Adding plants to your home office desktop setup can improve air quality, reduce stress, and make your office more aesthetic. Our home office is usually where we spend most of our working days now. We can change the mood of our home office by just adding some plants to our desktop setup!
Plants are an important part of any home office space. They can help you improve your mood, reduce stress, and increase productivity. It has been proven that plants can purify the air. There is also an aesthetic advantage. There are thousands of different species to find the perfect one for your interior and office conditions. When we have a pleasant environment for our eyes, it can also reduce stress levels and increase creativity.
Which Plant Is Good For A Home Office Desktop Setup?
Each plant has its own characteristics. Some desk plants are more suited for offices with low light conditions, while others need more sun or water. Ask yourself if you want a plant that requires a steady watering schedule or one you don’t have to care for. Let’s go check them all out to see which ones you can get a desktop setup with plants!
Top 10 Home Office Plants For Your Desktop Setup
1) Snake Plant – Sansevieria Trifasciata
Snake Plants are nicknamed Mother-in-law’s tongue because they can grow super old. They have a clean structure and go well with the minimalist vibe of your office desktop setup. They come in a wide variety of colors, patterns, forms, and sizes. Sansevierias are highly adaptable. It can survive in almost all conditions, like if your busy schedule makes you forget about your plant. In addition to their carefree nature, sansevierias are great home office plants because they are good air purifiers.
Growing conditions: Temperature: 60-85°F
Light: They prefer medium, indirect light, but they can also tolerate being in the shade or fully exposed to the sun.
Water: If you decide to go on holiday you don’t have to think about your Sansevieria, since they can survive up to a month without water. For regular maintenance, its the best to water them every two to three weeks. Make sure the soil is completely dry before watering to prevent rot.
2) Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is an easy-to-care succulent, the perfect plant for your desktop setup and home office. It is also famous for its healing powers. Once the leaves mature, you can remove them from the plant and squeeze out the gel to treat burns, bruises, and sores. If you get any paper cuts while working, you’re prepared. Small cutting of aloe won’t damage the plant and will have many benefits. Aloe is also one of NASA’s top air-purifying plants, and all you have to provide them is full sunlight.
Growing conditions: Temperature: 65 – 75°F
Light: If your office desk is near the window, it will be the perfect place for your aloe. The brighter, the better!
Water: Aloe retains moisture in its thick, elongated leaves, making it a highly drought-tolerant species. That is the reason why you don’t have to water it often. You know it’s time for hydration only when the soil is completely dried out.
3) Peace Lily Plant – Spathiphyllum Wallisii
Peace Lilies are named after their beautiful white flowers that rise among the dense green foliage. It’s a popular home office desktop setup plant. It is best to buy peace lilies with blooms and buds as it can be challenging to bloom inside again. Even though this plant will embellish your space, appearance is not its best feature. Peace Lily is ranked at the top of NASA’s list of the best air purifiers because it successfully reduces toxins in the air. Therefore, your office will look nice and be healthier and more productive.
Growing conditions: Temperature: : 60-80°F
Light: They prefer moderate or medium light. They can also grow in the shade, but you need to provide light to your plant if you want your flowers to bloom. If the leaves turn pale or start to curl, it can signify that they receive too much sunlight. These plants are great for a home office because it’s easy to take care of.
Water: This plant needs regular watering because it will easily limp if they go completely dry. But still, once a week would be completely fine.
4) Bamboo – Dracaena sanderiana
Lucky Bamboo is considered a symbol of luck and good fortune, making it perfect for your home office desktop setup! You can shape its stems into fun shapes like spirals or waves. Bamboos are so hearty that they can even grow without soil. Bamboos will survive if you submerge all the roots in water. You can have it sit on the desktop without worrying about the dirt.
Growing conditions: Temperature: 65–95°F
Light: Bamboos are best for desktop setups with bright light. It can survive with low light, but it won’t grow much.
Water: Bamboo plants thrive on filtered water because chlorine from tap water can damage them. You know it’s time for the next watering session when the soil is dry. If your Bamboo is in the water, add some every two weeks to ensure the water level doesn’t sink below the stems.
5) Devil’s Ivy – (Pothos)
These are fast-growing vines, so that they can be quite long. These plants are the most popular plants for your home office desktop setup. Many setups showcase devil’s ivy on shelves and let the leaves drape down. Their heart-shaped leaves come in a wide variety of light and dark colors. It tolerates well all the conditions of your office, so it does not need a lot of maintenance.
Growing conditions: Temperature: 60-85°F
Light: It can survive in a dark corner as well directly exposed to the sun. But it will be best to provide them with bright, indirect light. If you start to see the tips of the leaves dry out, it could be a sign that you need to move your plan further from the light source.
