5 Ideas for a healthier office
It can be hard to maintain your healthy lifestyle at work. That vending machine full of candy bars, birthday cakes, and spending most of the day sitting. These are all office hazards to your health. And when you consider that most of us spend the majority of our waking day at the office, one really starts to consider healthier options.Keep on reading for 5 ways to a healthier office.Fresh air and natural light. Now that Spring is here you can start opening your windows and inviting some fresh air to send a breeze of inspiration into your office space. Another benefit to open windows is letting natural light in. Natural light has been known to improve quality of life.Be the healthy snacks guy (or gal). The first step to combating that vending machine is having a healthier option available. Bring healthy snacks from home to fend off that candy bar temptation.Take a walking break. Two or three short, scheduled walks throughout the day are a healthy way to break up the monotony of 8 hours sitting at your desk. Encourage your co-workers to join you.Paint the walls green. Green has been shown to inspire productivity, and is known as the color of concentration (LINK Vhttp://www.webmd.com/women/home-health-and-safety-9/color-psychology?page=2). If painting your walls green is too much try adding some green décor.And speaking of green. Add office plants. We may be a little biased, but we love plants! Honestly though, what’s not to love? Adding plants to your office increases productivity, and cleans the air.If you live in the Chicago area we can add plants to your office space. We offer flexible plant rental plans to brighten your office.
Celebrate Spring with plants for your office
Spring is here! It may still be chilly here in the Chicago area, but soon the temperatures will become more mild, we’ll have more days of sunlight, and we’ll start to see beautiful flowers in bloom. As a plant office rental company, we live for spring.One of our favorite ways to celebrate is by bringing color into your workplace. We love transforming dull office into inspiring green spaces with the simple addition of office plants. But why stop there? An office re-decoration project will create a welcome change for your employees and visitors alike.
Is it time for an office redecoration?
Your office is your second home, shouldn’t it feel like that? A fresh paint job, colorful seating, and wall décor that makes your office space modern and inviting is a great start. Consider painting a feature wall with one of the colors from your logo.Brighten up your office by replacing your older light bulbs with LEDs. They save more energy and can help give your space a modern feel. Now that you can see better, take some time to declutter your office space.Welcome the outdoors in by introducing the perfect plants for your office space. Plants are known to increase both creativity and productivity of your employees. And that’s not all, plants are the ultimate multi-taskers. While they influence your employees they also improve air quality in your office.
Looking for a plant rental company?
Our office plant rental company can help transform your office space and welcome Spring into your workspace. Contact us to schedule a consultation. We’ll help you determine which plants will thrive in the light conditions of your office, and which planters work with your design. After installation, we will maintain your plants.Call us to schedule your free consultation today!
Plant Profile: Dracaena
The Dracaena plant family comprises approximately 120 species of trees and succulent shrubs. Most dracaena plants are native to Africa. A small number of them originate in the area between southern Asia and Northern Australia.
Caring for your Dracaena Plant
Light
Dracaena Plants love bright lights, but be sure they are filtered by a sheer curtain.
Watering
Prune your dracaena to keep its height under control. Soil should always be moist. Be aware that overwatering can cause a Dracaena to rot. A sign of this is often a yellowing at the tips of the leaves. If the rot spreads to the cane they can start to smell moldy.
Fertilizing
Apply a houseplant fertilizer during the spring and summer months, feeding every 2 weeks. In the fall only fertilize once a month, and in the winter, avoid fertilizing.
Our Favorite Dracaenas
Dracaena Marginata – also known as Dragon Tree
This particular Dracaena finds its origins in Madagascar, and can grow to be up to 8 feet in height. Actually, in the right conditions (within a tropical rainforest) it can grow to be 20 feet! Be aware that the leaves of this plant are poisonous to dogs and cats, making it a better office plant than houseplant.
