Office desk plants can add life to any dull workspace. Beyond its aesthetic benefits, plants for desks at work can minimize stress, boost productivity, and purify the air. However, not all of us are blessed with a green thumb. If you want to turn your work area into a green oasis but have no idea where to start, then there's no need to worry.
There are various types of plants that don't need sunlight or require only minimal care, making them the perfect companion to your indoor workspace. Not sure which plant is right for you? No problem! We've made a guide on how to choose a desk plant and compiled a list of the best desk plants in the Philippines for every plantito or plantita.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
Apart from adding a touch of style to our surroundings, plants have been scientifically proven to help us work better and generally improve our mental health and well-being. Read on to know more about the benefits of having plants for your desk at work.
Studies show that introducing plants into the workplace greatly reduces stress among employees. There was a significant drop in negative emotions among workers, including tension, anxiety, depression, anger, and fatigue.
Researchers then concluded that even just one plant placed in each workstation uplifts the spirits of employees and increases their well-being. In addition, color psychology says that the color green promotes calmness and relaxation, so decorating your desk with green hues can help soothe your mind after a busy workday.
Having plants near your workspace improves memory retention and helps you get more done. They also enable employees to engage with their surroundings, thus helping them to stay focused on the task at hand, raising productivity levels.
Likewise, plants help spark ideas and provide inspiration if you ever find yourself in a creative rut. Similar to being in nature, the bright colors and vibrant smells of plants calm the mind, stimulate the senses, and help us find more creative, flexible solutions to work challenges.
There's no denying that the presence of plants in any room instantly gives it a boost and refreshes the senses. Simply placing a plant on your desk gives it a better aesthetic and provides a lovely pop of color in the middle of various office supplies. It also provides a connection with nature, a great contrast to the austere and industrial look that most workspaces have.
Plants are natural air purifiers. They filter our living spaces from airborne toxins, germs, dust, and other unhealthy particles that are often found on furniture and other household items. They also naturally cool down your indoor temperature. By releasing oxygen and water vapor, having plants nearby can help you can bring down your energy costs.
Aside from that, plants can reduce the noise levels in your workplace. Because of their stems, leaves, and branches, they can absorb and reduce sound. The rougher the bark and the broader and more fleshy the leaves, the better the plant can perform this function.
Here are some key points to consider:
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
High-light plants need strong sunlight in order to thrive. Some examples of high-light desk plants are succulents and cacti. It's best to place these kinds of plants on your windowsill. Medium-light plants, on the other hand, require bright, indirect sunlight.
Lastly, low-light plants can still survive with minimal light. These are best for work areas with bright artificial or fluorescent lighting. Some examples of desk plants that survive in low light conditions are snake plants and ZZ plants.
Aside from lighting conditions, it's also important to consider the temperature and humidity level of your work area. If you have air conditioning, desk plants such as pothos, ferns, and philodendrons are ideal. For warmer areas, monsteras and rubber tree plants are recommended. If your room has little airflow, consider getting a hardy plant that can thrive despite this limitation.
Similar to humans, plants need ample space to grow and thrive. Make sure to put your plants a few inches away from other pieces of furniture on your desk for better air circulation. Keep in mind that plants grow as well, so choose smaller plants that won’t take over your desk in the long run.
You must also gauge the size of furniture and other materials around your plant to get the right proportion and a pleasing aesthetic. Large plants may dwarf your tiny table, while placing a small plant on top of a big desk may look disproportionate.
When choosing a desk plant, it's essential to pick one that suits your intent and personal preferences. For instance, if your main goal is to reduce indoor pollution, a pothos or a spider plant is a good choice. If you're prone to getting headaches, rosemary can help soothe the mind and refresh your memory.
Other plants, such as lavender, have a calming and relaxing smell which helps best in decreasing stress levels. There are also plants with energizing properties, like peppermint, which are ideal for people whose work involves a lot of ideation and concentration.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Snake Plant | ![]() | The Natural Air Purifier | |
2 | ZZ Plant | ![]() | The Most Indestructible Plant in the World | |
3 | Pothos | ![]() | Remove Toxins in the Air With This Vine-Like Plant | |
4 | Spider Plant | ![]() | The Ideal Plant for Brown Thumbs | |
5 | Chinese Evergreen|Aglaonema | ![]() | Get Positive Energy With This Feng Shui Favorite | |
6 | Aloe Vera | ![]() | A Popular Plant Known for Its Medicinal and Healing Properties | |
7 | English Ivy | ![]() | A Multi-Purpose and Low-Maintenance Plant | |
8 | Cactus | ![]() | The Obvious Choice for Beginners | |
9 | African Violet | ![]() | Flowers That Bloom in Fuss-Free Conditions | |
10 | Rosemary | ![]() | The Perfect Indoor Herb |
No indoor plant list is complete without the snake plant. This tough, hard-to-kill plant is easily recognizable with its waxy dark green and yellow leaves that resemble snakeskin. Its streamlined leaf shape makes it an ideal addition to any desk, especially if you prefer the minimalist style.
Heralded as one of the most effective air-purifying plants, the Sansevieria can get rid of over a hundred air pollutants and toxins. It even releases oxygen, which is why it's often considered the best desk-friendly plant to spruce up your workspace.
Though slow growers, the snake plant can reach up to four or five, and sometimes even eight feet tall, so make sure to place them in an area with ample space for growth. It grows best in high or medium light conditions, although it is also capable of surviving in low light.
The ZZ plant, also known as the Zanzibar Gem, requires so little maintenance that it's nearly impossible to kill. This hardy desk plant prefers shade over sunlight and can survive for long periods even without watering. Native to the African region, the ZZ plant can add a tropical feel to your workspace.