Water: You can check your plant’s leaves to understand its status. Yellow leaves mean it’s been overwatered, while if it is thirsty, the leaves will droop. Even if you neglect succulents for a while, they will rebound quickly when you water them next time. It would be best if you allowed the soil to dry between watering.
6) Philodendrons
There are many variations of the Philodendron. What these plants all have in common are beautiful glossy heart-shaped leaves. You can choose between those with splits or those with whole leaves. They will bring a tropical vibe and serenity to your office regarding the shape. Philodendron is a plant that does not require much maintenance. It easily adapts to all the conditions of your office. Although it prefers a drier environment, it will thrive if you mist its leaves from time to time to clean them. The clean leaves allow the plants to photosynthesize better.
Growing conditions: Temperature: 60-80°F Light: Natural, indirect light is the best for Philodendron. If your philodendron leaves are solid and green, they shouldn’t be exposed to strong sunlight, while those without solid green leaves are better for spaces with bright, indirect light.
Water: When you water it, you can water it well, but make sure that the top layer of soil dries before the next watering.
7) Chinese Evergreen – Aglaonema Commutatum
This home office plant is ideal for beginners. You can’t do much to harm Chinese Evergreens. It can thrive in some poor conditions. It does thrive in naturally humid environments. Their foliage can be deep green with traces of silver or red which can be very eye-catching on your desktop. Aglaonema is very popular in the East and symbolizes long life, which is where the name originates from in meaning. One of the reasons for that is their ability to filtrate various air pollutants.
Growing conditions: Temperature: 60-75°F
Light: Depends on the color of the foliage. If the foliage is darker, it can tolerate low light conditions, unlike the patterned ones, which prefer more sunlight. But you have to be careful since this plant burns easily, so don’t keep it in direct sunlight.
Water: Chinese Evergreen does not need watering often, and how much you water it depends on the season. When it’s warm, you should water it once a week. While in the colder months, you only need to water it every two to three weeks. One thing to note is that Chinese Evergreens need occasional misting, especially if their leaves are turning brown.
8) ZZ Plant – Zamioculcas zamiifolia
This low-maintenance plant is known for its gently arching stems lined on either side with deep green, smooth leaves. ZZ Plant can adjust to almost all conditions of your home office environment.
Growing conditions: Temperature: 60-75°F
Light: ZZ thrives in moderate to brighter light environments. Low light works fine also, but in that case, your plant can’t grow as tall as it can.
Water: Its stalks and roots store a huge amount of water, so it can go for weeks without watering. The ideal watering schedule would be every three weeks. If the leaves start falling off, give them a good watering, and the problem will be solved.
9) Spider Plant – Chlorophytum Comosum
This plant got this nickname because of its thin, long leaves called spiderettes. Their green leaves can be variegated with cream or white stripes, elevating your desktop aesthetic. Spider Plants can also remove particulate matter like dust which is another plus for a home office setup. If that’s not enough, another good feature of Spider Plant is that they are pet and children-friendly.
Growing conditions: Temperature: 65-75°F
Light: They like the bright and indirect sun, so keeping them close to a window will be best. But they would do well even if your office is dim.
Water: It should be watered once a week to keep the soil moist all the time.
10) Cactus
Cactus is perfect for beginners and those who already know they can’t take care of the plant but want them in a home office setup. Since it is native to dry, harsh deserts, Cacti is the only plant that actually thrives on neglect. Just provide them plenty of direct sunlight and keep up with your work. Cacti will be completely fine. There are over 2000 types of Cacti in many sizes, so you can find the perfect one for your home office setup.
Growing conditions: Temperature: 45-85°F
Light: Light is all your Cactus needs. The best place to put them is by the window with plenty of light.
Water: They contain a huge amount of water, so it’s fine if you forget to water your Cactus from time to time. Cactus should be watered once a week when it is super hot. When indoors, every three weeks should be fine.
What Is A Good Low Maintenance Home Office Desk Plant?
Most of the home office plants we listed are easy to set up and take care of. If you’re looking for plants that are low maintenance and carefree, consider the cactus, snake plant, aloe, or bamboo. The cactus, snake plant, and aloe plant are so low maintaining it can go a month without watering while the bamboo can sit in a vase of water.
Plants make a home office feel more inviting because they add color and life to any space. Adding shades of green helps to add a natural feel to otherwise monotone spaces. Hopefully, this allows you to find the perfect plant that suits your lifestyle and environment, and you’ll start experiencing the rewards that plants bring.