Working in an office may be boring, to say the least. If you don’t work for a very cool start-up that throws parties all the time, your corporate office is probably dull and uninteresting. Most offices are corporate, cold, and lack any kind of creativity or inspiration.
The fluorescent lighting, lack of plants, and a general sense of being trapped all day long don’t help. Fortunately, there are ways to bring nature into the office and help relieve stress at the same time.
Not only will growing plants at work make you feel better, but it will also clean the air, lower your stress, and help you focus.
Our company has been greening up New York offices and taking care of plants for more than ten years. A lot has been learned about which plants do well in low-light offices and which ones don’t need much care.
This post includes our list of 10 low light office plants. If you are too busy to look through our list at your office in the NYC area, set up a FREE meeting with one of our plant experts. They will put together a custom proposal tailored specifically for your workspace – at no cost to you!.
Let’s start by addressing some of the most frequently asked questions about growing plants in low-light office settings.
Working in an office can feel dreary at times. The artificial lights, lack of windows and stale recycled air make the office environment feel lifeless. But you can bring your workspace to life with plants! Plants are known to boost moods increase creativity, and reduce stress. However, when office spaces lack windows or sunlight, it can be tricky finding the right plants. Fortunately, many plants can thrive with just artificial light. Keep reading to discover the top 10 best office plants that don’t need sunlight at all!
What Are Low Light Office Plants?
Low light office plants are plants that can grow and thrive with limited natural sunlight They are able to survive and remain healthy using just artificial fluorescent lighting found in most offices. These plants are perfect for brightening up cubicles, desks, and offices that lack windows, skylights, or any other source of natural sunlight
Benefits of Low Light Office Plants
Bringing plants into a sunlight-deprived office has many surprising benefits:
- Improves mood – Having a little greenery around boosts positivity, reduces stress and anxiety.
- Increases productivity – Employees are more focused and creative when office plants are present.
- Purifies air – Plants filter out pollutants and freshen stale indoor air.
- Low maintenance – These plants don’t require much care and are hard to kill.
- Visually appealing – Plants liven up dull office spaces in an inexpensive way.
So you really have nothing to lose and lots to gain by adding a few low maintenance plants to your sun-deprived office space!
Top 10 Low Light Office Plants
Here are the top 10 best office plants that require virtually no sunlight at all:
1. Snake Plant (Mother-In-Law’s Tongue)
The snake plant, also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, is a hardy succulent. Its long, sword-shaped leaves come in eye-catching shades of green and gold. This plant is very low maintenance and adapts well to low light conditions. The snake plant filters out formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and benzene from the air.
2. Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra)
The cast iron plant has broad, dark green leaves that give it a tropical look. It can handle low light, infrequent watering, temperature fluctuations, and dry air. This nearly indestructible plant filters benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and xylene from indoor air.
3. Peace Lily
Known for its elegant white flowers, the peace lily has lush dark green leaves. It does well in low light environments. The peace lily helps filter out ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from the air.
4. Chinese Evergreen
With patterned leaves that come in shades of green, red, pink, and white, the Chinese evergreen adds a pop of color to office spaces. It tolerates low light levels exceptionally well. The Chinese evergreen filters out benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from indoor air.
5. ZZ Plant
The ZZ plant has thick, waxy leaves that resemble corn stalks. It tolerates a wide range of lighting conditions, making it an ideal office plant. The ZZ plant helps remove benzene, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide from indoor air.
6. Pothos (Devil’s Ivy)
With its trailing vine-like stems and heart-shaped leaves, pothos can brighten up any desktop. It is virtually indestructible and highly adaptable to low light environments. Pothos helps filter formaldehyde, benzene, carbon monoxide, and xylene from the air.
7. Philodendron
The philodendron has gracefully arching leaves that come in heart and fiddle shapes. It adapts well to low light conditions found in offices. Philodendron filters formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene from indoor air.
8. Parlor Palm
The parlor palm has elegant, feathery fronds. It handles low light conditions well making it the perfect no-fuss office plant. Parlor palms help remove benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and xylene from indoor spaces.
9. Dracaena
Dracaena is known for its colorful foliage and tall, twisting stems. It tolerates artificial office lighting and needs little maintenance. Dracaena effectively removes formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, and xylene from indoor air.
10. Ferns
Boston ferns, bird’s nest ferns, and other fern varieties do well in offices without direct sunlight. They remove formaldehyde from the air and add a pop of green to desks and workstations. Just be sure to mist ferns daily.
Caring For Low Light Office Plants
Caring for these low maintenance office plants is easy. Here are a few tips:
- Water when the top inch of soil is dry. Overwatering can lead to root rot.
- Wipe dust off leaves every few weeks to keep plants looking their best.
- Occasionally prune off dead or damaged portions of leaves and stems.
- During winter when sunlight is limited, you may need to provide extra artificial light for the plants with a fluorescent bulb.
- Turn or rotate the plants every few weeks to promote even growth.
Where to Place Low Light Office Plants
When placing low light plants around your office space, consider these factors:
- Areas away from heating/cooling vents or drafts.
- Spots that receive ambient light from windows or skylights.
- Desktops, shelves, filing cabinets, and other surfaces.
- Corners, passageways, lobbies, waiting areas, and other vacant spaces.
- Entrances, reception desks, conference rooms to make a good impression.
- Cafeterias, breakrooms, and other gathering areas to boost moods.
Bring Your Office to Life With Plants
Don’t let a lack of sunlight stop you from reaping the amazing benefits of plants in your office environment. There are plenty of attractive and low maintenance options that actually prefer low light conditions over direct sunlight. With the right plants, you can easily transform even the drabbest, gloomiest office space into a lively oasis brimming with fresh air and positive energy. Just be sure to pick plants that match your office lighting conditions and decor.
Can plants grow in offices that only have artificial light?
Lucky for us there are plants that can grow in offices with fluorescent or other bright artificial lighting. Plants like these need to have the light on at least five days a week, for four to six hours a day.
What are low light plants for the office?
Low-light plants for offices or any other spaces are plants that can grow with little natural light, as well as under just fluorescent lighting. Very often low light plants are also low-maintenance plants. This is ideal for office settings since no one really has time during a busy work schedule to attend plants once or twice a week.
10 Plants that Grow Without Sunlight | Best Indoor Plants | Houseplants
FAQ
What plants don’t need sun for office?
Can plants survive in an office with no natural light?
What is the best plant for low sunlight?
What are the best office plants?
Plants are great for sparking creativity, improving your health and welcoming positive energy through feng shui, so it’s worth adding them to your home office. These days, so many plants — spider plants, snake plants, majesty palms and more — are available online. But with this list, your search for the best office plants is over!
Do office plants have no natural light?
As it grows vertically, it will grow neither too tall nor fast to overpower even the smallest of desks. It is easy to maintain and unique, adding a gorgeous look to any office space. At the top of the list of ‘office plants, no natural light’ category is the ZZ plant.
What plants go well with a small office?
Whether you have low light or you’re lucky enough to have bright, sunny windows, some plants can work with your space. Succulents, like snake plants, flowering plants like peace lilies, and even indoor trees are popular among office dwellers. Ready to go green in your office?
Which low light plants can survive in an office cubicle?
Every editorial product is independently selected. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission. These 6 low light plants can survive in an office cubicle, with only fluorescent light. The ZZ Plant, Pothos, Lucky Bamboo, Peace Lily, and Marimo Moss Balls all topped the list.
