plants like peace lilies⁶, ZZ plants⁶, and pothos⁶ that can handle these conditions.

Next, look at how often you need to water your plants. If you’re not always in the office, choose plants that can survive with less water. Drought-tolerant plants like snake plants⁶ and cast iron plants⁷ are good choices.

Lastly, think about the temperature and humidity in your office. Some plants prefer certain conditions more than others. For example, the Chinese Evergreen⁸ and Aglaonema Wishes⁸ can handle lower humidity levels, making them great for many offices.

Plant	Light Requirements	Watering Needs	Temperature & Humidity Tolerance	Price Range
Peace Lily	Low to mid-light	Weekly watering	Moderate humidity	$1 at West Elm⁸
ZZ Plant	Low light	Water when soil is dry	Tolerant of low humidity	11% off at $79 on easyplant.com⁸
Pothos	Low to medium light	Water after top inch of soil dries	Adaptable to various conditions	Priced at $37 on Amazon (14% off)⁸
Snake Plant	Low light	Water every 2-3 weeks	Tolerant of low humidity	$16 on Amazon⁸
Cast Iron Plant	Low light	Water when soil is dry	Tolerates dry conditions	Not available
Chinese Evergreen	Bright, indirect light	Water when top inch of soil is dry	Tolerates low humidity	$25 on Amazon (16% off)⁸

By thinking about light, watering, and temperature and humidity, you can pick office plants that will do well in your space.

⁸

Low-Maintenance Houseplants for Your Home Office

Decorating your home office with office plants that need little care is smart. These easy-care houseplants can do well with minimal effort, ideal for those who love indoor gardening. Options like peace lilies, bamboo, cast iron plants, and ZZ plants bring in lush workspace greenery without the hard work of caring for them.

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum): These plants do well in low light and tell you they need water by drooping their leaves.
Bamboo (Bambusoideae): Bamboo plants are easy to care for and clean the air, making them great for your office.
Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra Elatior): Known for its toughness, the cast iron plant can survive with little care, perfect for busy offices.
ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas Zamiifolia): This plant cleans the air and needs little water, making it a top choice for low-maintenance office plants⁹.

Other great choices include pothos, snake plants, Chinese evergreens, and spider plants. These easy-care houseplants can handle different lighting and don’t mind if you forget to water them sometimes. Adding these tough plants to your office lets you enjoy greenery without the stress of hard care.

Whether you’re new to plants or have been growing them for years, these low-maintenance office plants are great for your space. They clean the air, help you work better, and add beauty, making them a key part of your office look¹⁰.

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

The peace lily is a great pick for those new to houseplants. It’s easy to care for and tells you when it needs water by drooping its leaves. After watering, it quickly recovers, making it perfect for busy people¹¹. However, keep in mind that it’s toxic to pets, so it might not be safe for pet owners.

Easy to Care For and Signals When It Needs Water

The peace lily shows when it needs water by drooping its leaves¹¹. This is great for those who are often away from their desks. With a simple water, it will bounce back to its lively state¹¹.

This plant is not only easy to care for but also looks beautiful. It grows from 1 to 4 feet tall and has dark green leaves and white flowers¹². It can thrive in medium light, fitting well in many office settings¹¹.

Even though the peace lily is mostly easy to handle, it has parts that can be harmful if eaten¹². This means it might not be the best choice for homes with kids or pets. But for adults, it’s a great addition to the office, adding beauty and cleaning the air¹³.

Bamboo (Bambusoideae)

Bamboo is a great pick for home offices, doing well in both bright and dim light¹⁴. It’s an evergreen, living for many years, and belongs to the grass family¹⁴. In Vastu Shastra, placing lucky bamboo in the east or southeast corner brings wealth and luck¹⁴. Different numbers of stalks in the arrangement mean different things, like love, health, or luck.

It’s perfect for desks because it won’t get too big¹⁵. Lucky bamboo can grow over a foot tall in just six months¹⁵. It’s tough enough to live indoors in zones 10-11 and likes temperatures between 65°F and 90°F¹⁵. You can see its red roots floating in water, showing it’s healthy.

There are many styles of bamboo, from simple spirals to fancy designs¹⁶. With over 1,000 types, you can pick one that matches your office look¹⁶. Some popular kinds, like Black, Golden, and Multiplex Bamboo, stand out with their unique looks and growth.

