Cubicle decor can have quite a dramatic effect on your performance and productivity. Giving your desk an updated stylish makeover will also significantly impact your perception and the surrounding environment. A few additions and adjustments can help your mood, health, and productivity.
We have a plethora of researches proving that spending time in the lap of nature and amidst greenery contributes to overall health development. It is one of the best ways to be calm and remain active. So why not introduce the greenery on our desks.
Decorating your cubicle with potted plants or succulents is an excellent way to add life to your workspace. Studies have found out that having a live plant per square meter increases productivity and comprehension to by 15%. Plants also lead to increased happiness and lighten your mood. With a regular supply of fresh air, they reduce the chances of sickness.
Spectacular results have been found with plants-
- 58% decrease in depression or dejection
- 44% drop in anger and hostility
- 38% less fatigue
Summing up, keeping a plant has been shown to:
- Increase productivity
- Reduce stress
- Reduce sickness
- Reduce absenteeism
- Improve focus
- Purify the air
- Boosts creativity
- Adds a focal point
Which Type of Plant to Pick for My office Desk or Space?
Office hours usually busy. So pick a plant that will:
- Grow in low light conditions
- Be relatively low maintenance in the way of watering and pruning
- Adds color like an ice cream store
- Adds texture to the workspace like an upholstery shop
- Need little light to thrive
- Preferable has wellness benefits
Also Read: List of Plants That You can Grow Indoors
What are Succulents?
Firstly, all cactus are succulents but not all succulents are cactus. Succulents are one of the most popular and widely used indoor office plants. Succulents are distinctive from other plants as they have fleshy leaves containing sap and they store food and water in their tissues. The leaves feel like rubber and have shallow roots.
Why Succulents?
Succulents make good office plants as they require low levels of light. These are plants that do not grow a lot to intrude upon other cubicles or become a nuisance.
- Demand low maintenance
- Variety of shape, size, color, texture
- Attract fewer pests
- Don’t overgrow
- No need repot
- No pruning
- Not very expensive
- 10K varieties to opt from
- A few have medical benefits
- Safe for pets
- Do not much sunlight
- Can survive in all seasons
- Can co-exist in groups, trios are visually appealing
- Some produce flower
Things to keep in mind
- Water only when the soil is dry
- Generally need at least 3 hours of sunlight
- Greener the leaves, more the chance of surviving indoors
- Throw away the excess water
- Soil should be porous and well-draining
- Cannot tolerate wet soggy soil
- Choose a porous terra-cotta pot
- Combine one part of organic matter with one part of sand or a gritty medium
- Temperature below 95 degree Celsius and below freezing
- Tail succulents are very fragile
- Some might be poisonous
- Be aware of your allergies and reactions
Must Read: Indoor Plants That Require Zero Maintenance
Which Plant You Should Go for?
Some of the best and most common succulents for office spaces belong to the Araceae family, also referred to as aroids. Here is a list of succulents you can considering having on our desk.
1. Philodendrons
- Most commonly used
- more than 900 species
- nearly impossible to kill
- frees indoor air of VOCs
- glossy thin leaves
- large oval or spear-shaped leaves
- two major groups – climbing (vining) and non-climbing (solitary, non-vining)
- good for office with no windows
2. Pothos or Devil`s Ivy
- large green leaves
- flowering plants
- good for office with no windows
- evergreen vining plant
3. Aglaonema (Anglos) or Chinese Evergreen
- large green leaves with lighter marks
- many varieties with pink and red colors in the stems and leaves
- known for bringing good luck
- removes toxins from the air
- symbolizes long life
- good for office with no windows
4. Dracaena
- about 40 species
- Some are large and tree-like and some shrub-sized
- Great for low water
- Most effective in improving air quality
5. Sansevieria or Snake Plants
- Can last up to months without water
- Can survive in heavily shaded areas
- can also be exposed to Sun for long hours
- Hard to kill
- Filters toxins from the air
- long, tall, green leaves
- produce flowers of varying colors from greenish-white, lilac-red or brown
6. Zamioculcas zamiifolia or ZZ Plants
- green flowering plant
- ornamental plant
- needs fertilizer
- good for office with no windows
7. Pencil cactus (Euphorbia tirucalli)
- visually striking
- easy to care for
- likes well-draining, gritty soil, and a sunny windowsill
- Water every two to three weeks in summer months, and once a month in winter
8. Sedum
- Tons of shape-size-color variety
- Can take extreme drought
9. Aloe Vera
- Best in bright light
- ability to soak up benzene and formaldehyde
- leaves have medicinal value
- Needs well-drained soil
- Drought-tolerant plant
- Needs water only when the soil is dry
- Replant every few years
- Fertilize few times a year
10. Agave
- Architectural foliage available in a variety of colors
- Drought-tolerant plant
- Good for containers
- Do not overwater
11. Jade Plant or Crassula Ovata
- Thick woody stems with glossy fleshy leaves
- Lives long
- Easy to propagate
- Pink or white star-shaped blossoms may appear
- Tolerates a wide range of growing conditions
- Leaf drop indicated the absence of water
- Believed to bring financial success
12. Kalanchoe
- Available in a variety of shapes and sizes
- Colorful foliage during winter and early spring
- Too much water rots the roots
- Easy to pair with other succulents
- Should get at least 8 hours of direct sunlight
- Tender branches break easily
13. Hens and Chicks
- Tolerate extremely dry conditions
- Often found in shades of green
- Some change colors in the presence of sunlight
- Too much moisture rotten the plant
14. Spider Plant
- Thrive on heavily shaded areas
- Easy to propagate
- Numerous health benefits like eliminating VOCs and pollutants
- Reportedly reduces allergy symptoms
15. Bromeliads
- Need occasional watering after they bloom
- Available in striking colors
- Ideal for dotted along corridors
16. Lemon Balm
- Fragrant plant
- Can tolerate full shade
- Smell enhances mood and workability
17. Peace Lily or Spathiphyllum
- Loves shade
- Glossy look
- One of the best air purifiers
18. English Ivy or Hedera Helix
- Clinging evergreen vine
- Good for stale office environments
19. Water Lettuce
- Looks nice in clear bowls or trays with water
- Needs moist loam or sand
- Prefers shade over sun
Also Read: Design And Types Of Indoor Landscaping
20. Bamboo
- Believed to repel evil spirits
- best in filtered indirect sunlight
- grows both in soil and water
21. Oxalis
- Adds color to the workplace
- Grows well with partial sunlight
- Cannot survive over-wet conditions
– Harsha Bajoria
