Low-Maintenance Coworkers

Houseful of dried up plants? With your hectic schedule, try one of these easy plants to bring a sense of calm, a touch of nature and a healthy dose of oxygen to your space.

All the plants listed below are low maintenance. Some even like low light, perfect for the office.

I own all the plants below and can personally attest to their low maintenance needs. As with any plant, repotting is really optional, do it only if you want the plant to grow bigger.

I can personally vouch for the heartiness of the Japanese sago palm. This small palm is a slow grower and takes 50 years to mature (it reaches 10 - 12 feet), but looks impressive even in its smallest form. The sago palm has a bulb-shaped, shaggy trunk with small, rigid, dark green, narrow, pointy leaves. It requires good drainage and is happiest in a sandy type soil. A Japanese sago palm requires water two to three times a week, although I only water mine when I remember, which is often once a week or less and it seems fine. They like sunlight, but will do fine in partial sunlight as well. Avoid this plant if you need instant growth gratification.

It's hard to kill lucky bamboo, which has been considered a symbol of good fortune in Asian cultures for at least 4000 years. My bamboo started in a cup of water (change it weekly) and after growing some significant roots was transplanted into a 4" pot. After a few months, I was forced to get an even bigger pot because one bamboo shoot had grown to three feet and the other two were over two feet (see Miracle Grow does work). Lucky bamboo ideally needs indirect sunlight, however it does fine in bad office lighting too. Water it once a week, but we careful to let the top of the soil dry between watering or else rot will start to develop.

Prefer flowering plants? An African violet is uninhibited by seasonal changes and will flower several times a year. The blooms are traditionally purple but some varieties will yield pink or white flowers. Thriving under office or dorm room florescent light, violets need 60 to 70 degree weather and don't do well in the cold. African violets like humid conditions, if possible place the pot on top of a dish filled with pebbles and water. Water violets with room temperature water when the top of the soil looks dry. The best way to water African violets is to place the potted pot in a bowl of shallow water instead of pouring water over the top of the soil to avoid spilling water on the leaves.

If all else fails get a cactus, they practically take care of themselves. Cacti are available in different colors, some with flowers, some extra spiky, and some are even extra hairy. They are extremely slow growers, so you only need to repot every three to four years. Cacti like bright light or full sun. If you plan and keeping your cacti in a window sill make sure the temperature isn't scorching in the summer or freezing in the winter, the best winter temperatures are 40 degrees at night and 60 degrees during the day. The key to raising cacti is to provide a dry and cool environment during the winter dormancy period. Cactus water requirements vary according to the seasons. Ideally in the winter, give cacti enough water to prevent the leaves from shriveling and no more. Gradually increase water as spring approaches. In the spring, let soil become dry between waterings, while in the summer water slightly less then spring and in the fall water once a month. Don't be intimidated by the watering schedule, just give the cacti a little water when you remember and it will live - if you kill a cactus, you should probably avoid plants altogether.

Other easy care plants include all types of indoor palm trees, just water when dry and place near a window - tropical bromeliad, a dramatic hearty plant with brightly colored blooms and waxy leaves available in many varieties that like low light; and ivy which can grow several feet long indoors.

Now you can bring the charms of the outdoors right to your desk, even with a busy schedule.

- D. Guest

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