Toxic Office plants to Avoid
Houseplants to avoid in the office and a few beneficial plants as alternative suggestions
Decorating office spaces with houseplants is a popular way to enhance aesthetics, boost employee morale, and create a healthier indoor environment. However, not all plants are suitable for workspaces. Some common houseplants are toxic to humans and can pose health risks if touched or ingested with touching being the main problem in an office as people tend to brush against houseplants quite often. To ensure safety and maximize benefits, it’s essential to make informed decisions about which plants to include in your office.
Toxic Houseplants to Avoid
- Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
- Toxicity: Contains calcium oxalate crystals that can irritate the skin, mouth, and throat if ingested or handled improperly.
- Symptoms: Swelling, difficulty swallowing, and skin irritation.
- Alternative: Consider the Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior), which is non-toxic and highly durable.
- Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane)
- Toxicity: Produces a sap with calcium oxalate crystals, causing burning sensations and swelling in the mouth and throat.
- Symptoms: Nausea, difficulty speaking, and skin irritation.
- Alternative: Replace with the Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans), a safe, low-maintenance option.
- Philodendron
- Toxicity: Contains oxalates that can cause irritation if ingested or touched.
- Symptoms: Mouth swelling, vomiting, and rash.
- Alternative: Use a Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum), which is non-toxic and great for improving air quality.
- Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
- Toxicity: Contains insoluble calcium oxalates, which can irritate the digestive tract and skin.
- Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, and skin irritation.
- Alternative: Opt for Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata), a safe plant that thrives in humid environments.
- Oleander (Nerium oleander)
- Toxicity: Extremely poisonous, with cardiac glycosides that can affect the heart if ingested.
- Symptoms: Nausea, dizziness, and irregular heart rhythms.
- Alternative: Choose a Calathea, known for its striking foliage and safety for humans.
- Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera deliciosa)
- Toxicity: Contains insoluble calcium oxalates that can cause irritation to the mouth, throat, and digestive tract if ingested, as well as skin irritation.
- Symptoms: Pain, swelling, drooling, and digestive discomfort.
- Alternative: Replace with a Bird’s Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus), which is safe and has lush, wavy leaves perfect for offices.
Beneficial Houseplants for Offices
To create a safe and health-promoting office environment, consider incorporating plants that are not only non-toxic but also provide additional benefits such as improving air quality and increasing humidity.
- Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)
- Benefits: Acts as a natural humidifier and removes toxins such as formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide.
- Care Tips: Prefers bright, indirect light and consistent watering.
- Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
- Benefits: Excellent at filtering airborne toxins like carbon monoxide and xylene. Easy to maintain.
- Care Tips: Thrives in indirect light and tolerates occasional neglect.
- Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
- Benefits: Increases humidity, making it ideal for dry office environments. It also removes indoor air pollutants.
- Care Tips: Requires high humidity and indirect light; mist regularly.
- Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)
- Benefits: Effective at removing airborne toxins and can help maintain a balanced indoor humidity level.
- Care Tips: Prefers medium to bright indirect light and infrequent watering.
- Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
- Benefits: Filters toxins such as benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene. Releases oxygen at night, improving air quality.
- Care Tips: Thrives in low light and requires minimal watering.
- Aloe Vera
- Benefits: Known for its air-purifying properties and ability to remove harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde and benzene.
- Care Tips: Prefers bright, indirect sunlight and needs watering only when the soil is dry.
While houseplants can enhance the workplace environment, it’s essential to avoid toxic varieties that could pose health risks to employees. Instead, choose non-toxic plants that improve air quality, increase humidity, and create a calming atmosphere. By selecting safe and beneficial plants, you can promote a healthier and more productive office space for everyone.
