Top 5 Low-Maintenance Plants for Your Home Office: Easy Greenery for a Healthier Workspace
By Ciera Lamb
Bringing plants into your home office is one of the simplest ways to refresh your workspace and improve your well-being. Studies show that adding greenery to your environment can reduce stress, boost focus, and even improve air quality.
That’s where low-maintenance plants come in. These hardy indoor plants thrive with minimal attention, making them perfect for professionals who want the benefits of home office plants, green thumb or not.
Why Add Plants to Your Home Office?
A little greenery can go a long way in transforming your workspace. Here’s why indoor plants are worth the investment:
→ They improve air quality. Many air-purifying plants, like the Spider Plant and Peace Lily, filter toxins and help maintain humidity levels.
→ They boost focus and creativity. Studies show that having plants nearby can increase productivity and problem-solving abilities.
→ They reduce stress. A touch of nature can make your workspace feel more calming and inviting.
→ They’re easy to care for. No, really! The right low-maintenance plants require very little upkeep, making them perfect for a busy work schedule or those of us who feel like plant killers.
Adding plants is a simple way to introduce natural elements into your workspace. This concept is part of biophilic design, which focuses on bringing nature indoors to create a healthier and more productive environment.
Want to learn more? Check out our full guide on biophilic design for home offices.
5 Best Low-Maintenance Plants for Your Home Office
Alright – time for plants. These hardy plants are perfect for filling your home office with a splash of green and a touch of nature. And they are really hard to kill (I should know, I have four out of five!). And while I’m a plant lover, I wanted to ask someone with a bit more knowledge than myself to weigh in on these picks.
So, I enlisted the help of Julie Corbett from the Proofreader Greenhouse. Julie is a plant aficionado and proofreader, and she kindly put together her personalized tips for each plant. Thanks Julie!
1. Spider Plant: Hardy and Air-Purifying
My house is covered with these bad boys. And yes, I have one in my office too. If you want a plant that’s nearly impossible to kill, the Spider Plant is an excellent choice. It thrives on minimal attention and can handle a range of home office lighting conditions.
Plant profile:
- Prefers indirect light, but can tolerate lower light.
- Water once a week, or when the soil feels dry.
- Helps purify the air by removing toxins like formaldehyde.
This plant also produces baby plants, or “spiderettes,” which can be propagated to expand your office greenery or given to a friend.
Julie’s top tip: Hang your spider plant from a sturdy hook or place the pot on a small pedestal to elevate it (I’ve even used a cake stand for this). The idea is to let the long leaves drape naturally while keeping them off your desk and out of your way during work.
2. Peace Lily: Low-Light Friendly and Stylish
A Peace Lily is always the first plant I get when I move to a new place. They are gorgeous, don’t take up too much space, but still make a nice statement. Peace Lilies are known for their air-purifying properties and can even help remove toxins like benzene and ammonia.
Plant profile:
- Thrives in low to medium light and does well in offices with minimal natural light.
- It’s quite dramatic, meaning its leaves droop when thirsty and perk up after watering (an easy way to tell if it’s time for some water!).
- Occasionally produces white blooms, adding a stylish look to your space.
Its low-maintenance needs and air-purifying qualities make it a practical addition to any space. Trust me, I have five.
Julie’s top tip: Every couple weeks, wipe your peace lily’s leaves with a damp cloth to keep them free of dust. Since leaves absorb light for energy, too much dust can make photosynthesis less efficient. Just be gentle when wiping off the leaves. They can crease or tear if you’re not careful.
3. Snake Plant: Won’t Be Upset if You Forget About It
The Snake Plant is one of the most low-maintenance indoor plants out there. It tolerates low light and infrequent watering, making it perfect for forgetful plant owners. Honestly, sometimes when I water mine, I really can’t remember when I did it last.
Plant profile:
- Survives in low, indirect, or bright light – kind of hard to mess that up.
- Needs watering only every two to three weeks. Overwatering is the main way to kill it.
- Helps remove toxins and converts carbon dioxide to oxygen at night, improving indoor air quality.
This home office plant is nearly indestructible, making it a stress-free way to add greenery to your space.
Julie’s top tip: If you’ve never tried propagation, the snake plant is the perfect place to start. Using clean pruning shears, snip a healthy leaf near the base of the plant and place it in a jar of water. Be patient; roots can take a few weeks to appear. No fuss or special skills needed.
4. Succulents: Perfect for Small Spaces
If you’re short on space, succulents are an ideal choice. These trendy little plants come in various shapes and colors, adding a modern touch to your home office with minimal effort.
Plant profile:
- Need bright, indirect light, so place them near a window if possible.
- Water every two to three weeks, letting the soil dry out completely between waterings.
- Small enough to sit on your desk without taking up much space.
For a polished look, group a few together in a small planter to add a stylish, minimalist touch to your workspace.
Julie’s top tip: Since succulents are often full of personality, why not name them? I named my soap aloe Spike because of his pointy leaves, but you can pick a name that fits your plant’s look or vibe. Naming your plants makes them feel like desk companions rather than just decor.
5. ZZ Plant: Oh-so Resilient
If you want a plant that prefers being left alone, the ZZ Plant is a great choice. It can survive in low light, requires very little water, and is highly resistant to pests and diseases.
Plant profile:
- Handles low-light and bright-light conditions with ease.
- Only needs watering every two to three weeks – it stores water in its roots, so overwatering is a bigger risk than under-watering.
- Highly durable and great for office corners or dimly lit spaces.
This is the only plant on this list that I don’t have, but I’m willing to bet by the time you’re reading this I’ve already gone out to get one.
Julie’s top tip: Transform the look of your ZZ plant by choosing an interesting container. Use a white pot for a modern feel, a woven basket for warmth, or a bold-colored planter for a statement piece. And if you really want to impress fellow plant lovers, try learning this plant’s full name: Zamioculcas zamiifolia.
Brighten Your Home Office with Some Greenery
Bringing low-maintenance plants into your home office is an easy way to boost focus, reduce stress, and create a more inviting workspace – no green thumb required. If you enjoyed this guide, be sure to sign up for my newsletter, Making it Brighter, for more remote office tips, and let me know your favorite office plant in the comments! 🌿✨
About our contributor, Julie Corbett:
As a proofreader and founder of The Proofreader Greenhouse, Julie helps fellow proofreaders and editors grow their businesses with practical strategies and a supportive community. She believes a well-placed houseplant can brighten any space—just like clear, polished writing can bring life to any piece of content. Whether she’s nurturing plants or refining words, she loves helping things grow.
Where to find Julie:
Follow Julie on LinkedIn
Follow The Proofreader Greenhouse on LinkedIn
Sign up for Julie’s newsletter, The Leaflet
Visit The Proofreader Greenhouse website