Dracaena Warneckii
Native to the tropical regions of Africa, Dracaena Warneckii plants have leaves that look sword-like, coming to a sharp point at the tip. A white or green stripe on the leaves creates a distinct look that is a great addition to your office. Interested in learning more? Here's a great article from WSJ about Using Houseplants to Say 'Welcome Home'
Everliving Greenery's Top Three Plants to Give as Holiday Gifts
‘Tis the giving season, and what better gift to give than a beautiful plant for the home or office? Plants can brighten the day and clear the air, so when you are out shopping this holiday season consider a beautiful plant for your friends and family. Potted in a festive planter, the right plant can serve as a beautiful centerpiece on the table for Christmas dinner, and later be moved into a more permanent location.Wondering which plants to consider for holiday gifts? Continue reading to discover more about our top pics for holiday plants.
Poinsettia
No list of the best holiday plants is complete without the addition of the poinsettia. It is hard to beat as the perfect Christmas plant, seeing those bright red leaves and dark green foliage brings fond Christmas memories to many.
Caring for your poinsettia through the holiday season
Place your poinsettia in an area where it will receive plenty of sun, making sure that the leaves are not touching cold window panes. They grow best between 60 – 70 degrees F. Also, keep plant away from doors, and heat registers, fans, and radiators. They do not like drafts, hot or cold. Water the plant when the soil feels dry.
Amaryllis
If you are thinking of purchasing a holiday plant for someone who isn’t exactly known for their green thumb, you may want to consider the amaryllis. Many amaryllis can be found pre-bloom, presenting a colorful Christmas surprise as they bloom in one of there many color possibilities including: red, white, pink, rose, and more.
Caring for an Amaryllis plant
To keep an amaryllis plant in bloom throughout the holiday months keep it out of direct sunlight and water regularly.
Aglaonema Red Emerald
The red aglaonema is a great houseplant, and would make for a beautiful present this holiday season. The red aglaonema has been climbing the ranks as one of the most popular plants. Watch out poinsettia, you’ve got competition! In fact, we love this plant so much that we’ve recently added it to our line of rental plants.
Caring for a Aglaonema Red Emerald
This plant can grow in low, medium, or bright lighting conditions. However, medium light often brings out the best colors in the red aglaonema. Water the plant regularly as the soil dries out.Everyone here at Everliving Greenery wishes our clients, friends, and families a very merry holiday season.
Plant Profile: Anthurium – A great tropical plant for your office
A little about Anthuriums
There are two groups of anthurium plants that are found growing in greenhouses. The first, and the one you are most likely to find, is a flowering variety. The second group are those anthuriums known for their foliage. The anthurium is native to the tropical rainforests found in Central and South America.Caring for you Anthurium in an office environment.Anthurium plants thrive in bright, indirect light, which makes them great for your window-heavy office. These plants can dry out between watering; we generally water them every two weeks. As for temperature, the warmer the better for Anthurium plants. Never keep an Anthurium below 60 degrees F. Learn about grooming your tropical plant.Anthurium care become a little tricky during the winter months. In order to insure flowering during the next season your anthurium should rest for 6 weeks at 60 degrees F.
Interested in added Anthurium to your Chicago area office space?
Our office plant rental service can provide your office with bright, lush anthurium plants. First, we will visit your space to determine if the plant would thrive in your environment as well as gather together design inspiration. We then deliver and maintain your anthurium. Interested? Contact us today!
The Best Arboretums and Gardens in the Chicago Area
It probably comes as no surprise that all of us here at Everliving Greenery love plants. Providing office plant rentals to the Chicago area can do that to a person. What can we say? We just love the look of an office populated with lush greenery, the way it gives a sterile office environment a vibrancy. How the simple act of adding tropical plants can clear the air and brighten a day.We love plants so much that even on our days off we can’t get enough. And we’re lucky that we live in the Chicago area, where there are so many great places to visit when we’re looking for inspiration in designing your greener office spaces. Keep reading and you’ll discover some of the best botanical gardens and conservatories in and around Chicago.
