Our Quick Guide to Office Plant Care

Office plants boost morale, purify the air, and reconnect us with nature. However, it can be quite disheartening to see your plants wilt within months - what's more annoying is it's often due to a few easily avoidable mistakes. This guide will help you learn how to select, place, and care for plants so they flourish in your workspace.

Before you buy any plant, it’s really important to understand the conditions in your office. This includes lighting, temperature, airflow, and humidity.

1.1 Lighting

Natural Light: Observe how much sunlight each area receives. Large windows, skylights, or glass doors can provide bright, indirect light—ideal for many houseplants.

Artificial Light: If your office relies on LED lighting, choose plant varieties that can cope with low or artificial light levels. If you have fluorescent or incandescent lights, you may need to consider additional LED lighting.

Dark Corners: Some spaces might be too dim for living plants; consider using low-light plants or even artificial greenery in these areas.

1.2 Temperature

Ideal Range: Most indoor plants thrive in a temperature range of around 18°C to 24°C. Keep an eye on extreme fluctuations, particularly when no-one’s in the office and the usual temperature may not be maintained.

Draughts and Heat Sources: Avoid placing plants near draughty windows, radiators, or air conditioning vents.

1.3 Airflow and Humidity

Ventilation: Good air circulation helps prevent pest and fungus problems, but strong drafts can damage delicate leaves.

Humidity: Offices often have low humidity, especially in winter. Consider grouping plants together or placing a small tray of water near them to increase moisture in the air.

2.1 Assess Your Light Conditions

Many indoor plants can experience leaf scorch or sunburn from bright light. We've listed some examples of plants for the key light levels.

Bright Light: Succulents such as Aloes, Jade Plant, Snake Plant, Areca Palm, Fiddle Leaf Fig (but protect it from afternoon sun), Bird of Paradise.

Moderate Light: Prayer Plant, Ferns, Peace Lily, Elephant Ear

Low Light: Boston Fern, Snake Plant, Parlour Palm, Aglaonema, Golden Pothos

2.2 Consider Care Requirements

Low-Maintenance Plants: If your office is busy and time is limited, choose hardy varieties (e.g., snake plant, dracaena) that can tolerate occasional neglect.

High-Maintenance Plants: If you want statement plants like fiddle-leaf figs, be prepared to monitor them more closely for watering and light needs.

3.1 Containers and Potting Medium

Pots without Drainage Holes: As you're only going to be giving the plants the exact amount of water they need, you won't need drainage holes. It's also important as you don't want any water damaging your office!

3.2 Potting Medium

Choose the Right Mix: Most indoor plants need a loose, well-draining compost. Cacti and succulents often require a specialist gritty mix, while tropical plants prefer a peat-free, loamy blend.

Our recommendation: We recommend using a porous, volcanic potting medium, such as these products from Lechuza.

3.3 Introducing Plants to the Office

Acclimatisation: When you first bring plants in, they'll most likely shed some leaves and have a bit of a sulk. Don't worry! This is just the plant acclimatising to it's new environment.

3.4 Beware of Office Pets

Make sure your plants are pet-friendly: Some plants are poisonous to cats and dogs, such as Pothos, Dieffenbachia, Philodendron, Asparagus Fern, Draceana, Alocasia. This isn't an extensive list, so make sure to do your own research.

4.1 Watering

Watering entirely depends on the plant and its requirements, however, it's safe to say that it's much easier to kill a plant by over-watering it than by under-watering it!

Check the Soil: Only water when the top 2–3 cm of the compost is dry to the touch.

Avoid Overwatering: Too much water suffocates roots and leads to rot. If in doubt, wait an extra day.

Watering Schedule: Set reminders or create a rota, especially if different people are responsible for plant care. Download our rota here.

4.2 Rotating for Even Growth

Quarter Turn Every Few Weeks: If plants receive light from a single direction, rotating them helps maintain symmetrical growth and prevents leaning.

4.3 Feeding and Fertilising

Use Balanced Feeds: Most houseplants do well with a standard indoor plant fertiliser.

Frequency: Typically, feed once a month during spring and summer. Reduce or stop during winter, when plants naturally grow more slowly.

4.4 Leaf Care

Dusting: Gently wipe leaves with a damp cloth to remove dust, helping plants absorb light better.

Pruning: Trim away dead or yellow leaves to encourage healthy new growth.

5.1 Regular Inspection

Look for Early Signs: Yellowing leaves, small webs, or tiny insects can indicate pests like spider mites or aphids.

Isolation: If you spot a pest problem, move the infested plant away from others to prevent spread.

Look for the root cause: Sometimes the plant will just arrive infested, however, other times issues like over-watering will cause pests such as fungus gnats (annoying little flies) to breed. You can read our full guide to removing fungus gnats here.

5.2 Natural Remedies

Insecticidal Soaps and Oils: Neem oil or insecticidal soap sprays can effectively treat common houseplant pests.

Beneficial Insects: In some environments, introducing predatory mites called nematodes can help keep pests at bay. You can purchase these here.

Sticky traps: Once you've identified and fixed any root cause, use sticky traps to remove any remaining pests. Here's one you could buy.

6.1 Overwatering vs. Underwatering

Overwatering Symptoms: Wilting but with damp compost, yellow leaves, mushy stems.

Underwatering Symptoms: Crispy edges, leaves dropping, very dry compost.

6.2 Temperature Stress

Cold Damage: Leaves may turn black or drop off if plants are placed too close to draughty windows or doors in winter.

Heat Stress: Browning leaf tips or edges if they’re near radiators or overheating in summer.

6.3 Light Deficiency

Elongated Stems: If a plant stretches and becomes leggy, it’s seeking more light.

Pale Leaves: Foliage may lose vibrancy without sufficient sunlight.

6.4 Leaf Drop

Sudden Changes: A dramatic drop in temperature, an unexpected move, or a shock can cause leaves to drop temporarily.

7.1 Maintenance Contracts

If your office has a larger plant collection or limited staff time, consider professional plant maintenance services. These providers can handle watering, feeding, and pest control on a regular schedule.

7.2 Staff Engagement

Encourage team members to participate in plant care. A simple rota can ensure responsibilities like watering and inspections aren’t overlooked.

7.3 Expanding Your Greenery

As you gain confidence, you can branch out to more specialised plants or even create themed areas—like a succulent window ledge or a tropical corner.

Caring for office plants needn’t be complicated. By starting with the right plants for your conditions, providing adequate light and water, and staying vigilant about pests and temperature changes, you can cultivate a thriving, uplifting workspace. Whether you’re managing just a few desk plants or a full indoor garden, these tips will help you unlock the secrets to long-lasting green success in your office.