If you look carefully at Lifehacker’s Coolest Workspace Contest winner photos you might notice something interesting. There are neat, messy, playful, serious, shiny, orange, do-it-yourself, and expensive workspaces. But something is definitely missing from practically every photo. That thing is …life. More specifically plant life. Those green, leafy, oxygen producing, beautifying, stress reducing, decorating accessories that adorn so many offices and homes. Why not the home-office?

Perhaps home-office folks have an under-abundance of plants. Perhaps plants at the Lifehacker workspaces were taken out of the pictures because they were either a) sick or b) you cannot plug them in. No matter. We all know that plants are good for us and for our environments. Plants have been used to help purify the air of “sick-buildings.” Plants have a soothing effect on stressed psyches. There is a lot of research that validates the healthful benefits of our green friends.

Admittedly, a lot of people are a bit leery of buying and caring for houseplants. But really, with a little knowledge and attention, it is pretty easy to get the appropriate plants and keep them happy. So, if you are looking to add a little green to your work area but aren’t sure how to get going or how to keep those rascals healthy read on.

The first thing to do when considering some office greenery is pick a spot for your new buddy. (Don’t pick a plant and then try to find a good place for it.) Now observe the spot for a few days. Make a few mental notes. How much light does it get? Is it under the air conditioning vent?
Then… go to this web page: http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/pages/publicationD.jsp?publicationId=236
This is an excellent page that lists house plants and what type of conditions they prefer. Choose some plants that will work well in your conditions.

If you want to get the absolute best air-cleaning houseplants consider these options:

• Areca palm
• Reed palm
• Dwarf date palm
• Boston fern
• English ivy
• Australian sword fern
• Peace Lily
• Rubber plant
• Weeping fig

Make a list of what might work for your spot and take your list with you to a plant store. Hardware stores, plant shops, even some grocery stores can have a good selection of houseplants. Look for plants that have healthy green leaves and new growth if possible. Plants will need to be repotted periodically as their root structures grow. Buy a new and somewhat larger pot right away if you can, unless you purchase your new green friend from a high-end shop that has already put it in a big fancy container. Make sure the pot has a hole for drainage in the bottom, and a saucer underneath to protect your floor from the drainage. Also buy some potting soil specifically for houseplants. There are varieties that have fertilizer mixed right in. Follow the instructions on the fertilizer bag for repotting.

 

Now bring your new friend inside and place in the spot that you picked out. Keep in mind the air conditioning vents if you have chosen a plant that needs warmer temperatures at night. Keep your new office buddy watered as per the information on the web site above or on the tag that came with it. Periodically wipe the dust off the leaves since they respirate through them. Better yet, spray the leaves down with a fine mist of water once in awhile. Fertilizer is a very good idea. The plant spikes work very well since they release a small amount of fertilizer over a period of time instead of all at once like the liquid varieties.

 

Plant’s leaves do die periodically. Just clear away the dead leaves, but if the plant loses a considerable amount of foliage consider moving it or changing its watering schedule. It is OK to trim a plant. Use a sharp, clean scissor or knife and don’t trim more than one tenth of the plant at one time so as to avoid trauma.

 

No Herculean efforts are needed to enjoy the many benefits of plants in your home office. It is easy to get into the habit of caring for something that brings so much joy. Keep in mind that to maximize the benefits of houseplants for cleaning indoor air, it is recommended to use one plant for every 100 square feet of indoor space. And of course, like many happy pursuits, the more the merrier. So, get in the groove and get in the green!