10 Plants to Re-wild Your Desk

by Leelee

​I can't believe it's already almost October! This is one of my favorite times of year. Long gone are the lounging days of summer. There’s a feeling of change in the air. Back to school. Back to regular work schedules. Lots to do. And soon enough it’ll be the holiday season.
 
In the hustle and bustle of this busy time, be sure to get in some much needed self care. Head to yoga, walk outside, cozy up with tea and a book. And....add more plants to your life! If you’re trying to stay healthy and focused, try a little re-wilding of your home and especially workspace.

Studies have shown that plants are good for your health, lower stress and increase productivity, all things we need this busy month. Researchers at The Royal College of Agriculture in Cirencester, England found that students have 70% greater attentiveness when they are in classrooms with plants. And a Texas A&M University study showed that workers in a room with two plants and a floral bouquet had 13% more ideas than workers in a room with sculptures.
 
When you’re choosing your desk plant buddy, be sure to think about how much light you have. If you’re in the middle of an office, stick to low light indoor plants. Here are some of my favorites for bright and low light levels!  Happy re-wilding!

10 Plants to Re-wild Your Desk

Plants for Bright Light

Rubber Tree Plant / Fiscus elastica
Glossy attractive leaves and a natural air purifier—start with a small plant on top of your desk and soon you’ll have a statement tree for your workspace.
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Care: Keep soil moist in the spring and summer. In the fall and winter the rubber tree goes dormant, so you can get away with watering less often. If leaves yellow, water less. If leaves drop, water more often.
Light: Bright indirect light (near a window)

Aloe / Aloe vera
Adds a funky eclectic shape to any desk, clears the air of cleaning product chemicals, and will be your own first aid plant on hand for the inevitable paper cut!
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Care: Plant in a wide container with well draining potting mix (cacti and palm mix is best). Let soil dry between watering and water less frequently during winter.
Light: Full sun (windowsill)

Succulents
Compact, colorful and trendy, these are so fun to work with, we have a whole class on them! 
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Care: Plant in a well draining potting mix (cacti and palm mix is best) and let dry between watering.
Light: Bright (near a bright window)

Air Plants / Tillandsia
Take in water through pores in their leaves, so they don’t even need soil (which makes them so craft friendly, we feature them in several workshops!)

Care: Water once a week and get as much surface area wet as possible by spraying, passing under a faucet or soaking for 10 minutes. Let dry completely between watering.
Sun: Bright indirect light (within 6’ of a bright window)

Philodendron
Easy-to-care for house plants with climbing varieties that are good for shelves if you want a #jungalow effect

Care: Water when you notice the top inch of soil is dry or whenever leaves are drooping.  Fertilize in spring and summer.
Sun: Bright, indirect light

​Plants for Low Light 
 
Peace Lily / Spathiphyllum “Mauna Loa”
Compact, forgiving plant (if you forget to water) with tropical leaves and attractive white blooms

Care: Water thoroughly, then let dry between watering. Mist leaves to simulate tropical humidity.
Light: Shade. You’ll notice brown tips if your lily is getting too much light.

English Ivy / Hedera helix
Low maintenance vine NASA scientists listed as the number one best air-filtering houseplant

Care: Keep soil moist until the plant is established and then you can water less frequently.
Light: shade

​Snake Plant / Sansevieria trifasciata
Forgiving plant that can go weeks without water and has a striking look good for modern design

Care: Use well draining potting soil (cacti and palm mix is best) and let dry between watering.
Sun: indirect to low light

Chinese Evergreen / Aglaonema
Low maintenance colorful plant that can thrive in low light

Care: Let soil get slightly dry between watering, so roots can dry out.
Light: Low to Indirect light

ZZ Plant / Zamioculcas
A rockstar for offices because it can grow with only florescent light and is forgiving of infrequent watering

Care: Water only when soil is dry. Curling yellow leaves indicate too much light.
Light: Indirect light
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Have a question about any of these desk-friendly plants or have one you want to add to the list? Let me know in a comment! If you do re-wild your workspace, post a photo on Instagram with #leeleesgarden to be featured!