Why are office plants linked to wealth?

Why are office plants linked to wealth? There's an increasing focus around plants and the wealth they bring, what's behind it all? The plains of Africa were seen as places of wealth and prosperity to ancient man. All they needed was set out in front of them - food, water and shelter. This was all man needed to survive. A lot has changed since then - nowadays man lives and works in concrete boxes, cutting him off from the outside world. Cooped up in artificially controlled environment, we crave a little bit of nature in our surroundings. This is also known as the Savannah Theory.

What is the link between wealth and plants?

When man first surveyed a landscape, he looked for specific things to tell him how habitable it would be. One of the first things to look for was plants. Plants signified a bountiful land, with plenty of natural resource, water, food and animals. Plants were a must-have in ancient man's environment. The same inbuilt response is still triggered today when we enter a space with planting. Even though we may not realise it, plants will make us judge a space totally differently. Office plants can genuinely give an impression of wealth - we'll see a space where we can thrive and grow, and a company that invests in the wellbeing of its employees.

What does this mean for the company?

Every great company is looking to recruit great talent so to have a workplace that that draws people goes a long way to helping attract and retain top talent. If a person can see potential in your company then they are much more likely to want to work there and work harder.

What are the best plants for creating this environment?

Some of the best plants for creating this type of environment are medium to large, well placed, impactful plants that stand out to grab attention. One great examples is large trees and plants. These really bring a 'jungle' vibe to a space and can be used section off areas and create a green canopy above breakout areas. [caption id="attachment_3249" align="alignnone" width="499"] Large trees on a project by Plant Plan[/caption] Green walls and moss walls are another fantastic way to bring in large elements of green to a space, but without using up valuable floor space. These can be a great backdrop for incorporating branding and signage. Movable living walls can also be used for sectioning areas and work really well in flexible workspaces. These can also be made with moss or replica planting if needed. [caption id="attachment_3031" align="alignnone" width="500"] Living green wall in a showroom space by Plant Plan[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3418" align="alignnone" width="500"] Movable green walls in an office by Plant Plan[/caption] Cabinet top troughs are also a great way to add greenery without using additional floor space. These are a great option for companies looking to bring in some impactful planting but with no fuss. These can be planted with live or replica plants, and the varieties are endless. [caption id="attachment_3420" align="alignnone" width="500"] Cabinet top troughs in an office by Plant Plan.[/caption]

How easy is it to bring these elements into my space?

It depends. Cabinet top trough planting is very easy to install and can be installed in a matter of minutes whereas Green walls can take 2-3 days! The level of complexity depends on the style you're trying to achieve, the conditions in your office and your budget. Getting a specialist plant company on board will definitely be beneficial to go through your options and help design, plan and install your planting scheme.