Office plants health benefits: the complete review

Most of us are not aware of it, but we are sharing working space with someone else but our colleagues. They are green, leafy, and not talking. They are office plants. 

They come in many sizes and shapes and give us more than we can imagine. 

There are many studies on office plants’ health benefits, so continue reading to find out the results of these studies.

What are the Office Plants Health Benefits?

Decorating a workplace with office plants became popular during the late twentieth century. Furthermore, it was an opportunity for interior designers to express their creativity. 

Here is why you should make your workspace a greenspace:

Increased attention focus

A group of students were placed in an office filled with many plants, while the second group was in the same setting but without plants (Raanaas et al., 2011).

The ability to focus was evaluated three times: 

1. when they entered the laboratory, 
2. after completing a demanding cognitive task, and 
3. following a five-minute break. 

The first group improved their performance from the first to the second task, while the second one didn’t. On the other hand, neither group performed better from time two to three.

To sum up, office plants really do increase attention a bit but sometimes that is just enough to kick off our working day.

Office plants reduce stress

Everytime I feel overwhelmed, I reach out for some green therapy. Just spending time surrounded by nature makes me feel relaxed and energized.

According to psychological research, there are two possibilities explaining how office plants reduce stress. 

They either restore drained cognitive resources to enhance coping skills or they stimulate portions of the ‘old’ brain which relieve exhausted portions of the brain to reduce stress.

Increased employee satisfaction

This specific benefit is for all of the employers out there looking for ways to retain their workers and make them happier.

I stumbled upon a paper that examines the positive relationship between having indoor plants in a workplace and job satisfaction through reviewing available literature (Zhang, 2023).

Scientific findings suggest desk plants can influence mood swings.  This was proven by analyzing the pulse rate of employees. Studies showed that the presence of greenery reduces pulse rate.

🔥 Hot tip! So, next time you feel anxious due to work tasks try moving your plant closer to your desk or get your special desk plant.

Office plants improve air quality 

CO2 and formaldehyde are one of the most common indoor air pollutants. They can cause symptoms like headaches, irritated eyes or noses, blocked noses etc. 

However, even though air purifiers are efficient, plants possess the power of natural air purification. 

I am sure you have heard of photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis is the process through which plants create food for themselves and oxygen as a by-product. In order to do this, they need C02 and water. 

That is to say, they are absorbing C02 from our office air and in that way make it less polluted. In this manner sick building syndrome is avoided, making employees feel refreshed and revitalized.

Increased productivity

Due to all the other benefits mentioned so far, a green workspace is a place of tranquility and harmony.  It leads to better wealth being, and improving the employee’s quality of life in general.

Satisfied and calm employees can perform their tasks with more ease. 

Additionally, plants contribute to the concentration of oxygen in the office. High oxygen concentrations lead to better cognitive abilities. 

Office plants help reduce noise

As becoming one with nature becomes a popular trend, research on indoor plants benefits as well.

There is a study that shows how plants help with noise pollution.

Noise pollution can cause mental stress, cardiovascular problems, migraines, sleep problems, and irritation.

During one of these studies, scientists discovered that density and type of leaves and stems can influence how well plants absorb sound waves. Also, where you position your plants has some effect as well (Fan et al., 2010).

So if you want to use office plants to reduce noise, choose wisely. 

Increased the humidity of the workspace

Besides photosynthesis plants perform a process known as transpiration. 

Transpiration is when plants take up water from the soil and release it through leaves, stems, and flowers. Office plants do that as well, and as a result, they increase humidity. 

If you are wondering what kind of plants you should use, here is what Steve Schwartz, former professor and Master Gardener  has to say:

“What kinds of plants you want will depend on what kind of humidity you want in the room. Cactus if you prefer it dry because you won’t be watering them often or tropical plants if you want to have a higher humidity.”

Plants help create positive energy 

This benefit is not backed up by science but I find this perspective interesting as well.

It is believed plants in the office can greatly improve the feng shui of the whole room. This can bring out positive energy among co-workers. 

Here are some examples of plants and their special feng shui effect:

• Peperomia Caperata (Watermelon peperomia)

There are a lot of species of this plant. It is believed that peperomia adds to harmony in the room by balancing energy through its rounded leaves. I have peperomia on my office desk because I find it beautiful, and if it really does help with positive energy then even better!

Watermelon peperomia. Source: iStockphoto

• Aloe barbadensis miller (Aloe Vera)

I have chosen to write about Aloe Vera, as it has so many health benefits. Furthermore, it is believed it brings out positive energy in the office through absorbing electromagnetic waves emitting from our electronic devices. It is recommended to place it 1 meter away from your computer/laptop.

Aloe Vera. Source: iStockphoto

• Asparagus densiflorus (Foxtail fern)

I like ferns in general because they offer so much with their presence. Foxtail fern is a specific species of fern which you can sculpt as you wish. It may require some more work on it but it will pay out as it is believed it promotes positive vibes and good luck according to Feng Shui principles.

Foxtail fern. Source: Pexels

Antimicrobial effect 

Plants interact with their surroundings in many ways. For example, they release polyphenols and alkaloids into the air around them. 

Polyphenols and alkaloids are chemical compounds produced in plants. They:

• Protect cells from free radicals
• Have anti-inflammatory effects
• Help boost the immune system

Moreover studies show these compounds have antimicrobial activities. In conclusion, having more plants in your office can reduce the number of bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens (El-Tanbouly et al., 2021).

Let’s be honest this is a great benefit, especially during winter months when it seems like the flu will never end. 

Office plants improve the visual appeal of a workplace

Everyone likes to spend time in beautiful workplaces. Sometimes it can help you concentrate and perform better.

As an employer,  you can use different plants to shape the brand of your office, and as an employee, you can enjoy or contribute by adding your personal desk plants. 

This benefit contributes more to inner peace and feeling more organized if that is what you like. 

Learn to take care of office plants

Some of the office plants are easy to take care of while some are not.

• The first advice is to choose a plant which is not too demanding, as the workplace is a place where you are busy so you might not have time to constantly take care of it. 

• The first thing we learn about plants is that they need water to survive. Therefore, water your office plants but don’t overdo it.

• Make sure your desk plant has enough light, but again don’t overdo it. Most plants don’t prefer direct sunlight as it can dry them out.

• If you notice some of the leaves are dry, you can get rid of them as they are taking energy needed for other plant functions. This can also help plants get better faster.

Are office plants good or bad?

I hope this review helped you confirm your suspicions about the office plant’s health benefits or made you think about making your workplace more of a green space. Either way, remember that everything nature has to offer is usually a good thing so good luck!

Literature:

1. Raanaas, R. K., Evensen, K. H., Rich, D., Sjøstrøm, G., & Patil, G. (2011). Benefits of indoor plants on attention capacity in an office setting. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 31(1), 99–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2010.11.005 
2. Zhang, Jaina. (2023). Indoor Plants Increase Employee Job Satisfaction and Help Reduce Employee Attrition. 10.2991/978-2-38476-062-6_113. 
3. Kaplan S. The restorative benefits of nature: toward an integrative framework. J Environ Psychol. 1995;15:169–82.
4. Fan, Yang & Zhiyi, Bao & Zhu, Zhujun & Jiani, Liu. (2010). The Investigation of Noise Attenuation by Plants and the Corresponding Noise-Reducing Spectrum. Journal of environmental health. 72. 8-15. 
5. Schwartz, S.  (2017). Can an abundance of indoor plants create more humidity within a    room or building?[Answer to question].