Keep your bamboo happy by changing the water every 7-10 days¹⁵. Use clean water to avoid harming it, and move it to a bigger pot if it’s too crowded¹⁵. You can make new bamboo plants from cuttings and water, and roots will show up in about 30 days¹⁵. But, they can get pests like white bugs and spider mites.

Bamboo Plant Meaning	Number of Stalks
Love	2
Fu (happiness), Lu (wealth), and Soh (long life)	3
Balance, peace, harmony, and power in all areas of life	5
Good luck and wealth	6
Good health	7
Growth	8
Great luck	9
Perfection	10
Powerful blessing	21

Bamboo is not just a pretty desk plant, it also cleans the air¹⁴. It’s great at removing bad air and making oxygen¹⁶. This makes the air cleaner and adds balance to your space with its five elements.

Looking for a bamboo office plant, low-light plant, or a desktop plant? Bamboo is a top choice that’s easy to care for. It comes in many styles and has deep meanings, making it a great addition to any home office¹⁵¹⁶¹⁴.

Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra Elatior)

If you’re away from your home office a lot, the cast iron plant is a great choice¹⁷. It has long, glossy green leaves that can grow up to 2 feet long and 4 inches wide¹⁷. This plant can survive with little water, making it perfect for those who forget to water their plants¹⁷.

Experts say this plant can handle many growing conditions that others can’t¹⁷. It’s ideal for busy people who can’t always care for their plants.

Resilient and Tolerant of Neglect

Cast iron plants (Aspidistra Elatior) are tough houseplants that don’t need much care¹⁷. They can live in low light and handle a wide range of indoor temperatures¹⁷. These plants grow 2 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide¹⁷.

They like partial shade and soil that’s acidic to neutral¹⁷. In spring and summer, they produce white or purple flowers¹⁷. These plants are for hardiness zones 8 to 10 (USDA) and come from Asia¹⁷.

Cast iron plants do well in medium to bright indirect light, not direct sunlight¹⁷. They like rich soil that’s a bit acidic to neutral¹⁷. Indoors, keep them in a spot with temperatures between 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit and good humidity¹⁷.

Feed them a liquid fertilizer monthly in spring and summer, but not in fall and winter¹⁷.

These plants can have leaves with stripes, tips, or dots¹⁷. You can start new plants by dividing them in spring or early summer¹⁷. Repot them every few years in spring or summer¹⁷.

Cast iron plants are usually pest and disease free but can get root rot from too much water¹⁷. Look out for browning leaf tips from too much or too little water, or from too much sunlight¹⁷. Droopy leaves mean the soil is too dry¹⁷.

They need medium to bright light but can do okay in low light, making them great for north-facing windows or rooms with indirect light¹⁷.

Studies show office plants improve air quality, mood, and productivity, and make employees happier¹⁸. With its tough nature and ability to handle neglect, the cast iron plant is perfect for busy people who want a low-care office plant¹⁷.

ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas Zamiifolia)

The ZZ plant is often seen as one of the easiest office plants to care for¹⁹. It can survive with little water and does well in low light¹⁹. This plant grows slowly, reaching 2 to 3 feet tall and wide over 3 to 5 years¹⁹.

This plant is great for improving air quality in your office¹⁹. It only needs watering every 2 to 3 weeks, making it perfect for busy people¹⁹.

Pollutant-Absorbing and Long-Lasting Between Waterings

The ZZ plant is tough and cleans the air well, even in different lighting¹⁹. It likes at least 6 hours of light a day but can handle up to 12 hours in warmer months¹⁹. Keep it in a spot between 65°F-85°F (18°C-30°C) for best health¹⁹.

Looking after the ZZ plant is easy¹⁹. Just make sure it gets enough light and water, and feed it now and then¹⁹. But, it’s not safe for pets or kids because it can irritate them¹⁹. So, keep it away from them.

