The miracle of flowers and plants at work

• The benefits of plants in offices
• Convincing reasons to use plants in the office environment
• Characteristics of plants suitable for the work environment
• Characteristics of suitable desktop plants
• Plants suitable for office environment

Benefits of plants in offices:

One of the first studies on the long-term effects of office plants was conducted in 2014 by researchers in Australia, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. In this study, three office environments were monitored and reviewed for several months. The results of this study showed that green space significantly increases employee satisfaction, increases their concentration level and improves air quality. The researchers also found that in offices that have used plants indoors for a long time, employee productivity has increased.
 Having a green office environment makes working more enjoyable, easier and more profitable.

7 compelling reasons to use plants in the office environment:

Here are 7 good reasons to use flowers and plants in your company and workplace:

1. Reduce stress and fatigue:

Biophilic design believes that natural environments in humans evoke a different reaction to urban environments. These environments give us a sense of distance from tension and a sense of calm in them. In general, natural elements can help improve mental health and reduce anxiety and stress. Of course, this design does not mean that you use plants in the whole workplace or have walls all green. But if you put a plant in every square meter, it will help reduce stress and fatigue caused by work.
The results of a 2015 study by British University thinkers show that plants that are kept indoors reduce stress and increase pain tolerance. "Plants have the ability to bring green and living nature into the interior," their report said. Researchers at the University of the United Kingdom have identified many benefits of placing indoor plants beneficial to health. (Source 1)
Another advanced study by Roger Ulrich in 1991 found that hospitalized patients with natural scenery needed less painkillers than those who had no contact with nature.

2. Visual beauty:

The use of plants in interior decoration makes the environment more beautiful. Also, the presence of flowers and plants in the workplace, in addition to visual appeal, helps to increase vitality and happiness in people by inhaling the scent of fresh flowers.
 

3. Reduce ambient noise:

To better understand the power of plants in absorbing sound, we must say that to reduce noise (disturbing ambient noise) residential apartments that are close to the highway, a tree is planted near the highway. Plants are sound absorbing and help to repel annoying background noises in the workplace. So if there is a lot of noise in your work environment, you can use plants to absorb sound.

4. Increase creativity:

Many studies show that having plants and looking at them in the workplace increases creativity. The presence of green plants helps employees feel more relaxed and able to concentrate more easily, thus increasing their attention span and increasing their creativity.

5. Increase positive mood and energy:

One of the most important benefits of the presence of plants in any environment is their impact on human mental health. Apart from creating a sense of connection with nature that is achieved through the presence of plants in the workplace.
It is interesting to know that green is one of the most soothing colors. That is why we are filled with a sense of calm by being in a forest or green space. Now, if we can bring plants into the interior to the best of our ability and the area of ​​the work environment, we have attracted this feeling of calm to our employees. It is better to use broadleaf plants on your desk because it increases the greenery of the environment and reduces stress.

6. Increase productivity and reduce error:

The presence of environmental stimuli such as co-workers' movement and unwanted noise in the workplace reduces concentration. To increase concentration in such situations, researchers suggest that the capacity for attention be filled. This means that if employees' attention span is filled with the green space that is constantly around them, they will be less aware of unwanted traffic and harassment and will be able to focus more.

7. Air purifier:

NASA scientist Bill Wolverton in 1989, in his research, claims that economic solutions are promising to reduce indoor air pollution. Contaminants such as formaldehyde from equipment, carbon dioxide released from printers, and other toxic gases can be absorbed and treated by plants. Of course, this does not mean that we should put one or more flower boxes in our workplace and expect them to purify the air. But if we choose the right kind of plants that do indoor air purification well and also have enough plants to cover the room air, then we can expect the interior of our office to be cleaned.

What should be the characteristics of the plants we use for the workplace?

• Be resistant to low light conditions and stay fresh in indirect light.
• Do not be allergenic.
• Do not attract insects to themselves.
• Do not require constant care such as pesticides and fertilizers.
• Its leaves do not dry quickly.
• Be evergreen or deciduous and be the same in all seasons.
• Does not have a pungent aroma.
• Preferably an air purifier.
• Their growth rate is relatively slow so there is no need to change pots or flower boxes.

What should be the characteristics of the plants that we put on the desk?

The first point in choosing the plants you want to put on the work desk is that it should not be too high to disturb the view around or monitor. Also, the size of the pot should be appropriate for the space of the desk so that it does not take up much space. The second point is that it is better not to use plants that have large leaves so that the space does not look too crowded. If your work environment is very small and you do not have enough space on the table to put pots, you can use hanging plants. Better a poor horse than no horse at all.

What plants should we use in the workplace?

Censoria (sword), wheat (spider), aloe vera, golden pithos, gerbera, azalea, spathiphyllum, zamifolia and begonia are suitable for air purification. Spathiphyllums, bamboo, orchids, ficus and censoria create positive energy in the environment. The beautiful philodendron plant also enhances creativity in the workplace.
Plants such as terrariums, spiders and small cacti are good to put on the desk.

Sources:
1. Gillis Kaitlyn, Gatersleben Birgitta. 2015. A Review of Psychological Literature on the Health and Wellbeing Benefits of Biophilic Design. Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, UK.