9 low-maintenance plants for the office

Are you stuck in a gray, depressing cubicle while summer is in full swing just outside the office door? Lucky for you, there are several plants that are not only easy to maintain, but will actually thrive in the fluorescent-lit workplace. Check out our list of 9 low-maintenance plants that will <a href="https://inhabitat.com/brooklyn-apartment-transformed-into-greenhouse-filled-with-over-200-plants/" target="_blank">enliven your space</a>, clean the air, and tide you over until your next outdoor excursion.

Check out our list of fun plants you can use to create a <a href="https://inhabitat.com/brooklyn-apartment-transformed-into-greenhouse-filled-with-over-200-plants/" target="_blank">green sanctuary indoors </a> - they'll brighten up your space, clean the air, and keep you going until you can get outside on the weekends.

In addition to boosting your mood by adding much-needed color and texture to your workspace, indoor plants have actually been proven to provide additional health benefits. Indoor potted plants can help clean the air by removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and there are plenty to go around in your average office: these chemicals are released by everything from carpets, solvents to ink. Plants also pitch in by increasing humidity and absorbing carbon dioxide.

The Spider Plant (Chrolophytum comosum) sports vibrant green and white stripes, and looks especially nice in a hanging pot. Once the plant grows long stems with smaller spider plant clumps at the end, you can break off those plantlets and plant them in a new pot.

Snake Plant (Sanseveria trifasciata) is another great indoor plant that will survive almost any environment -- even if you forget to water it for a while. Both the Snake Plant and the Spider Plant are very good at absorbing toxins from the air.

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum), is a hardy, attractive vine that will quickly grow glossy green leaves to drape over shelves, cubicle walls, and file cabinets. You can trim the vines when they get too long, stick them in water for a few weeks until they grow roots, and then plant them in new pots - free plants for all your friends. The Pothos is easy to care for and can survive in very low light.

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum), is another classic indoor plant you'll recognize from hotels, malls, and other places lacking windows. That's because the Peace Lily thrives in indirect light and needs little water. In fact, overwatering it can kill it.

There are several fun types of plants that fall outside of the traditional indoor potted plant category. All of these are also easy to care for and will thrive in a low light, indoor office environment. Air plants, like the Tillandsia shown in a glass orb, above, are the ultimate easy care plant - they don't even need soil! Air plants are one of the trendiest home decor plants these days, so you'll find them everywhere from nurseries to boutiques, and they can be displayed in jars, on rocks, or mounted to driftwood and hung on the wall.

Water lettuce, (Pistia stratiotes) is another unusual plant that needs no soil. This aquatic plant looks lovely floating in a vase or jar, or even in an open dish with decorative stones.

Terrariums are another fun and easy option for a desktop or cubicle. You can use many types of containers to create your own terrarium, from mason jars to decorative glass vases. A layer of gravel, some soil, and a few clumps of moss and you're good to go - you can even add tiny ferns or other plants that like moist conditions.

Finally, there are a few fun plants that just might thrive in your office or on your desk - if you have enough light, that is. Succulents and cacti are great, low-care plants (just give them a bit of water once a week or so), but they do require at least some light in order to stay healthy. Try planting an assortment of fun succulents in upcycled or vintage containers as shown here.

Jade plant (Crassula ovata) is probably one of the most popular and hardiest succulents - this lovely, green plant will survive in most environments, and requires even less light than most succulents, due to its dark green fleshy leaves. Even better - if a leaf breaks off a jade plant, you can simply leave it in the pot or transfer to some fresh soil and a new plant will grow!

In addition to mood-boosting colors and textures, it has been proven that indoor plants provide additional health benefits. Several varieties of indoor plants can <a href="https://inhabitat.com/7-indoor-plants-that-purify-the-air-around-you-naturally/" target="_blank">actually purify the air</a> by removing <a href="https://inhabitat.com/green-building-101-indoor-environmental-quality/" target="_blank">volatile organic compounds</a> (VOCs), which can be found all around the average office, from carpets and furnishings to solvents and ink. Indoor plants also contribute to good air quality by increasing humidity and absorbing carbon dioxide....<br><br><a href='https://inhabitat.com/9-low-maintenance-plants-for-the-office/'>READ ARTICLE</a>