Planters, Containers and Your Office Aesthetic

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When we talk about biophilia, we are referring to how adding plants and nature to your working environment can help staff to feel happy, creative and more productive all at the same time, but did you know that changing up the container of a plant can drastically change its appearance? In this article, we consider the effects that different containers can bring to plants and how we can match them to your business’ aesthetic.

Planting Can Change How You Feel & Behave

Smart biophilic design can create a workplace which improves employee performance, health and wellbeing. For many, the aesthetic of their office may seem like a luxury that should be the last thing to be considered in current financial climates, but when it comes to biophilic design, you should be asking yourself whether your business can afford not to implement these strategies.

It’s well known that some of the biggest businesses in the world use biophilic design to maximise their output. Google, Amazon and Apple are all filled to the brim with plants, living walls and health schemes, and when you consider the statistics that plants in the office make you 15% more productive, you can understand why. Can your company afford to be losing out on that 15%?

By adding just a few desk plants to your office environment, you can positively alter the aesthetic to benefit your employees. It’s not all down to desk plants, however, as you should also try to maximise natural light, natural materials and scenic views if you’re lucky enough to have any.

If you have any further questions regarding biophilia, we recommend that you read one of our blogs on the subject:

Biophilia – What Is It and Why Is It Important?

Biophilic Design in the Workplace

Biophilia White Paper

 

How Containers Can Change Plants

Plants come in all shapes and sizes, and the containers they come in can also substantially alter their image, whether you’re looking for plants which add a bit of fun and colour, or something a little more sophisticated which exudes style in the lobby or meeting room, we have it all.

For example, a group of bespoke ‘statement’ planters, like the ones in the image at the top of this blog, in a variety of finishes and in a complimentary colour palette can provide the perfect finishing touch to a space and can tie a design scheme together perfectly. Whilst some fresh white planters with a mix of different plant specimens can add light and vibrancy to an office that might otherwise feel too corporate.

We can source almost any plant or container, so you are limited only by your imagination. We can even match containers and planters to your company’s corporate colour-scheme.

Move on to the next section for some examples of beautiful plant containers that you could enjoy from your office soon:

 

Attractive Containers Made to Inspire

Planters and containers come in all shapes and sizes. Tiny planters can be dotted around on desks and reception areas to create a homely feel, adding detail that shows you care, and allowing all your colleagues to benefit from biophilia. Small planters are perfect for succulents which are very popular at the moment and come in a wide variety, and in different shades. A selection has been used in the workspace below, with stunning effect, in this ‘industrial design’ style using a palette of black, stone and copper:

– Artistic Design Using Mixed Planting

Succulents in tiny pots office biophiliaThese plants work especially well on a smaller budget, and they show just how important quality products and design planning are when incorporating plants in your décor.

– The Perfect Partner to the ‘Industrial Design’ TrendPlant rack office biophilia

Staying with the Industrial Design trend, this image showcases the benefits of vertical storage for getting those biophilic themes into your office or social space. This plethora of planting is bright, vibrant and friendly, which is sure to motivate and brighten the day of anyone using the area. The containers for these plants are uniform which juxtaposes with the individual nature of each plant in the frame, contrasting the symmetry against the soft natural greenery.

The use of mirrors at the back of the space also maximises the amount of light in the area and gives the illusion of doubling the number of plants, further proving that quality of product and smart planning can go a very long way to creating the perfect biophilic atmosphere.

– Pots on Legsselection of pots on legs

Pots with Legs are all the rage! We love them too. These containers stand out, and you can choose from brass, wood or metal for contrast to the pot colour. Plants are elevated to a new height and given the same status as a prized piece of art. This trend brings a sense of class to the plants, giving them a modern edge that would look stylish in almost any room. There are plenty of innovative ideas, so don’t doubt that we can find something to suit your setting.

office with two large red plant pots

We can provide a range of planters and containers in any colour and a variety of sizes. The only thing limiting you is your imagination, and we can offer you our design assistance to help overcome any struggles with space or budget. Simply contact us for more information regarding our indoor plants.

 


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What Desk Plant Are You?

man holding wild garlic in front of face

With the weather getting warmer and much of the UK’s countryside at the peak of its beauty, more people are getting out and about to enjoy and appreciate it, going on walks or sitting in the garden.  The average Brit now spends 90% of their time indoors, that’s 22 hours a day! Being outside in the sun (without getting burned) has many health and wellbeing boosting benefits including boosting vitamin D, improving mood and regulating melatonin production.

