Succulents are a fabulous way to add some life back into the daily office grind. They bring vibrancy and a fresh ambiance to those horrid gray walls and buzzing fluorescent lights. There are a lot of succulents that fit perfectly into an office environment. Additionally, there are numerous tropical plants that are ideal office plants!
This list of the best office succulents for your desk and work area are sure to cause a buzz around the water cooler so let’s dive in!
What succulents do best in an office?
The plants I want to share with you are those that meet these two criteria: adaptable to low light and low maintenance. Work can already be stressful enough. You don’t want to have to tend to your plant hours each week in addition to the stacks of paperwork on your desk. Let these plants bring a slice of the peaceful outdoors, in.
What is low light?
An environment with low light still has light! Plants need light for photosynthesis which is needed for growth and general health. Examples of a low light environment or room may include a bathroom with one window or a bedroom with numerous trees blocking direct sunlight from reaching the room. Or, in an office, if you have a small office with a window that looks onto a neighboring building.
These places will get minimal direct sunlight but have adequate illumination, enough so that objects in the room will create fuzzy, diffuse shadows on the floor.
If you only have access to a cubicle with no natural light source, you will need to add artificial light to keep your plants healthy. Plants grown in artificial light grow much slower than those in natural light. Because of this, water more infrequently than normal to avoid overwatering and root rot.
What do I mean when I say “low maintenance succulent”?
The office succulents and tropical plants on this list are low maintenance, meaning they will do just fine without daily or even weekly care. Some actually thrive on neglect. You don’t have to worry about these plants being finicky or dropping leaves everywhere and most importantly, you can leave them alone without worry when you take a vacation!
1. Schlumbergera bridgesii or Christmas Cactus
This succulent gets its name due to the fact that it blooms over the winter holiday season, however it’s a perfect office succulent to display all year round. The Christmas cactus is native to the mountains in eastern Brazil and actually favors a more mild, humid environment than most other cacti. Most importantly, they love shade!
The Christmas cactus is a trailing succulent. The flattened, segmented leaves are a true evergreen and are a shape reminiscent of that of a holly. As you probably guessed, the stems cascade beautifully over the sides of containers. Display this succulent on a side table in the corner of your office or on a shelf to breathe life back into your workplace.
- Water: water when top 2 inches of soil are dry; soak soil completely. Decrease frequency in colder months, however if you notice blooms, you may need to water more often to support his growth
- Light: bright indirect light to partial shade
- Mature Size: 6”-12” length stems; however can grow longer if properly cared for
2. Aloe juvenna or Tiger Tooth Aloe
A Tiger Tooth Aloe grows long stems that have grown together in clumps at the base of the plant. As this succulent’s stems get long, they begin to arch over and cascade. Triangular cupped leaves with toothed margins form a rosette around this long stem.
I love this type of aloe because it does well in a variety of places. In a place where it receives 6+ hours of direct sunlight per day, the A. juvenna will grow quickly with full stems. The leaves will likely turn a rusty red in color. In partial shade, just like many other species of smaller aloe, it can become a bit leggy but adapts quite well. Arrange these succulents in your office on the windowsill or even on your desk!
- Water: let soil dry completely between each watering; soak soil completely
- Light: partial shade to full sun
- Mature Size: 12” long stems, 24-36” wide depending on container
3. Haworthia fasciata or Zebra Plant
This next succulent may look like it belongs to the aloe genus but it is in fact a species of Haworthia. Their dark green leaves are quite sturdy and are covered in white bumpy stripes, hence the nickname ‘Zebra’.
H. fasciata grow in very harsh, rocky conditions and do great with a little neglect. This is a perfect succulent for the office because it will continue to do well weeks after you have forgotten to water it!
Because a Zebra Plant is small, it will fit a perfect fit as a succulent for your office desk.
