Okay, so I’ve got a black thumb. Really, I’m quite deadly to plants. But I have a new job in which I have my very own office, and I’d like to see something green in it. (I’d also like it to look more personal, to keep the albatross-about-my-neck who calls himself a volunteer out of there!)
I looked around on a few websites, but I don’t quite understand what they mean by “low” light. Can a plant that likes low light live just off the flourescent office lights? It’s also pretty cold in my office - I’d guess in the 60’s, I always need a sweater. I assume that the humidity is fairly low also - it’s a humid part of the world, but I work in an art museum, and I assume they keep the humidity artificially low. (I’m only familiar with the temperature and humidity for book preservation, but it feels to be about the same.)
What’s a pretty plant I can get, if I can get anything that won’t wither and die? I don’t have “indirect” sunlight, I have no sunlight. The plant would have to get up and walk out the door to see the sun.
Well, really, your absolute best bet would be to get two reasonably identical plants, say two philodendrons in identical medium-size pots, and rotate them, a week or two on, a week or two off. See? Take the other one home and give it a vacation for a week or two in a nice window or wherever its optimal growing conditions are, depending on the plant.
Philodendrons are a good bet for this, as they don’t mind radical changes in humidity and lighting between office and home, being lugged through the parking garage in a Wal-Mart bag, riding around in the back seat of your car, etc.
And your cow-orkers never have to know. You can impress the heck out of them with your green thumb. “My gosh, Z, however in the world do you do it?” And you can “aw shucks” and look down at your feet modestly.
Also jade plants are good for this, although they do tend to grow rather slowly.
Your next best bet is to get a desk lamp with a fluorescent bulb and grow a plant under that.
You’re talking a snake plant a.k.a. Mother-in-law’s tongue, (sansievieria) Picture.
I have three philodendrons, and I must say that moving them would destroy what I consider to be their only attractive feature–they have personality, and climb all over things. Mine have been in place for a year and have completely covered the stand they sit on…
I’m in a similar office situation as you: no windows, artificial lights, etc. I recently brought a Calla Lily to work and it seems to be doing pretty good. I live out west where it sometimes “bone dry” is an understatement. The only thing is that I have to keep watering my lily every couple of days, because lilies need to have damp soil. Aside from frequent waterings, it’s really not a fussy plant.
Succulents also do well in dry, well lit environments. I’ve got a kalanchoe and an african violet in my office as well and they are thriving. Since it’s so dry, it’s hard to over water them (I am a chronic over-waterer…).
Go on Amazon and look for house plant “bibles”. I’ve got one and they’re really good. Everything you need to know about plants but were afraid to ask…
Aspidistras have the reputation of being indestructible but maybe not as ‘pretty’ as you’d like. Spider plants are unfussy too, with only artificial light they’ll probably just grow slowly rather than peg out.
As someone who has redesigned offices for corporate clients, hospitals, even jails, I’ll dispell one myth from the get go. Just because you have no natural light, does not mean plants will not grow. Flourescent lights are actually very good for plants, as more of the light emitted from them can be used by the plant, with much less heat created. I use flourescent grow lights in my green house.
That said, I’d go with violets, bromeliads, Pothos do extremely well in flourescent office settings… The more plants the better! And the green, will drastically alter your mood over time! Good luck
The “plant switcheroo” idea is pure genius, except that I’d leave it in the car accidentally and kill it. I’ll have to let my more responsible friends in on the secret, though!
I thought violets wouldn’t bloom in less-than-adequate light?
Violet’s thrive in flourescent light! they absolutely love it. Ever hear someone say, “I just can’t keep violets, they always die on me…they are in the sun and everything…” That is because direct sun light, and even indirect can seriously damage a violet…
I’ll third this recommendation. I have a pothos (named Lamar, btw). He’s the only plant I’ve been able to keep alive in my apt, which has very little light, much like an office. All the other plants I’ve had have died, including a spider plant (it was a baby, though, so maybe that had something to do with it - a larger one might be hardier).
He’s gotten HUGE in the past two years since I’ve had him, he doesn’t need much water, and on the occasions he does get sun, he gets pretty gold streaks in his leaves.
(yes, I named him - I live with two gerbils and a plant, I need somebody to talk to!)
Of the plants mentioned, which need the least frequent watering? I forgot to mention that I’m only in the office Thursday through Saturday, so I can’t have anything that needs a whole lot of water unless it’s willing to get up and get it itself.
I water Lamar once a week at best, doesn’t seem to need it more often than that.
I do make sure to soak the soil when I do water him, so maybe that’s it.
“My gosh, Z, however in the world do you do it?” And you can “aw shucks” and look down at your feet modestly.