Its smooth and glossy leaves reflect sunlight to instantly brighten up your room, and since its maximum height is up to three feet, it's easy to place it in any corner of your desk. It might even surprise you, as some plants can potentially flower during the warm summer months.
With its bright, trailing leaves in all shades of green, the Pothos plant is pretty hard to miss. Also referred to as Devil's Ivy, this popular desk plant thrives on indirect light, making it an excellent choice for work areas that get minimal sunlight. Aside from the pop of color it delivers, this plant is powerful for cleansing the air of harmful toxins.
Its vine-like leaves make it look like it requires constant care, but pothos plants can be trimmed easily and only need to be watered when their soil dries out. Since they grow extremely fast, make sure to place your pothos plant in an area where there is plenty of room to grow.
If you're a brown thumb looking for a plant that's easy to care for, you can't do much better than a spider plant. Spider plants are arguably the easiest plants to maintain since they're highly adaptable to all sorts of light conditions. While they tend to grow faster under bright, indirect light, they can also perform well when left in shadier areas.
The spider plant gets its name from its hanging stems that resemble spiders on a web. Aside from its quirky appearance, it also absorbs toxins and indoor pollutants, such as carbon monoxide and formaldehyde, to give you a cleaner and healthier workspace. It also makes a frequent appearance in lists of lucky feng shui plants!
The Chinese Evergreen or Aglaonema is an eye-catching desk plant that symbolizes prosperity and long life for some Asian cultures. Tough and low-maintenance, this plant can thrive even in artificial lighting and needs no fertilizer. This is a popular choice for those who have little light in their offices and are looking for the best low light desk plants.
They can get by with once-a-week watering, and the best part? They'll let you know when it's time by dramatically dropping their leaves. Known for their recognizable green, white, and at times pink-spattered foliage, the Aglaonema can brighten the bleakest of work areas without the tedious upkeep.
If you're into small desk plants, you might want to check out the aloe vera plant. You've probably heard about its skincare benefits, but did you know that they also make a perfect addition to your workspace? Aloe vera plants are great for small work stations and are pretty low-maintenance. Simply place them near a sunlit window and limit watering to once every three weeks.
Aloe plants can produce the famous healing aloe gel, which has a wide variety of uses, from treating burns and minor cuts to moisturizing dry skin. Although not as lush as other desk plants, aloe vera has multiple benefits and can thrive all year round.
English ivy is a beautiful plant that deserves a space on your desk. With its lovely curves and trailing leaves, it provides the perfect contrast to the straight lines of desks and tables. Not only that, it has powerful air-purifying properties and can even help remove molds. It can also help humidify dry air in airconditioned offices.
It also has great medicinal value, since its leaves can be applied to the skin as a treatment for burns, joint pain, and infections. Its extract has also been found to be useful for respiratory conditions like cough, bronchitis, asthma, and allergies.
This plant is quite an agreeable one and can adapt to any light conditions. It can thrive even in low light and does well at room temperature. Its watering requirement is also fairly simpleーjust water weekly or when the topsoil is dry. The best part is, you can prune it into any shape you want!
When all else fails, you can never go wrong with a classic cactus. Usually found in deserts and dry areas with extreme weather conditions, it is one of the very few plants that can pretty much thrive on their own. The only thing they need is regular watering and lots of bright light, so remember to place your cactus in the area of your desk that is closest to a window.
They come in a broad range of species, colors, and shapes. From the pink blooms of the Christmas cactus to the short spiky thorns of the Barrel cactus, there's definitely something for every beginner plant parent. You can even get different varieties and display them as a lovely arrangement in one dish!
Who says flowering plants are difficult to maintain? Meet the African violet—a stunning indoor gem that proves beauty can be effortlessly easy! Frequently topping the lists of popular desk plants, this beloved favorite captivates with its vibrant, velvety blooms and adaptability to indoor environments.
Originating from eastern tropical Africa, it thrives in the Philippine climate, making it an ideal choice for local plant enthusiasts. As a perennial, it guarantees year-round blossoms, offering delightful pops of purple, pink, and white to brighten your workspace. With captivating colors and minimal care requirements, it is a staple decor in many indoor spaces.
With proper care, growing rosemary indoors is a relatively easy feat. This herb requires little watering and blossoms even in humid weather conditions. When placed in a sunny area, rosemary plants can grow and thrive to become attractive desk plants and versatile indoor herbs.
Often used for culinary and medicinal purposes, the flowers of the rosemary herb give off a mild piney fragrance that relaxes the senses and calms the mind. It can also help increase focus, as well as keep headaches and fatigue at bay, making it a must-have for every household and workspace.
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.
Watering schedules may vary from plant to plant, but generally, with desk plants, it's ideal to water only when the top of the soil feels dry. Make sure to water them slowly with lukewarm water until you see water trickling through the drainage hole. Once the plant has drained, pour the excess water out of its lid or saucer to prevent the plant from standing in water and developing root rot.
Plant arrangements largely depend on taste and preference, but a good rule of thumb is to leave a few inches of distance between plants and walls or furniture to give them better air circulation and room to grow. They should also be accessible for easy maintenance.
Other than that, you can arrange your plants in several ways: grouping similar types together, matching plants based on color palette, or using a terrarium to showcase your plant collection. You can also opt for bold and quirky pots to make your plants stand out. Don't be afraid to get creative!
If you're determined to become a full-fledged plantita or plantito, here are our other suggestions for indoor and garden plants to complete your plant journey. Check out the links below to add more to your plant collection!
Author: Marion Angeli Flores
Re-editor: R. Umlas
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: |Snake Plant
No. 2: |ZZ Plant
No. 3: |Pothos
No. 4: |Spider Plant
No. 5: |Chinese Evergreen|Aglaonema
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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