- Water: let soil dry completely between each watering; soak soil completely
- Light: bright indirect light to partial shade
- Mature Size: 3”-5” tall
4. Sansevieria cylindrica or African Spear
S. cylindrica is a fascinating succulent with thick, long tapered leaves that look more like stems, but don’t be fooled. When grown in bright light, the leaves will often have a variegated green pattern with some splashes of silver. While this pattern will become more muted in low light conditions, this succulent will still do well in a shadier office.
Because it can grow up to six feet tall, this succulent is best planted in a large container that is kept on the floor.
- Water: let soil dry completely between each watering; soak soil completely
- Light: partial shade to full sun
- Mature Size: 4-6’’ tall
5. Sansevieria trifasciata or Snake Plant
This is an ideal office succulent! It is quite impervious to neglect and new plant owners alike. S. trifasciata, also known as a Snake Plant or Mother’s Tongue, is in the same genus as S. cylindrica and therefore requires the same type of care.
Unlike the African Spear succulent, a Snake Plant has flat green leaves that are rimmed with a bright yellow and grow upward. Colors will be more vibrant when exposed to direct sunlight however do just fine in low light conditions. There are numerous varieties of S. trifasciata with different characteristics; some have wavy, curly leaves and others grow to a much smaller height.
- Water: let soil dry completely between each watering; soak soil completely
- Light: partial shade to full sun
- Mature Size: 3’-4’ tall
6. Hoya kerrii or Sweetheart Plant
These sweet little plants are, of course, shaped like a valentine’s day heart! In stores, you will most likely find just one heart-shaped leaf planted in each pot being sold. These have most likely been potted without a stem node, so the plant will never grow into a trailing plant.
The great thing about this is that these single leafed hoyas will stay just that. They require less light than one that has the ability to grow into a vine. Enjoy this office succulent on your desk so people coming into your office feel the love!
- Water: let soil dry completely between each watering; soak soil completely
- Light: partial shade to full sun
- Mature Size: 3-4” (!!!)
7. Portulacaria afra ‘Green’ or Elephant Plant
Found in abundance in South Africa, P. afra gets its nickname from the animal that most enjoys its foliage: elephants! It is a fast growing succulent that, when potted in a container, can be kept at its smaller size and pruned into bonsai. It can also be allowed to flourish and spill over the sides of the pot. The reddish purple stems stand out against the bright green of the coin-shaped leaves.
Regardless of the way in which you grow your Elephant plant, make sure it is planted in well draining soil that is mixed a liberal amount of pumice or perlite. This succulent will do best in a south facing office window but can also be placed in those that are east facing or in bright rooms.
- Water: let soil dry completely between each watering; soak soil completely
- Light: bright indirect light to full sun
- Mature Size: 12+” depending on how it is planted and pruned
8. Haworthia cymbiformis
This succulent is unique to our list because its leaves showcase something extra special; they are translucent! This allows for H. cymbiformis to grow even under very low light conditions because sunlight is able to reach deep into the leaf’s interior. How cool!
They are also very beginner friendly, need minimal maintenance and rarely succumb to pests. A collection of these babies would look great in a large planter bowl on a coffee table in your office or as a desk succulent.
- Water: let soil dry completely between each watering; soak soil completely. Less prone to overwatering than other succulents
- Light: low light
- Mature Size: 3-4” tall, 3-4” wide
9. Disocactus anguliger or Fishbone Cactus
Also known as a zig zag cactus, the D. anguliger is an epiphytic cactus. An epiphyte is a type of plant that grows on and draws nutrients from another plant, such as a tree. Unlike a parasitic plant, an epiphyte doesn’t kill its host plant!
As an indoor plant, the Fishbone cactus can be grown in cactus soil that is mixed well with a generous amount of perlite and peat moss. Because it is a tropical cactus, your D. anguliger likes to stay a bit more wet than most other cacti. Water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry to keep this perfect-for-the-office succulent happy.
Hang this plant from a planter in the corner of your office or let it cascade off of your office desk!
- Water: water when top 2 inches of soil are dry; soak soil completely.
- Light: indir