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Nothing saps your creativity more than staring at the same gray, drab office walls — but surround yourself with color, life, and vibrancy, and suddenly you’re bursting with new ideas. Biophilic design, a trend rapidly gaining traction in the business world, refers to the notion that humans are born with an innate desire to be close to nature. A ten-year study conducted by the University of Exeter found that by incorporating organic materials, lush foliage, and tones that mimic the great outdoors in urban interiors, productivity increased by 15%, and employees felt less stressed.

Even if you don’t have the time or budget to give your workspace a total overall, simply including a selection of indoor greenery in your office will add to the decor’s aesthetic and improve the health and wellbeing of your staff. In school, we all learned that plants absorb carbon dioxide, convert it into oxygen, and release it back into the atmosphere. But you might not realize that they also remove harmful toxins and chemicals emitted by cleaning materials and electronic equipment, making the air safer to breathe.

To help you make your work area more tranquil and engaging, here are three low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, low-light loving plants that even the least green-fingered gardener can keep thriving.

Peace Lily

There’s a reason the peace lily has a reputation of being the ultimate housewarming gift — it’s almost impossible to kill! Prized for its broad, deep green leaves and stunning snow-white blooms, this plant doesn’t mind sitting in dingier corner cubicles and won’t throw a fit if you give it too much or little moisture. However, it’s best to try and water it once a week and occasionally spritz the leaves during warmer summer months to prevent the tips from turning brown.

ZZ Plant

The ZZ plant is officially called Zamioculcas Zamiifolia — luckily it isn’t as hard to look after as its name is to pronounce! Native to the arid grasslands of Eastern Africa, this plant has thick stalks and bulging roots capable of storing large amounts of water which help it endure long periods without rain. This clever little survival feature also means you’re not going to come back from your hard-earned vacation to find a pile of dead leaves. Do note, though, all parts of the ZZ plant are toxic, so place it up high if you have office pets that might fancy a nibble.

Bromeliads

With over 2,877 different species of bromeliads in the world, you’re sure to find the perfect one for your workspace. Their exotic colors, unusual rosette shape, and eye-catching flowers are brilliant for bringing a taste of the tropics to even the dullest interior scheme. And, as they tend to blossom during the winter, they provide a fantastic seasonal pick-me-up.

Plus, instead of watering the soil as you do with most other plants, bromeliads prefer you to pour water directly into their central “cup.” This is a reservoir formed by the plant’s leaves and can be refilled whenever it empties, typically once a week.

Picking the Perfect Indoor Planter

For your office plants to flourish, you must grow them in a suitable container. However, with such a wide range of sizes and styles available on the market, and all of them made from different materials, finding the correct one can be tricky. At Pots, Planters and More, we specialize in commercial-grade indoor planters made from top-quality fiberglass, which means they’re incredibly light and maneuverable and super durable — great if you’re considering positioning them in high-traffic areas such as corridors or foyers.

When choosing the color and design of your containers, ensure your business’s brand is the focus. For example, if you’re designing a scheme for a young and energetic marketing agency, think about opting for smooth, round pots in popping tones. On the other hand, if your company is more corporate and traditional, go for tall, elegant tapered vases with faux stone finishes.

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