20 Indoor Plants That Can Improve Your Office Environment

culled from:http://smallbiztrends.com

Whether for a home or business office, plants can do a lot. Choose them for everything from improving the mood in your office to actually cleaning the air quality. Below are plants that you might want to consider for your business and a little more about why you should choose each one.

Jade Plant

Jade, or Crassula ovata, is a small succulent plant with small flowers. It requires minimal watering and is known in Japanese folklore as the “money plant.” According to legend, it can lead to financial success. So the reason for having this plant in your office should be crystal clear!

African Violet

The African violet, or Saintpaulia, is a flowering plant that requires a bit more maintenance than some of the others on this list. However, it takes up very little space, so it can be perfect for small desktops.

Peace Lily

The peace lily, or Spathiphyllum, is a large plant that can also clean the air. In addition, the peace lily can grow even in low office lighting, so this is good news especially if you don’t have an office with a big window.

Chinese Evergreen

Chinese Evergreen, or Aglaonema, can make a great office plant because it requires very little maintenance. It can also thrive in low light and remove toxins from the air.

English Ivy

This plant, also known as Hedera helix, is a clinging evergreen vine that can reduce airborne fecal matter particles and filter out formaldehyde. We hope you don’t have any of this in you office, but it’s nice to know you have another plant that will clean the air just the same.

Parlor Palm

The parlor palm, or Chamaedorea elegans, is actually a small palm tree. For that reason, it can be great for separating parts of your office or work area. It can also add a bit of a tropical feel, but without requiring an excess of light.

Snake Plant

The snake plant, or Sansevieria trifasciata, has leaves that can grow fairly tall. So it can make for a great focal point or provide additional screening or separation in an office environment.

Gerber Daisy

This flowering plant, also known as Gerbara, is a plant that can filter things like benzene, a substance that can be emitted by some printing systems.

Philodendrons

These plants are large climbers, which means they can add some height to small areas. They can also survive without a lot of maintenance.

Cactus

These plants are small and come in several different varieties. They do require a significant amount of sunlight, so they are not recommended for dimly lit offices. But on the plus side, they also don’t need to be watered too often.

Warneck Dracaena

This shrub, also known as Dracaena reflexa, can grow to be very tall. So it is another plant that can provide separation of different office areas. And it also combats pollutants commonly found in varnishes and oils.

Ming Aralia

The Ming Aralia, or Polyscias fruticosa, is a tall, bushy plant. So it’s perfect for offices that require a bit of privacy between workstations. It also only requires water every couple of weeks.

Spider Plant

This plant, also known as Chlorophytum comosum, is one of the easiest plants to grow indoors. It is often displayed in hanging baskets, so it can also create some visual interest in an office space.

Weeping Fig

The weeping fig, or Ficus benjamina, is a large plant that can filter pollutants from carpets and furniture, such as formaldehyde and benzene.

ZZ Plant

The ZZ plant, or Zamioculas zamiifolia, is one of the most low-maintenance plants you can find. In addition, it can add a tropical feel to your space. And some of the plants even produce flowers.

Aloe

Aloe plants are small enough to easily fit on most desks. They also have air-filtering qualities, with the ability to remove things like formaldehyde and benzene. The gel inside the plant can also be used to treat cuts and burns.

Umbrella Tree

The umbrella tree, or Schefflera arboricola, can grow to be quite tall, and thus is perfect for creating office privacy. But there are also smaller dwarf versions for desktops.

Fittonia

This plant, which is sometimes also referred to as the nerve plant or mosaic plant, can work well in offices because it actually thrives on fluorescent light.

Pothos

The pothos plant, or Epipremnum aureum is a flowering plant that can fit perfectly on most desktops, though it may require occasional trimming. Aside from that, it’s very low maintenance and can be left on a desk for lengthy periods without needing much care.

Azalea

This flowering shrub is not only visually appealing, but it can also filter the air to combat formaldehyde. The plant thrives mainly in cool environments, so keep that thermostat low.
Whether your concern is air quality or simply a bit of visual appeal, there are a variety of choices for office plants. We hope the list above starts you thinking about transforming your office environment.