By Bond Collective Staff

Everyone has their own list of the best office plants for their workspace. And for good reason. If you’re looking for a way to transform the aesthetic of your workspace and bring a softer, more natural touch to the room, there’s no better option than adding plants to your decor.

Bringing the outdoors into your work environment does more than just spruce up the space; it also boosts morale and productivity — two variables that you might find difficult to maintain for long periods of time. Who knew some dirt and a bit of green in a pot could do all that?

But maybe you don’t have a green thumb or any idea how to start adding plants to your office. Bond Collective is here to help.

For this article, we talked to a master gardener to get their thoughts on some of the best office plants and how to keep them happy and healthy in any workspace. Here’s what we learned.

The Best Office Plants For Your Workspace

1) Chinese Evergreen

Source: Cornellfarms.com

Scientific name: Aglaonema

Chinese evergreens are native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and New Guinea and will grow best with low to moderate light exposure.

Here are some other points to keep in mind:

• Keep these plants away from direct sun

• Water once every few weeks for best results

• Chinese evergreens can grow to a height of approximately 3 feet

• These plants can spread their leaves laterally one to two feet, so give them plenty of room

The Chinese evergreen is easy to care for and makes a nice addition to any work environment.

2) Anthurium

Source: Crocus.co.uk

Scientific name: Anthurium

Because they’re native to Central and South America, Anthurium plants will tolerate bright light near windows, but direct exposure to the sun will cause the leaves to burn. Too little light, on the other hand, will result in slower growth and fewer flowers.

For best results, position these plants in areas of your office that receive moderate sunlight.

Care and feeding:

• Water once a week during the winter months

• Water twice a week during the spring and summer months

• Anthurium plants like to be warm (68 degrees to 72 degrees Fahrenheit)

• Anthurium can grow to a height of approximately 12 - 18 inches

• Leaves may spread 6 - 12 inches laterally

• Anthurium will flower year-round given the right conditions

A flowering variety like the Anthurium gives your office an extra splash of color — along with the green of the plant itself — and really livens up a dull, uninspiring corner of your desk or the office.

3) Spider Plant

Scientific name: Chlorophytum comosum

If you want an adaptable and easy-to-grow member of the best office plants list, the spider plant is an excellent choice.

Spider plants prefer moderate to bright light but do poorly in direct sun. For a happy, healthy spider plant, keep the following points in mind:

• Provide the spider plant with well-drained soil

• Water them well, but don’t allow the soil to become too soggy

• Let the soil dry out between watering

• Spider plants prefer cooler temperatures (55 degrees to 65 degrees Fahrenheit)

• Prune leaves occasionally

Spider plants tolerate a lot of abuse, making them an excellent addition to an office environment where your team is more focused on the next big project than on taking care of the greenery.

4) Hibiscus

Source: Michlers.com

Scientific name: Hibiscus

Placing a hibiscus plant on your desk or in the corner of the room is an easy way to add a dash of tropical flair to any workspace.

Hibiscus plants prefer bright but not direct sunlight and like to be in the shade during the afternoon. Position your hibiscus so that it receives six hours of morning sun followed by low to moderate sun in the afternoon.

Tips for best growth:

• Hibiscus plants like to be slightly rootbound

• Provide excellent drainage

• For optimal flowering, keep temperatures between 60 degrees and 90 degrees Fahrenheit

• When your hibiscus blooms, water it daily

• All other times, water only when the soil is dry to the touch

A hibiscus plant is another beautiful flowering addition to any office space.

5) Pothos

Source: Smartgardenguide.com

Scientific name: Epipremnum aureum

Pothos is one of the best office plants on this list because it’s so easy to take care of.

Pothos is a tropical forest plant but adapts well to life indoors thanks to its ability to thrive in low light. Pothos will even withstand long periods of neglect (like when you’re busy with a looming deadline) and flourish in a wide range of office environments.

With enough space to grow and climb, pothos will literally take over a room.

Tips for care and feeding:

• Pothos can grow six to 10 feet over time

• This plant prefers bright light but not direct sun, so position accordingly

• Pothos likes to live in dry soil, so don’t overwater

• Provide plenty of drainage

For busy offices, there are few better plants than the pothos to add a touch of green to your workday.

6) Snake Plant

Source: Greenandvibrant.com

Scientific name: Sansevieria

Like the pothos, the snake plant is one of the best office plants for a lusher, greener workspace. They are very tolerant of their environment — meaning they don’t demand a lot of special attention — and they don’t take up a lot of room.

For best results, follow these guidelines:

• Place your snake plant in moderate, indirect sunlight

• Water only when the soil is thoroughly dry

• Avoid getting the leaves wet when you water

• Don’t overwater

The leaves of the snake plant grow vertically and can reach a height of 12 feet if given the proper room. If cut back, you can maintain the snake plant at anywhere from eight inches to a foot or two, making it a great desk plant for even the most cluttered workspaces.

7) Elephant Ear

Source: Home-Designing.com

Scientific name: Colocasia

If you’re looking for a plant that takes up a lot of room and offers a bold statement, the elephant ear is the best office plant for the job.

Under the right conditions, an elephant ear plant will grow from two to six feet high, produce leaves from one to three feet long, and easily occupy a six-foot-by-six-foot area (36 square feet).

Needless to say, the elephant ear plant makes a great centerpiece in a lobby or as a striking addition to an unused corner of the room. It’s certainly NOT a desk plant.

To get the most out of your elephant ear plant, follow these simple instructions:

• Elephant ear plants prefer partial shade

• They can tolerate full sun for a few hours a day

• Provide well-drained soil

• Don’t overwater

• Keep soil damp, not dry or soggy

While you can train many of the other options on this list of best office plants to be desk plants, the elephant ear needs its own floor space and plenty of room to spread out.

The Best Office Plants Make For A Happy Office

While it’s true that the best office plants can transform a work environment from boring to inspiring, they’re not the only way you can get the most out of your home office or team workspace.

Furniture, decor, color scheme, seating options, even traffic flow — all of these variables affect how well you and your team work in the space you choose.

That’s where Bond Collective comes in. We’ve designed our workspaces with your team’s happiness and productivity in mind.

Each of our shared office environments incorporates inspiring design elements like natural light, open floor plans, vivid colors, multipurpose workspaces, and, yes, many of the best office plants on this list — plus a whole host of other design factors that will motivate your team to greatness.

In addition to our unique, well-decorated, and well-appointed office settings, businesses of all sizes also enjoy convenient amenities, such as:

• Private-label mail service

• Daily on-site cleaning

• Custom build-outs

• Guest reception and greeting

• Insanely fast Wi-Fi

• 24-hour access

• Concession food market

• Bike storage

If you’re looking for a spacious, well-appointed collaborative workspace to boost your productivity and transform your business for the better, experience the best that modern office spaces have to offer.

Tour any one of our gorgeous Bond Collective locations in the United States, including New York, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., Illinois, Tennessee, and Texas. Then become a member of Bond Collective and take advantage of our coworking spaces, dedicated desks, and private offices to suit all your business needs.

To get started or to learn more about the advantages of coworking spaces for digital nomads, remote workers, and businesses of all kinds, visit BondCollective.com today or call to find out more about everything we have to offer.