The Morton Arboretum
Encompassing 1,700 acres of gardens, trees, and plants from all over the world, the Morton Arboretum is one of our favorite spaces to get lost in nature. Morton is a great place to bring the kids, with a 4 acre interactive Children’s Garden and a 1 acre Maze Garden, plan on a full day of fun. If you’re looking for a more active day among the plants and trees, a 16 mile hiking trail and 9 miles of bike-ways are a perfect fit.Visit the Morton Arboretum Website
Garfield Park Conservatory
Located in Garfield Park, the conservatory is one of the largest greenhouse conservatories in the United States. Inside and out, the conservatory makes up 4.5 acres of plant exhibits. Bring the kids to Wild Wednesdays throughout this fall to learn about plants, and explore nature.Visit the Garfield Park Conservatory Website
Chicago Botanic Garden
To put it mildly, the Chicago Botanic Garden is spectacular. Encompassing nine island within Cook County Forest Preserves, the 385 botanic gardens include 27 gardens in natural habitats. And the best part? Free admission.Visit the Chicago Botanic Garden WebsiteWe wouldn’t blame you if after visiting one of these great places you feel inspired to add a little greenery to your office. Our team of green thumbs are happy to help add some lush inspiration to your office space. Give us a call today at (847) 934-5858
Plants for your office that grow with almost no sunlight
Looking to brighten your office space with a little greenery, but concerned about low light levels in your office space? The following plants will help green up your cubicle, waiting room and other office space even if your office is lacking the brightness of sunlight.Dracaena PlantsDracaena plants are great for the busy office because they can handle very little watering. There are around 120 species of Dracaena and we really recommend the following species for your office area:• Dracaena Janet Craig• Draceana Warneckii• Draceana LisaSansevieria PlantsSansevieria Plants go by many names including mother-in-law’s tongue and snake plant. Sansevieria plants are native to southern Asia, Madagascar, and Africa. They remove toxins such as formaldehyde from the air.Kenita PalmSometimes called Thatch Palm, the Kenita Palm is great as a house plant or for the office because it requires very little light grows quite slowly.Golden PothosGolden Pothos is just one name for this excellent low light office plant. Other names include ivy arum, money plant, and devil’s vine. The name devil’s vine, or devil’s ivy is in reference to the fact that a golden pothos is difficult to kill. This plant is also very leafy, and colorful; combine that with the hard to kill aspect and you’ve got the perfect combination for a great office plant.There are many other great options for office plants that require low light, among them:• Aglaonema Chinese Evergreen• Bromeliads• Maranta Leuconeura (Prayer Plant)• Parlor Palm• Philodendron (which are often mistaken for Golden Pothos)• CalatheaIf you are on the search for a plant rental company in the Chicago area contact Everliving Greenery today at (847) 934-5858. Our plant design professionals are standing by. Let us tailor your office space to your specific needs today.
Benefits of Plants in the Office - Cleaner Indoor Air
Let’s be honest. Those of us who work in an office end up spending more than 40 hours a week in our workspaces. We bring little bits of our personality to our offices spaces: family pictures, our favorite pens, perhaps little trinkets. When decorating your office don’t neglect to add office plants. The Benefits of Plants in the office are many faceted. Our blog will feature a series of reasons to include plants in your office, and today we are talking about a great benefit to office plants - Cleaner Indoor Air
Add a Pothos and breathe easy
If you were paying attention in your middle school science class you may remember that plants grow through photosynthesis by converting light and carbon dioxide into chemical energy. However, you may not know that it has been discovered that carbon dioxide isn’t the only gas that plants absorb.Scientists (including those at NASA) have found that plants are able to absorb unhealthy gases such as those found in plastics, cigarette smoke, detergent, cleaners, cosmetics, and pesticides. Exposure to these indoor air pollutants are linked to health conditions including cancer, asthma and other respiratory illness, and nausea.Best office plantsThe NASA Clean Air Study has compiled a complete list (hardcore plant nerds can find the full NASA report here) of plants that remove unhealthy gases from the air. Below you will find our list of the best office plants to improve air quality for Chicago area offices. These plants also grow well in low light conditions.
Tropical Plants in a Northern Garden
We use tropical plants in my garden and especially on the patio to add dramatic interest to the common perennial and annual plants and flowers we grow. They look impressive during the summer into the fall around our home. We bring them into an interior location when below freezing temperatures threaten in October and keep them there until May. Here are examples of Tropical Plants in the northern garden:
Neoregelia Green Apples bromeliads used in a shady location with Hosta.