Plant Name	Height x Spread
Snake Plant (Sansevieria)	1.2m x 50cm²⁰
ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas Zamiifolia)	1m x 80cm²⁰
Marble Queen Pothos	2m x 75cm²⁰
Kentia Palm (Howea forsteriana)	3m x 2m²⁰
Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)	60cm x 60cm²⁰
Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans)	2m x 1.5m²⁰
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)	20cm x 30cm²⁰
Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)	2m x 1.5m²⁰
Fishbone Cactus	30cm x 100cm²⁰
Echeveria	40cm x 30cm²⁰
String of Hearts	1.5m x 10cm²⁰
Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides)	35cm x 35cm²⁰
Aloe Vera	90cm x 90cm²⁰
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)	60cm x 60cm²⁰
Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)	2.5m x 1m²⁰

The ZZ plant is a top pick for low-care office plants¹⁹. It cleans the air, needs little water, and grows in various lights¹⁹. Adding this plant to your office brings better air quality and a bit of nature indoors.

Best Plants for Home Offices

Choosing the right plants for your home office means looking for ones that are easy to care for. They should also do well in low light and be safe for pets. Peace lilies, bamboo, cast iron plants, ZZ plants, pothos, snake plants, Chinese evergreens, and spider plants are great choices. They add beauty, clean the air, and help reduce stress without needing a lot of care. Adding these plants can make your office feel more peaceful and connected to nature.

Studies show that office plants can make people up to 15% more productive²¹. Plants like the Snake Plant and Dracaena help with focus and thinking skills²¹. A Cardiff University study found that office plants make people happier, more focused, and think the air is cleaner²¹.

Peace lilies are simple to care for and tell you when they need water. Bamboo and cast iron plants can handle different lighting and neglect well. The ZZ plant is great because it cleans the air and lasts a long time without water.

The pothos is great for low light and the snake plant cleans the air and likes dry conditions. Chinese evergreens and spider plants do well in low light and are easy to share with coworkers.

Léon & George offers plant care in Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco Bay Area²¹. They provide tips on watering, light, cleaning, and pruning to keep plants healthy²¹.

Plants like the Dracaena Lisa, Snake Plant, and Braided Money Tree are good for offices because they clean the air, need little care, and look nice²¹. Tall plants like the Kentia Palm and Snake Plant add a professional look and improve air quality²¹.

By picking the right best office plants, home office plants, workspace greenery, and indoor gardening options, you can make your office better. Adding plants that are easy to care for can make your space more productive, healthy, and nice to look at²¹.

Pothos (Epipremnum Aureum)

Looking for a houseplant that’s easy to care for and brightens up your office? The pothos, also called Devil’s Ivy, is a great pick²². It’s known for its long vines and heart-shaped leaves, giving a lush look to any space²². Plus, it does well in low light, perfect for offices with little sunlight.

Why is the pothos perfect for offices? It’s adaptable and easy to keep up with²³. This plant is a favorite in American offices for its air-purifying qualities²³. It’s also considered one of the most versatile houseplants²². It can handle normal to dry air and only needs watering every 1-2 weeks, ideal for busy people.

Choose from the classic Epipremnum Aureum ‘Golden Pothos’²⁴ or vibrant ones like ‘Neon’²⁴ or ‘Marble Queen,’²⁴. The pothos brings life and freshness to any office²². It thrives in low light and cleans the air, making it a top choice for a better workspace.

Snake Plant (Dracaena Trifasciata)

The snake plant, also known as Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, is a tough, lanky-leaved succulent. It can handle almost any office condition²⁵. Experts say it can take lower light, drying out, and more, except for extreme overwatering²⁶. In a pet-free office, it’s great for its upright, straight growth and slow pace. It needs little upkeep, like pruning or cleaning dead leaves²⁶. But, it can be toxic to pets if eaten, making it a good low-maintenance option for home offices²⁶.

The snake plant grows to be 2 to 5 feet tall indoors²⁵. It does best with 8 to 10 hours of indirect sunlight or a bit of early-morning direct sunlight²⁵. It likes warm temperatures between 70°F and 90°F and humidity levels between 30 and 50 percent²⁵. These plants can live for five to ten years, with some living up to 25 years or more²⁵.

Snake Plants can get pests like fungus gnats, spider mites, and mealybugs, which can be fought with neem oil²⁵. Overwatering is a big problem, leading to fungal infections and root rot²⁵. Make sure to water them only when the soil is dry²⁵.

Snake plants are great for offices with their unique look and many colors²⁶. They adapt well to different conditions and clean the air, making them a top pick for home offices²⁶.

