It's safe to say that we spend the majority of our lives sitting in an office. Whether it's a home office or an actual in-person office (yep, those do still exist), we go about most of our days answering emails and popping on Zoom calls with very little contact with the outdoors or nature. The best solution? A good old office plant.
Plants are a fab way to infuse a little life and colour into your space, and some can even clean the air thanks to their purifying qualities. The best office plants are those that can flourish in low-light conditions and are relatively low maintenance - AKA, hard-to-kill plants.
From the classic snake plant to the very reliable ZZ plant, we've found the best office plants that'll become your ultimate workplace companion. Shop our top picks below.
The best office plants
1 of 8Zamioculca Zamiifolia Indoor Plant
If you've been cursed with the misfortune of having a low-light office, then the ZZ plant is just what you're after. With tall stems and wide dark green leaves, the ZZ thrives in low light and can grow between 60-90 cm.Care instructions: Keep in shady area and water when soil is fully dry.
£13.99
2 of 8Snake Plant Fernwood Mikado & Slate Pot
Spruce up your office with the low-maintenance yet striking snake plant. Originating in West Africa, the mikado is not your run-of-the-mill snake plant. It has a tiger-print striping, and a unique fountain-like shape, best suited to contemporary decors. Care instructions: Keep in moderate light and allow the soil to dry out before watering.
3 of 8Aloe Vera Plant
Apart from having incredible healing properties, the Aloe Vera plant is an exceptionally unique and low-maintenance plant, making it ideal for your office. Heads up - it requires lots of sun, so make sure it's located near a sunny window and you're good to go.Care instructions: Keep in a sunny spot and water every few weeks.
4 of 8Calathea Plant
The Calathea, also known as the Prayer Plant, is perhaps one of the most unique-looking plants, so much so that it almost looks artificial! Native to the Brazilian rainforest, the Calathea has incredible air-purifying qualities, keeping your office space fresh and free of toxins.Care instructions: Thrives in indirect sunlight and make sure soil is moist but not soaked.
5 of 8Devil's Ivy Golden Pothos
The Devil's Ivy plant grows leaves with a beautiful cascading effect, making it perfect for office spaces with high shelves or a bookcase. It's known for having a high tolerance to low light conditions and has even been recognized by NASA for its air-purying potential. Care instructions: Keep in indirect sunlight, water once a week.
6 of 8Panda Plant
Ah, the humble succulent. Easy to please and very low maintenance, succulents are somewhat of an indoor plant superhero. Small enough to fit on your desk, the Panda Plant has velvety (aka super fuzzy) leaves producing small red, pink, yellow and orange flowers - perfect for bringing your office to life.Care instructions: Happy in bright spots with indirect light, water once the soil is dry.
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7 of 8Monstera Plant
Monsteras are the ultimate houseplant; easy to care for, tolerant to low light conditions and very forgiving to the mistakes of plant newbies. No matter how bright or gloomy your office may be, the monstera will thrive, but don't be afraid to give it a pamper every so often...Care instructions: Optimal conditions include indirect light and watering every couple of weeks.
8 of 8Spathiphyllum 'Peace Lily' Indoor Plant
The elegant peace lily plant blooms tiny white flowers on tall stems, surrounded by shiny green foliage which is slightly speckled, making for a gorgeous office display. It'll endure low light, but fewer blooms are to be expected under these conditions.Care instructions: Place in a bright spot with indirect sunlight and water regularly.
£8.99
How often should you water a houseplant?
Many low-maintenance plants such as the monstera and the snake plant will only need to be watered once or twice per month, depending on the season, while cacti and succulents only need to be watered when the compost feels completely dry. Always check the instructions for individual plants, as some may need watering multiple times per week.
How do you take care of house plants?
If you're new to plant parenthood - welcome! It's an exciting journey, but we understand that taking care of plants can sometimes be daunting.
The first rule in plant parenting is simple: do not overwater your plants. This is a common mistake many plant newbies make and is actually one of the most common reasons plants die a premature death.
For those just starting out, we recommend low-maintenance plants such as the ZZ plant, the monstera or a snake plant which are happy to be watered twice a month, can tolerate all types of light conditions and are overall, super hard to kill.
What type of soil you use is also another key factor in caring for your plants. Our advice? Use a good form of potting soil that has a good mixture of minerals that your plant will need.
Make sure you read the care instructions for every plant you buy, and you'll do great - we promise!
Read next:
The best plants for hanging baskets to help elevate your garden