Holiday Office Decor Ideas That Actually Last: Live Plants for a Festive Workspace
A poinsettia on the receptionist's desk‚ a little blue spruce by the front door‚ and a couple sprigs of eucalyptus garland on a shelf will do more for an office's holiday cheer than a box of plastic ornaments ever could․ Holiday greenery will provide color‚ scent and a touch of human warmth that no artificial swag could replicate at any price; most will cost less than a mid-range fake wreath and will last the entire season․
As you may know‚ Tennessee is zone 6b to 7b depending on where you live in the state‚ meaning that most of your standard holiday plants can either be grown there‚ or grow well in a normal office building․ That's hugely important‚ too: A plant grown for a climate like that of your building's HVAC system will hold up much better through December and January than a plant that had to be shipped in from somewhere with a completely different growing season․
Why bother with live plants over artificial decor?
Live plants are not only used to beautify the photographs used in the office newsletter‚ but also to help remove indoor air pollutants․ Studies show that some houseplants remove pollutants and airborne dust particles from indoor air‚ including some volatile organic compounds that would amass indoors‚ especially during the winter months when windows are seldom opened․ Even employees feel effects: studies have found that employees in workplace environments have lower stress hormone levels and more positive moods when they have desks with views of greenery; lobbies that smell faintly of fresh pine or cedar come off as friendlier than lobbies which have no smell‚ or which smell of burnt coffee and carpet cleaner․
There's also the waste factor․ A plastic wreath is pretty much guaranteed to end up in a landfill․ Alternatively‚ a live wreath made from Fraser fir or cedar may be composted‚ and potted amaryllis and Christmas cactus can be replanted‚ kept alive for many years‚ and with little care‚ rebloomed in December․
Best plants for the office or work environment
Poinsettias are an easy choice: they need bright‚ indirect light and indoor temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit to thrive‚ and most offices generally have both of these․ Do not place them on heat vents or drafty doors‚ as the temperature fluctuations and drafts will cause leaf drop․ They should be watered when the top inch (2․5 cm) of soil is dry‚ and should never sit in water․ A well-tended poinsettia can hold its coloring from late November through January․
The Christmas cactus is arguably easier․ It tolerates the low-light conditions of a cubicle without windows‚ and it will bloom on its own without much effort aside from a few waterings from human caretakers every now and then․ If your office will be closed for a few days around the holidays‚ a Christmas cactus will be fine․
Amaryllis bulbs can be used to decorate a front desk or a conference room table as they are relatively easy to grow․ The bulbs must be planted six to eight weeks before the desired peaking time (for Christmas‚ that would be in mid-October)․ These impressive plants need a sunny location and moderate watering‚ while their long flower stalks create a big impact without taking up desk space․
Miniature living Christmas trees‚ mini-Norway spruce or Alberta spruce‚ may be appropriate in larger common areas such as a lobby or break room․ As evergreens from the cooler climate of Tennessee‚ they will survive holiday conditions indoors for four to six weeks before becoming stressed from the low humidity and light․ At the end of the season‚ many offices donate the tree to a charity for planting outdoors‚ or an employee takes it home to use in their yard․ TN Nursery sells several types of evergreens grown to be the right size for use on a desk or on the floor․
Real evergreen garlands‚ e․g․ boxwood‚ cedar‚ or holly‚ provide fragrance with little maintenance․ Draped over a reception counter or a stair railing‚ misting them with water every few days if the office is dry from forced-air heat can keep them looking fresh throughout the season․ Real holly with berries can make a nice accent‚ and can be used in garland or in small vases around common areas․
Practical Placement Tips
Reception area desks or lobbies are probably best-suited for something with a little visual presence like a poinsettia or small live tree‚ since it's the first thing clients or visitors see․ Individual desks or cubicles are probably best-suited for something like a Christmas cactus or small potted plants that don't require daily attention‚ especially with looming deadlines․ Conference rooms make a good location for an arrangement of amaryllis or cut greenery because the room is not used all the time․
Do not place live plants under an air vent or next to a space heater․ That combination of dry heat and constant air flow will dry out soil and foliage faster than almost anything else‚ and is the number one reason office plants fail in winter‚ regardless of species․
Giving Plants as Presents to Others
Since most offices do not want more mugs or branded pens as gifts for staff or clients‚ some send them a small potted plant․ A poinsettia or small rosemary topiary tree costs about as much as the most basic gift basket‚ lasts longer and‚ unlike other freebie gifts‚ does not end up in the back of the drawer․ A small live wreath or potted amaryllis bulb ready to bloom is a considerate gift for clients‚ as it avoids the generic feel of most gifts․
Keeping It Simple After the Holidays
Somewhat missed on these lists is what happens in January․ They can be pruned and grown as a houseplant if one is willing to put in the effort; in order for them to bloom again the following year‚ however‚ they must undergo a special light cycling routine․ Amaryllis bulbs are easily stored and can be replanted the following fall․ A living tree‚ if it survives the winter‚ does best when planted outdoors in early spring‚ after the last hard frost‚ which in the Middle Tennessee area usually occurs mid-to-late March․
None of this will break the bank or require a green thumb․ A few judiciously chosen live plants‚ placed where they will actually be noticed‚ will do far more to give an office a holiday presence than all the string lights and tinsel in the world‚ and make the place smell like an actual forest rather than a big box store's plastic aisle․
"
