Watering is where most office plants go wrong, and air conditioning makes it harder to judge. A plant in a cool, dry, closed room does not behave like the same plant at a sunny window at home. A calendar rule such as 'every Monday' is rarely right for long.
Why air conditioning changes the rules
Cool rooms slow plant growth, so plants use less water than they would in warm conditions. At the same time, AC air is dry, which browns leaf tips and dries the top of the soil quickly. The result is soil that looks dry on top but is still wet lower down, which is how roots rot in an office.
Use the finger test, not the calendar
Push a finger into the soil about 3 to 4 centimetres. If it feels dry, water. If it is still damp, wait a few more days. For succulents and plants like the Snake Plant and ZZ Plant, wait until the whole pot is dry.
Water thoroughly, then let it drain
Give the plant enough water that it runs out of the drainage holes, then empty the saucer after about 15 minutes. Small sips encourage shallow roots and salt build-up. A pot with no drainage hole is the most common cause of plants that slowly fade.
A rough rhythm by plant type
- Succulents, Snake Plant, ZZ Plant: every 2 to 3 weeks
- Pothos and philodendrons, such as the Money Plant: every 7 to 10 days
- Peace Lily: when the leaves just begin to droop, usually every 5 to 7 days
- Palms such as the Areca Palm: every 5 to 7 days
- Ferns such as the Boston Fern: every 4 to 6 days, never fully dry
These are starting points. Each plant's page in the plant library has its own care guide.
Weekends and long breaks
Most office plants cope with a long weekend if they were watered thoroughly on Friday. Trouble starts when no one owns the job. Name one person or vendor responsible for watering, and write down the day and the plants they cover.
Use better water where you can
Chlorine, fluoride and dissolved salts in tap water can brown the tips of dracaenas, spider plants and calatheas. Letting water stand overnight helps with chlorine, and filtered water is better still. Avoid RO reject water, which is high in dissolved salts.
When to hand it over
If you have more than a handful of plants across floors or cities, a scheduled service is more reliable than good intentions. Our plant rental and maintenance service includes watering, feeding and replacement, so plants stay healthy without anyone on your team having to remember.
