Which Indoor Plants Improve the Home Office Environment?

As a passionate indoor gardener who has taken care of many different houseplants for over seven years, I’ve seen firsthand how some plants can make any room, but especially home offices, happier and healthier. Reading continues, “Which Indoor Plants Improve the Home Office Environment? to improve the office environment.

I’ve tried dozens of different plant species in my 100-square-foot home office and have found that these 12 are the best for improving air quality, creativity, and health in general. Not only do these plants look nice on your desk, but they also help you be more productive and focused while getting rid of common office toxins.

Take a look at my top 12 choices for improving your home office, along with how each plant can help your space and how to take care of them.

Best Plants for Inside Change how your home office looks and feels.

Sansevieria, or Snake Plant

NASA says that this hardy succulent can clean the air by getting rid of harmful chemicals like formaldehyde and benzene. At night, its upright, architectural leaves give off oxygen, which makes it easier to breathe while you work long hours. For people who work from home or a desk job, snake plants do best in bright, indirect light and don’t need to be watered very often.

Venus (Epipremnum aureum) Pothos

Pothos is a pretty plant to have on your desk because its vines hang down and its leaves are shaped like hearts. Several studies show that it filters out carbon monoxide, xylene, and toluene and boosts brain power, focus, and work output by up to 101%. Bring life into your office with its lush leaves!

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

This prolific plant pumps out oxygen while absorbing nasty VOCs from carpets, furniture, paints, and solvents. Spider plants remove up to 90% of formaldehyde from the air, promoting better focus and health. Their trailing baby plantlets (siderites) make them highly decorative too!

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

One of the easiest air purifiers for lower light offices, Peace Lilies eliminates trichloroethylene, benzene, and other pollutants. Their large, dark green leaves and delicate white flowers soothe the eyes when you’re staring at screens all day. Avoid overwatering these tropical beauties.

Aloe Vera Aloe filters formaldehyde, benzene, and airborne mold while releasing oxygen at night. Its succulent leaves contain a gel that can heal skin irritations from work-related stress when applied topically. Aloe prefers bright, direct sun but tolerates shade in a pinch.

English Ivy (Hedera helix) 

This popular houseplant scrubs the air of benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene while serving up ample oxygen. Let its hanging tendrils occupy vertical space to maximize leaf surface area! Ivy also reduces mold growth by 94%, making it perfect for damp basements or garages converted into home offices.

Red-Edged Dracaena (Dracaena marginata)

This subtropical plant removes xylene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde as it purifies the air. Its colorful, corn-like foliage has red or purple edges on green leaves, adding visual intrigue to any home office. Low-maintenance and pet-friendly too!

Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata) 

Native to tropical Africa, the dragon tree reduces levels of trichloroethylene, benzene, formaldehyde, and xylene in the air while removing CO2 and releasing oxygen. Its slender, palm-like stems and dense bundles of slender green foliage lend an exotic, tropical vibe.

Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)

 Also called the reed palm, this small palm thrives indoors while filtering xylene, formaldehyde, and ammonia from the air. Its lush fronds and bamboo-like stems resemble mini tropical forests, creating the illusion of being transported from your home office to a serene outdoor oasis!

Florist’s Chrysanthemum (Chrysantheium morifolium) 

These gorgeous perennial bloomers aren’t just nice to look at – they filter benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, ammonia, and trichloroethylene from indoor air. Chrysanthemums come in a huge array of colors, shapes, and sizes to match any office décor.

Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) 

This frilly fern removes formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene from indoor spaces. It’s an ideal office plant since it tolerates low humidity and irregular watering quite well. Let it’s cascading green fronds create a living partition or decorative backdrop!

Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) 

With its large, glossy leaves, the rubber plant filters nasty VOCs like formaldehyde and benzene while handling temperature fluctuations and lower light. It releases copious oxygen as well, improving office air quality and your focus. Allow its huge leaves to lend a tropical vibe.

Caring for Your New Office Plants

While all these plants filter air pollutants, they each have slightly different light, water, soil, humidity, and temperature needs. Make sure to research how to properly care for your new office greenery to keep them thriving!

I suggest creating a watering schedule and noting each plant’s needs to help you maintain their health. Group plants with similar needs together on the same plant saucer/drainage tray to simplify care.

Ensure your office space has adequate sunlight coming in through windows and skylights. Supplement with grow lights as needed, especially in the basement and windowless offices.

Install humidity trays filled with pebbles and water to boost moisture for tropical plants like ferns and palms. Mist leaf surfaces periodically for added hydration.

Allow plants to acclimate for 1-2 weeks before relocating them, and water sparingly after moving them. Wait a month before repotting newly purchased plants when bringing them home.

Refresh office air by keeping windows cracked open if outdoor pollution and temperatures allow. Circulate air daily with fans and vents.

Following these best practices for nurturing a mix of air-purifying plants creates a healthier, happier home office where creativity and ideas can flourish!

Conclusion

Introducing any of these 12 air-purifying plants can significantly improve the indoor air quality of your home office. Reduced toxins and increased oxygen clear brain fog, boost work performance, elevate moods, and more.

Plus, the visual beauty and serene quality offered by houseplants foster productivity, concentration, and creative flow, according to scientific studies. Their natural air filtration regulates temperature, humidity, and airflow as well.

Give your office an organic upgrade with these air-cleaning indoor plants today! Just be sure to care for them properly once they are brought home. Have you already noticed the benefits of keeping plants in your workspace? Please share your experiences in the comments!