Top Ten Tips - Caring For Office Plants
By Tip Diva | Apr 05, 2008
Categories: Green, Job, Nature, Office, Plants, Products, Tips, Websites, Work, Workplace
Plants are a great way to brighten up a cubicle or office, and can also improve air quality by removing pollutants. Best of all, office plants are relatively easy to care for, and here’s how:
- Buy Plants That Will Thrive In Low Light - Offices have artificial and low-light areas, and can sometimes be totally dark on nights and weekend. Pick plants that will thrive in this sort of environment, including spider plants, pothos, peace lilies, ivies and lucky bamboo.
- Understand When Plants Need Watering - Some need water once or twice a week; others, only when the soil is dry. Know what sort of watering cycle your plant needs. Check the sticker when you buy the plant, or consult a plant professional at a nursery.
- Do Not Overwater - Just don’t get too water-happy. Tip Diva once overwatered and dirty water wound up spilling on to her desk and all of her papers. Or, overwatering can also lead to root rot, which can smell dreadful with certain plants.
- Have A Backup Plan If Out Of Office - If you’re going to be out of the office for vacation, see if one of your co-workers will be able to water the plants for you. If not, bring them home for a house sitter or friend to water.
- Buy Self-Feeding Soil Or Feed When Needed - Tip Diva uses Miracle-Gro soil so she doesn’t have to worry about feeding her plants. Otherwise, ask a gardening professional about what type of food you need and how often you need to feet your plants.
- Re-Pot The Plants When Too Big For Container - Some office plants can grow very quickly and get too big for their pots, which will affect the health of the plant. Re-pot the plants when they’re getting too big. A mess-free way to do this is to find a big cardboard box, and transfer the plant from one pot to the other inside of the box. You can also pour soil into the new container inside the box, and all the wayward dirt will stay inside.
- Make Sure Soil Is Good - After a while, you’ll need to replace the soil. Signs to watch out for include soil that dries out faster than normal and soil that doesn’t hold water at all.
- Cut And Root Overgrown Plants - The great thing about many office plants is that they can be cut and rooted easily. Tip Diva’s pathos plant has turned from one plant into four this way. Here are tips on rooting plant cuttings.
- Keep Plants Away From Drafty Windows And Radiators - Office plants are susceptible to climate changes, so expect to see some withering or other health symptoms if they’re kept near a drafty window or radiator.
- Remove Dead Leaves - To keep your plant looking healthy and attractive, make sure to remove all dead leaves.
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