These Office Plants Thrive Under Fluorescent Lights

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No matter what your work setup looks like, it's nice to have a few personal things on your desk. Your favorite pen and a phone charger are musts, but might we suggest adding an office plant? It's good for you to have a great houseplant around: Watering and caring for another living thing can do wonders for your attitude and give you something to be mindful about in between meetings. Some of the best office plants can even help improve the air quality. That said, there is such a thing as too many plants. (We're talking about a professional environment, after all.) Pick one or two to reap the benefits without going wild.

Below, we've researched the best office plants to buy, including the pros and cons of each. You don't have to stress about these easy, beginner-friendly plants; the majority of them are low-maintenance, so they won't die if you forget to water them for a few days or leave them on your desk over a long weekend. From cacti and succulents to trendy ZZ plants and peace lilies, these office plants create the relaxing vibe you want.

If your office doesn't get much natural light or you sit far away from the windows, pick one of the low-light-friendly plants below. Still, as tolerant as they may be, your hybrid work schedule and fluorescent office lighting can take a toll. In that case, check out our strategies to keep your plants alive whenever you're away.

Whale Fin Sansevieria

As its name suggests, the whale fin succulent looks a whole lot like Moby Dick's flipper. This sculptural plant can tolerate low and indirect light. Just be sure to dust it regularly to keep pests at bay.

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Baltic Blue Pothos

This cute plant's glossy leaves will surprise you by developing natural holes as they get bigger. (Don't worry, they're not being eaten, just growing.) The deep green will eventually morph into a beautiful teal, hence the Baltic Blue name.

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Prickly Pear Cactus

Shaped like a beaver's tail, the prickly pair cactus might be the easiest succulent to care for. With infrequent watering requirements and no need for regular fertilizer, this plant is great for larger desks where you won't accidentally bump into its sharp spikes.

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Money Tree

Keep a money tree at your desk to help manifest that next big raise or promotion. This miniature tree is easy to care for and loves low water and low light.

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Orange Bromeliad

Add a pop of color to your desk with this flowering jungle plant. Be sure to place your bromeliad near a window or under a grow light once a week or so to help it stay healthy and vibrant.

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Philodendron Green

A classic low-light-loving plant, philodendrons are known for their low-maintenance quality and easy propagation. Place it up high, like on that stack of invoices you need to wade through, and let the trailing leaves drape.

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Hoya Heart

A ideal gift for your work bestie, this cheeky little heart-shaped plant is actually a cactus. That means minimal watering is needed. It'll even last through the longest summer out-of-office stretch.

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Neon Pothos

Add a bright light to dreary Mondays with a neon pothos. Its vibrant yellow-green leaves require little sun and little water to thrive, so you can just sit back and watch it grow.

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Aloe Vera

Known for its soothing qualities, an aloe plant will bring a cooling vibe to your deadline-filled afternoons. (It's also great for mending that post-vacation sunburn.)

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Mexican Air Plants

Nothing beats the simple maintenance of air plants. All you have to do is simply soak them in water for 20 minutes once a week and they'll be good to go.

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Golden Pothos

Also known as Devil's Ivy, this sprawling plant is incredibly easy to take care of. It can tolerate the darkest spaces and the brightest, window-filled offices and will survive even if you forget to water it sometimes. Just know the cues for what it needs: Yellow leaves mean it's been overwatered, while a droopy plant is thirsty.

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ZZ Plant

While ZZ plants thrive in moderate to brighter light environments, they'll hold up just fine in low light. The plants also require little water, like a cactus, so you don't have to worry about watering them all the time. If the leaves start falling off, give it some water, and it'll bounce right back.

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Spider Plants

Since spider plants prefer to dry out and stay moist, you can go a few days between waterings. They actually prefer bright, indirect sunlight, so they'll do well if you don't sit directly by the window.

Snake Plant

Since these vertical plants can survive with low light levels and minimal water, they're designed for on-the-go people who can't catch a break—let alone water plants. "This plant has a reputation of being impossible to kill," raves a five-star review. "Sort of like having a silk plant that grows."

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Succulents

A succulent can actually store water in its thick leaves. Therefore, the plant couldn't be easier to take care of. It's great if you just want something nice to sit on your desk!

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Lucky Bamboo

This "lucky" plant needs very little light, so it's basically made for cubicles. It'll also give your workspace a much-needed feng shui boost. "It likes to be on the windowsill, and it just needs a little water and some sun," says one five-star review.

Peace Lily

These beautiful flowering plants are surprisingly easy to grow. "It's crazy full and lush and has eight of the white spathes," one reviewer says. Plant parents should keep the soil moist (but avoid overwatering!) and mist its leaves regularly. Oh, and while the plant prefers some light, direct sunlight is definitely not ideal.

Red Aglaonema

This colorful stunner is a popular plant with pink stems and reddish-pink leaf tips that's sure to add personality to your desk. While it shows the most color in brighter light, the leaves grow well in low light too.

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Begonia Maculata

This Tim Burton–esque plant requires brighter light to keep its bolder color, but it should be kept out of direct sunlight. And wait until the soil feels dry to water your begonia—but don't wait too long, or it'll wilt. It prefers high humidity, so misting is key.

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Gold Child English Ivy

When you first start growing this vine, you should water them frequently. Once they're established, they can tolerate dry conditions and do well in cooler temperatures. It's great for offices that are known for being uncomfortably chilly.

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