This is a guest post by Lloyd Burrell of officedeskreviews.com, an office desk website that knows the value of going green.

One of the joys of maturity is being able to spend more time in the garden, right? No occupation is as delightful as the culture of the Earth, agreed? So much for the stereotypes.

But what if you’re a senior with blue on your fingers from using your pen instead of green from caressing the plants? In these difficult economic times many seniors find themselves sitting behind a desk in a home office simply because they do not have the financial means to do otherwise, whereas for others they spend their days sat in their office through choice. For some it may be a place to get away from a nagging spouse!

Whatever your reasons are for spending time in your home office it is important that you consider your working office space to be part of the Earth. Living plants are vital to the health and wellbeing and survival of our earth.  Making sure your office is alive and green can do much to improve your personal well-being. Here are some tips and some points to consider….

Light and Food For Your Office Plants

What lighting do you have in your office? Do you have any windows where plants could be placed? Is there an area where special plant growing bulbs could be installed?

There are many species of plants out there and shade loving ones that usually grow in the wild under a rainforest canopy, will do well. There has to be some light, though, whether real or manmade.

How much space do you have where plants could sit fairly undisturbed? Who will water the plants (be sure not to over water) and fertilize them and sing to them? Plants respond to sounds. Scientists have determined that classical music works best. This also applies to humans (except teenagers). If you don’t have the time or inclination, there are plant services that will take care of the work for you.

Specific Plants for Certain Purposes

• Oxygen Provider — A broadleaf plant like Areca Palm or Dracaena. These types of plants can also remove chemicals from the air.
• Room Brighteners — Plants with flowers or variegated leaves. These usually need more light than darker green leaved plants.
• Budgets — The rarer the plant or the more maintenance it needs, the more costly it will be.
• Knowledge of Plants — How much do you know? Research a few plants and what they will look like when grown. Buy a ficus and it will become a tree. You don’t want your office space taken over, just enhanced.
• Exotics and Their Purpose — Plants exist, because they just are. But, what about gorgeous orchids or Bonsai trees? If you think that their needs are too complicated, then try a sturdy Philodendron or Pothos, even a Creeping Charlie.

If you feel the need to obtain some expert advice then the local home improvement or hardware store experts can help. You can even try nurseries. They’re good with plants. Buying plants with a specific purpose in mind, can get complicated, but it needn’t be overblown.

Here are a few more things to look for:

• Buy healthy looking plants from a local farmer’s market or nursery. You can usually tell if the plant is healthy, merely by looking at it. Another indication is that there may be brown leaves on it, which show either poor nutrition, or lack of water or light, or even that the plant is on its way out.
• If you buy a few plants online, then look for a guarantee in case the plants are dead when they arrive. Plants sent by mail are usually in their infancy, so to speak. They will need time to grow. This could be an advantage as it would give them time to acclimatize to your office
• The two best plants for cleaning your air of chemical pollutants are Peace Lily and Areca Palm. This could really help if your office and flooring and paint on the walls are full of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds).
• Rubber Plants, Ficus trees, English Ivy and Boston Ferns, Spider Plants and Moth Orchids are a few most recommended air cleaners. They also look pretty. Ficus trees shed their leaves every now and then (just a few) so don’t be alarmed. It’s only if you arrive back at the office the next day and suddenly all of the leaves have fallen off, that you need to worry.

Office Plants Need Special Consideration

If office space is tight but your office furniture is a large computer desk, then place a potted plant in one corner. A proper desk lamp could provide enough light.

Because plants need water to survive, you have to provide a strong and waterproof tray under them so that your furniture and carpets and flooring are protected. If the pot that the plant is in doesn’t have any holes in the bottom, then make one or two. Undrained plants can soon rot and they are very smelly. That defeats the purpose of cleaning your air, doesn’t it? Make sure that the plant tray is deep enough and that water doesn’t sit in the bottom. That can also be extremely odorous.

Above all else, have fun with plants. Despite their apparent lack of responsiveness, they really do interact in many ways with the people they live amongst. Treat them right, and they will return the favour. It’s never too late to get some green on your fingers!

About the Author

Former accountant and auditor in the city of London, Lloyd Burrell is the publisher of OfficeDeskReviews.com where he reviews a variety of desks ranging from office reception desks to more sophisticated executive office desk furniture. He may have let some plants die in his past due to lack of care but because of his two children and his cat, Lloyd has grown to become much more aware of his environment, both in the office and out in the world. He knows that plants feed us and inspire us but now he also knows how they can help shape our future earth.

After all, they are the "green" in greening. Lloyd likes to play the guitar in his spare time. His houseplants seem to appreciate the music, and can be seen now and then, moving their leaves to the soft guitar chords — but only when they think no one is looking or is it possible that that breeze coming in through the window is the cause?

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