While it is important that we do get out and about as much as possible, how about bringing the outdoors indoors? We think that every day is a good day to encourage health and creativity in your workspace, and have written plenty of blogs about how plants can improve indoor air quality as well as detailing plenty of other reasons to have plants in the workplace so we know that you already understand the benefits of office plants.

Just for fun, we’re going to look at which desk plants best suits you and your colleague’s personalities, and how to take care of them.

 

The Super-Efficient

No business could properly function without a few of these types in the office, often found in your accounts team. When working they are quiet but determined, but during discussions, they are forthright with useful suggestions. These people are a great asset to your company and are often the ones that others rely on in a pinch. Good at fact-checking and meeting deadlines, expect them to pick you up on any mistakes before anyone else notices!

Their methodical minds mean that these people are well suited to catering for succulents and will get a lot of pleasure from their neat and tidy aesthetic. The ‘succulent family’ has a wide variety of plants in it that share a beautiful plum pillow like foliage. They require little water and do well in most environments making them a great plant for busy staff.

succulents

Succulent Care Tips

They require little water and do well in most environments making them a great plant for busy staff. They can withstand a lot of heavy sunlight without burning, but the newly planted risk scorching so be careful if you’re introducing your plant to a bright windowsill. It is also good to rotate them to stop them leaning towards the sun.

The Creative

The type whose desks and desktop computers are completely unfathomable and drowning in junk, but if you ask for something that you suspect is buried in there, they will no doubt surprise you by quickly rooting it out before you even have a chance to complain about the mess. They might be disorganised, but they will tell you that it’s just their creativity overflowing.

These types aren’t disorganised, they’re simply too busy to keep up a tidy appearance for the benefit of other people. To stop and tidy up would mean slowing down and reducing their output, so they’re best left to get on with their work. That said, they’re great at thinking outside the box, perhaps because they refuse to be contained by the same social expectations that govern everyone else so they can be a great asset in creative roles like sales or marketing.

Their curiosity can lead to pushing company boundaries, often for the benefit of the business but sometimes for their own gain. This can lead other members of staff to consider them a bit eccentric and difficult… which is why we recommend a cactus for these types. These indoor plants are quick and easy to care for, as well as entirely unique.

cactus with pink flowers

Cactus Care Tips

Although neglecting to water a cactus is unlikely to kill it quickly, many people underestimate the amount of water that a mini-cactus will need.  Generally, watering when the top half-inch of the soil is dry will allow the cactus to flourish.  Seasonal changes in temperature or atmosphere will also affect its needs, so it is better to check the soil of your cactus before you add water.

Some other tips and tricks to help your office to achieve some stunning cacti are to remember to rotate them every now and then for an even distribution of sunlight, as well as avoiding watering them during the winter when they enter their dormant phase.

Despite all the little extras that you can do to help a cactus be its best self, they are easy to keep alive, which busy individuals in your office will surely appreciate.

 

The Fashionista

A fashionista thrives on beauty, they tend to work in the more creative departments of your business, like PR or IT, and they come up with some truly spectacular ideas. The way things look is extremely important to them, which means that they are great for quality control and keeping your brand identity on trend. If you want someone to represent your company, you could be looking towards them.

To keep those ideas flowing you should gift your fashionistas with a flowering plant that really suits them, such as the stunning guzmania – also known as a bromeliad. These plants require a little hard work and effort to keep in peak condition, but they bring forth beauty, elegance and individuality when treated correctly – a challenge that your fashionistas will love.

Guzmania Care Tips

Guzmania require careful tending and are very rewarding. You should water them only when the soil begins to feel dry and tip away any excess water that the soil cannot soak up. They can tolerate long periods without water, but they dislike being drowned and might rot the roots. This means that it is ok to forget to water your guzmania on occasion, so long as you never over-water them.

A bit like the fashionista’s who will enjoy growing them, guzmania like to spend time in the spotlight, but don’t place them in direct sunlight or they might burn!

guzmania in white pot in office

The Snacker

Judging by the number of wrappers and crumbs adorning their desk, it could be easy to confuse a Snacker for a Creative – their desks do look quite similar from afar.  Some differences between these two are that when it comes to working, snackers are organised and straightforward with the ability to follow arduous processes with ease; their success is fuelled by the food they snack on and they’re quite happy to work long hours, as long as there is food.