Snake Plant Varieties	Characteristics
Black Gold	Dark green leaves with yellow edges
Black Jack	Dark green leaves with black/purple accents
Black Robusta	Dark green leaves with black/purple stripes
Cylindrica	Cylindrical, upright leaves
Futura Robusta	Broad, stiff leaves with yellow edges
Gold Hahnii	Dwarf variety with golden-edged leaves
Golden Flame	Leaves with bright yellow variegation
Moonshine	Silvery-blue leaves with green edges
Futura Superba	Broad, dark green leaves with yellow edges
Whitney	Compact variety with green and white striped leaves
Bantel’s Sensation	Narrow, upright leaves with horizontal white stripes

Snake plants come in many colors and shapes, making them perfect for adding beauty and easy care to any home office²⁶. Whether you choose a classic green or a striking variety, these tough plants will do well in your space and help make it a productive, nature-filled area²⁶²⁵.

Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonemas)

The Chinese Evergreen, also known as Aglaonema, is a great houseplant for home offices. It’s from tropical and subtropical Asia and New Guinea. This plant does well in dry shade and low humidity, perfect for brightening your workspace²⁷.

This plant can handle different lighting levels. It likes low to moderate light but can also be in brighter spots²⁷. Plus, it grows slowly, so it won’t take up too much space on your desk²⁸.

Tolerates Dry Shade and Low Humidity

The Chinese Evergreen is great for home offices because it can handle dry shade and low humidity. It stays vibrant and healthy in tough conditions²⁷²⁹.

This plant comes in many colors, like green, pink, white, silver, and red. You can easily find one that matches your office decor²⁸.

The Chinese Evergreen is perfect for boosting productivity, improving air quality, or adding beauty to your workspace. Its toughness and flexibility make it a great choice for any home²⁸.

If you want a low-care, Chinese evergreen office plant that does well in dry shade and low-humidity, consider the Chinese Evergreen for your space²⁷²⁸²⁹.

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum)

If you love sharing with your coworkers, the spider plant is perfect. Its long, stringy leaves grow plantlets that you can share with others. Experts say spider plants are “virtually indestructible,” thriving in tough conditions.³⁰ This makes them a great choice for home offices, as they handle different lights and environments well³⁰. They’re fun to share, thanks to their ability to keep growing and spreading.

Easy to Propagate and Share with Officemates

Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) are great for home offices³¹. They’re simple to grow and spread, perfect for beginners³⁰. These plants clean the air by removing harmful chemicals from homes and offices³⁰. They grow up to 2 feet long and are easy to share by planting the plantlets³⁰.

There are many types of spider plants, each with its own look and growth³⁰. Adding a spider plant to your office brings the joy of growing plants and sharing with coworkers. This plant is versatile and strong, making it a great addition to any workspace³⁰.

Plant	Benefits	Care Requirements
Snake Plant (Sansevieria)	Removes toxins like benzene and formaldehyde from indoor air	Tolerates low light and infrequent watering
ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas Zamiifolia)	Stores water in its roots, making it tolerant of neglect	Thrives in low light conditions with minimal care
Aloe Vera	Offers medicinal gel for cuts and burns, in addition to purifying the air	Prefers bright indirect light and well-draining soil
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)	Blooms in low light and prefers moist soil without overwatering	Requires consistent watering and moderate light

Choosing a spider plant for your office is a great idea. It’s easy to share and grow, making it a perfect addition to any workspace. This plant brings nature indoors and helps you connect with your coworkers³⁰³¹.

Caring for Your Office Plants

Keeping your home office plants healthy and long-lasting needs careful attention. Make sure to check their light, water, and humidity needs. Some plants, like the pothos and ZZ plants, do well in low light and need water only sometimes³². Others, like peace lilies and Chinese evergreens, need more care to stay healthy³².

Watch out for changes in your workspace’s temperature, as they can hurt your plants³². Using the right pots, like ceramic or plastic, helps keep the soil moist and prevents it from drying out too fast. Make sure to water your plants right, letting the soil dry a bit between waterings³².

Regular care, like dusting leaves, trimming, and repotting when needed, keeps your office plants happy. With a bit of care, your plants will grow and make your home office look better³².