Neoregelia Green Apples
Ficus Lyrata tree surrounded by Antheriums. In Vietnamese planter.
Ficus Lyrata Tree with Antherium
30 year old Clivia plant. This one flowers like this every May for two weeks.
Clivia Plant
provides tropical plants for your lobby that accommodates the size and aesthetics of your space no matter the size. We provide the best
available because we have a true desire to keep the plants under our care healthy and attractive all times. Call us today to
Plants for Low Light Locations
Interior plant professionals talk about light level designations: low light, medium light, and high light. Most plants placed in interiors, business or residential, need to thrive or at least tolerate low light locations.Light is measured in foot candles: one foot candle is the amount of light a candle illuminates one foot away. A location is considered low light if it has less than 100 foot candles available. Light levels can be measured by a light meter. The one we use is an iPhone app: Light MeterLight is vital to plant health. Light is used by the plant in the process of photosynthesis to convert light to energy. When a plant is placed in a location with inadequate light, the normal reaction is for it to shed foliage to compensate.Offices usually rely on fluorescent light illumination for 8-12 hours a day. This light is readily available for plants close enough to the light source. Light drops off dramatically away from light sources, artificial or natural window light. Because the drop off of light is not apparent, many people believe the location they’d like a plant situated has more light than it really does.Residences typically have much less light available for plants than offices. Artificial light is less in intensity and availability. Windows tend to be smaller. Remember: the light next to the window is mostly gone 6 feet away.The most important thing to do when caring for plants in low light situations is to let the plant dry out thoroughly between watering. Plants in low light rarely need to be watered more than bi-weekly. We sometimes water on a 4 week schedule for plants in very low light.Check out our low light plant gallery to see plant varieties we use.
Everliving Greenery provides tropical plants for your lobby that accommodates the size and aesthetics of your space no matter the size. We provide the best interior landscape service available because we have a true desire to keep the plants under our care healthy and attractive all times. Call us today to schedule your free consultation.
The Benefits of Plants in the Workplace
Bringing plants into the workplace does more than just create a green view.
What’s the best temperature for tropical plants?
Tropical plants originate in warmer climates where temperatures rarely, if ever dip below freezing. Temperatures below freezing are usually destructive to most decorative plants found in office and home. Tropical plants don’t experience winter dormancy. And the lack of seasons indoors is the reason plants native to non-tropical areas won’t work indoors; they need a period of seasonal dormancy.Here’s a vivid example of cold ruining my tropical plant initiation. When I had my first apartment after college, I wanted to buy a plant to improve the ambiance and décor. I believe that’s the same impulse that most people who love plants have. I noticed a bright healthy Croton at the local grocery store and decided to purchase it. After paying for the plant, the checker put it in a small paper grocery bags that covered the pot but not the foliage.It was January in Chicago and the temperature was in the teens. Although I didn’t have far to go, the plant was exposed to below freezing temperatures for about fifteen minutes. After placing it near a window in my place, I watched it defoliate over the next few days. I brought the plant back to the store where the floral clerk clued me into problem: Tropical plants can’t be exposed to bitter cold temperatures. The leaf damage the plant experienced was because the cells of the Croton are not structured to withstand winter cold.
The best temperature for tropical plants?
We’ve noticed over the years that plants thrive in temperatures that humans find comfortable: minimum of 55° F to a maximum of 85° F. Temperatures above 85° F may be stressful to many tropical plants, especially if they are in windows that are being blasted with strong sunshine. In hot situations, plants go through their soil moisture quickly so it’s critical to keep them watered.Some plants that are particularly sensitive to temperature under 40° are Aglaonema Chinese Evergreens, Dieffenbachia, and Dracaenas. Cactus and succulents tolerate both hot and cold indoor situations better than thinner leaf tropicals.Here’s how to move tropical plants in the winter: cover the whole plant with a paper or plastic sleeve. Plastic garbage bags will work for smaller plants. Preheat your vehicle so the interior is warm. Minimize the time the sleeved plant is in below freezing temperatures by quickly moving it from the building to the vehicle and then from the vehicle to the new building.