Snackers flourish when they’re cared for and are generally very easy to get on with, often bridging social groups in your company and bringing everyone together. If you’re trying to host a team building event then you should get them involved in the planning process; they certainly know of at least five places where your entire team can enjoy a lunch and learn together.

spider plant in square black and gold pot

What plant best suits your sociable snacker? Spider plants are very easy going and have a retro feel about them. Just like the snacker with their biscuit stash, these plants are a gift that keeps on giving as they are keen to propagate, which means that you can easily take cuttings from a spider plant to grow more. You can learn more about the spider plant and how to share them in the video below:

This blog is just a bit of fun, we really do appreciate that diversity in the office is what makes it work, everyone is different, whether your team would prefer a cactus or a bromeliad it’s just a matter of personal preference. In the end, the happiness of your staff is what really counts, and the fact that putting plants in the office makes you 15% more productive is sure to help your business to flourish as much as the plants inhabiting it.


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The Top 5 Plants for Your Office

Everyone who has ever worked in an office knows that plants and flowers add to the atmosphere of a workplace. The buzz of background noise can not only be distracting, but can also increase levels of stress – particularly in open-plan offices where space is at a premium. You can reduce noise problems with plants because they absorb sound, making your office quieter and calmer.

Positioning plants in strategic locations around your office will create natural sound barriers. Even if you’re not buying plants for their sound reduction benefits, their potential to improve staff productivity and well-being means that even the smallest tree could work wonders for your office. This was discovered by a research experiment at Texas A&M University, which explored the link between flowers, plants and workplace productivity during an eight-month study.

Those taking part in the study performed creative problem solving tasks in a workplace with plants and flowers, a setting with sculptures, and an environment with no additional planting or decoration at all.

Participants were found to demonstrate more innovative thinking and generate more ideas and original solutions to problems in the office that included plants and flowers. Men who participated in the study generated 15% more ideas, whilst women generated more creative, flexible solutions to problems when plants and flowers were present.

With this in mind, we thought we’d share with you the top 5 office plants requested by our clients.

1.       Sansevieria Fernwood or Sansevieria Mikado

Sansevieria is a genus of about 70 species of flowering plants, native to Africa, Madagascar and southern Asia. Common names include snake plant, mother-in-law’s tongue, devil’s tongue, jinn’s tongue, bow string hemp and snake tongue. These are great air purifiers, making them perfect for offices.

2.       Succulents

These plants have thick and fleshy leaves which are used to retain water in the arid climates where they are native. The word “succulent” comes from the Latin word sucus, meaning juice, or sap. They come in a variety of sizes, colours and shades, which can allow for many beautiful combinations.

3.       Phalaenopsis Orchid

Also known as moth orchids, phalaenopsis is one of the most popular indoor orchids and is native to southern China, Taiwan, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, New Guinea, and Queensland. These elegant plants make a real impact on an office environment, and are fairly hard to kill – great for a busy office!

4.       Ficus Ginseng (bonsai)

Ginseng bonsai are also known as ficus retusa, Banyan fig or ficus ginseng. Bonsai art appeared over a millennium ago in the Chinese Empire and was then known as Penzai. It was later adapted by the Japanese and its popularity spread all across South-East Asia. These are probably the most famous and easily recognised bonsai trees and are easy to care for.

5.       Dracaena Lemon & Lime (branched)

Native throughout Africa and also known as ‘Dragon Tree Lemon and Lime’, their brightly coloured leaves are a sight for sore eyes in a dreary office on a Monday morning. These plants can get quite tall; we recommend placing one or two around the corners of your office so that they are visible without taking up too much room. 

Think of your interior designs as investments in your staff – you’ll start to see some returns when their productivity increases. Improving the atmosphere of your office has never been easier, there are so many varieties and styles of planting available.  So if you like the look of these ever popular favourites, you’re looking for something different, or you have haven’t a clue where to start, contact us to find out more about our office plants for hire and our selection of flowers for offices, we’ll help you pick out the perfect plants for you.


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Factors to Consider When Choosing the Right Pot

Flowers and plants are a great way to spruce up any environment, from your office desk to the outside of your restaurant, and add a bit of life to your establishment. However, you can’t just pick any pot and shove a plant into it. There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing the right pot for your business, so it is important to understand them to make sure that you make the right decision.

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