Include some plants to improve the office environment
MANY of us spend most of our working days in an office where there is no fresh air circulating. Hence when our colleagues fall ill, we often catch the bug too. Adding some plants in the office would definitely help to freshen and purify the air.
I remember in the 1970s when offices would often be decorated with plants. Some colleagues would grow lovely and delicate Christmas flowers on the windowsills or tables along glass panels where there was plenty of light. We would enjoy beautiful blooms from time to time. There was a culture about it, so much so that some officers would even volunteer to bring in good burnt soil from Semenggoh or Tarat agricultural stations to the Simpang Tiga headquarters.
Plants can help to visually soften what can be a boring or architecturally dull environment. Plants in the office not only add a decorative element, but are also able to absorb some of the nasty chemicals such as volatile organic compounds (VOC), or even gasses from newly-installed furniture, painted walls, or curtains. As modern offices are hermetically sealed with no open windows, there can be a build-up of the VOCs that are detrimental to our health. Plants can thus absorb the nasties and make the office a healthier environment to work in.
There are many options of plants that will thrive indoors. Peace lily, for example, is an air purifier that will absorb indoor pollution, neutralise unpleasant odours, and harmful gases to make the environment more pleasant for all.
Plants can also help our tired minds with positive psychological effects too. We need green growing foliage around to make us feel better. Plants to use When choosing plants for office use, you should pick those that have a greater tolerance for dry air, can put up with being in small containers for longer periods, don’t require special fertiliser, and don’t have peculiar water requirements.
Plants with thick, leathery leaves survive well in an office environment. Choose the location to place potted planets before buying them. Plants can be placed in groups to save water by taking advantage of the increased humidity. Do not start with very small plants because bigger plants have a better chance of survival.
The following are suitable for most sites:
Sansevieria trifasciata (mother-in-law’s tongue)
Dracaena fragrans (iron plant)
Monstera deliciosa (fruit salad plant) Philodendron spp Spathiphyllum wallisii (peace lily)
Aglaonema nitidum (silver queen)
Nephrolepis exaltata (sword fern) Looking after office plants Note that the office differs from the home environment in several ways. Air-conditioned offices would have the advantage of having the same temperature during working hours.
This is good for certain plants but will also mean less humidity. This is not a problem if the plants’ water requirements are met. At night, weekends, or public holidays, the temperature will rise for most offices and the plants may need extra care before you go off for a long break. Avoid placing plants directly by the window if they are sensitive to scorching.
Unless the plant is on your personal desk, it will be ‘shared’ by all colleagues. Do ensure that this does not mean no one is responsible for its care.
Realising the need to bring some nature indoors, there are now many companies offering indoor plants on a rotation basis. This is a good idea for offices where there are no passionate gardeners. Workers will still benefit from having the plants indoors but need not worry about caring for their needs.
Do consider adding a plant or two to your office. Doing so will definitely improve the office environment.
Send me an email if you have questions, comments, or suggestions.
Happy gardening.