Five Plants You Can Grow in Your Cubicle

To relieve the monotony of four beige walls, many cubicle dwellers would like to decorate with plants. Besides the aesthetic benefits, plants help purify the air you breathe in your cubicle. And workers who keep plants in their spaces are more productive than those who don't.

If you work in a cubicle, the fact that you're probably not near a window limits your plant options. But that doesn't mean you can't have plants at work. You just need to grow plants that thrive in low light and under the fluorescents so common in offices. It turns out that many plants will do well in cubicles under only fluorescent office lights.

Philodendrons have dark, glossy, heart-shaped leaves. They can get quite long, with the stems and leaves cascading from a shelf or cabinet top. Native to the tropical Americas and West Indies, their natural habitat is mostly humid forests.

Philodendrons require little care. They do best if pot-bound, so don't plant them in a pot that is too large. If the light is too low, the leaves will be small and widely spaced. If that happens, try to give your plant weekends off near a window and away from your cubicle.

The ZZ plant (zamioculcas zamifolia) thrives on neglect. It has small glossy leaves on stems of varying lengths. Water your ZZ plant every other week, and be sure to let it dry out between waterings. If you go on vacation or forget to water, tubers beneath the soil surface will store water for months. The ZZ plant does poorly in direct sunlight, which burns its leaves, making it a great choice for a cubicle.

Coleus plants are known for their interesting variegated and colored leaves. Coleus does well in rich, moist soil. Do not let coleus get too dry between waterings or it will wilt, but do not let it stand in water. You can salvage coleus plants from your garden or outdoor containers in fall and over-winter them in your cubicle. Coleus is widely available, and inexpensive, in the spring, where it is sold in flats at garden centers.

Begonias are familiar to many people as inexpensive flowering annual plants. Unlike the varieties sold at garden centers, some types of begonias have interesting patterned leaves that will add color to your workspace. Do not expect these plants to bloom without natural light, so pick plants with interesting foliage for a cubicle.

The natural habitat of paphiopedlium orchids, which have blooms that look like lady slipper flowers, is the forest floor. Consequently, these orchids will thrive in low-light conditions. In fact, many orchid collectors lacking adequate greenhouse or windowsill space grow their collections under fluorescent lights. Buy paphiopedlium orchids when they are blooming or in bud. The flowers can last for several weeks or a few months. The plants may re-bloom only once or twice a year, but some have attractive spotted foliage.

Paphiopedlium orchids like to be pot-bound-so use a small pot. They also require special orchid growing medium.