Everliving Greenery provides tropical plants for your lobby that accommodates the size and aesthetics of your space no matter the size. We provide the best interior landscape service available because we have a true desire to keep the plants under our care healthy and attractive all times. Call us today to schedule your free consultation.
Tips for Grooming Tropical Plants
Indoor tropical plants can add a wonderful appearance to a room or office but they need a little maintenance to continue to look their best.Remove yellow leaves: When a leaf on a tropical plant begins to yellow we remove it as soon as we see it. Yellow leaves will not return to their former green color; they are dying. It doesn’t mean that the health of the plant is compromised because part of the growing process is for a plant to periodically shed older leaves as it grows new ones.Remove damaged and “tipped” leaves: Tropical plants can sustain leaf damage in transport. The resulting creases and cuts won’t heal so we remove the entire leaf to improve the overall appearance. Leaves that have noticeable yellow/brown tips at their ends are also best removed. Some people trim these leaves to remove the discolored area but the “tips” will reappear. This “tipping” of ends of leaves is usually caused by continual over watering of the plant.Clean the leaves: There are a few methods we use to clean leaves of tropical plants at our office accounts. The easiest is dusting occasionally with a feather duster or Swifter duster. One can also wet a rag or paper towel, then hand wipe the leaves. We also use a commercial leaf shine called Pokon to improve the appearance of plants.Prune taller stems: On woody plants like Aralias and Ficus, we prune taller and longer stems to shorten them and keep the overall look of the plant in balance. Tropical plant stems grow longer at variable speed so it’s easy to have some of the plant foliage appear too long or tall. Pruning is process that will shorten the stem and allow growth to start just below the cut end of the plant. It’s an important part of tropical office plant maintenance.
Everliving Greenery provides tropical plants for your lobby that accommodates the size and aesthetics of your space no matter the size. We provide the best interior landscape service available because we have a true desire to keep the plants under our care healthy and attractive all times. Call us today to schedule your free consultation.
How to water indoor tropical plants properly
How To Water Indoor Tropical Plants - Everliving Greenery - Chicago Office Plant Rental
Most people seem to understand that proper watering of the tropical plants in their home or business is vital to their health and beauty. Few people water indoor tropical plants using the method our maintenance staff has perfected over the years. Plants do need water to survive in pots indoors but the frequency of watering and the volume of water needed is a tricky proposition.
We generally water plants under our care every two weeks.
Here’s an important point to consider: plants benefit from drying out between watering. Roots need oxygen and dryer soil has more air pockets than soil that is constantly wet. Plants are susceptible to disease and root rot when the soil is always sodden.In my experience, people water plants frequently because they believe it’s necessary to do something to insure the plant’s survival. They also err in using too large a volume of water for the plant to use in a two week period.
There are a few ways to determine how wet or dry a plant is.
It’s easy to examine the top of the soil: If the surface is wet, it’s a safe bet the soil will be even wetter deeper in the pot where most of the plant’s roots are. The more roots a plant has, generally the more water transporting ability the plant has. Another method I use frequently is to lift the grower’s pot that holds the plant. The heavier the plant is, usually the wetter the soil is. Also, one can put a finger as deep into the soil as possible; if the soil feels wet, it will need less or no water.
The correct volume of water to add to a plant’s soil is enough to allow it to remain unstressed for two weeks.
Succulent type plants and plants grown in Hawaiian volcanic rock need very little water bi-weekly. I will add no water to these plants if I determine they’re moderately wet. Conversely, I’ll add up to 1.5 gallons of water to a 6’ tall floor plant in a sunny window if it’s dry. If the plant is left sitting in a few inches of water, it will soak it up over a couple of days.The last idea to grasp is that the volume of water a plant needs can change with the season and other environmental factors. Plants usually need more water during the winter months because the heating system will encourage transpiration. They will need less during the air conditioner season.
Light Level Significance
The amount of light tropical plants receive in the home and office is critical to their health. For these plants, light level significance plays a vital role in photosynthesis: the process the plant world uses to convert light to food. Plainly put, a plant's health is bound to decline if it does not receive enough light because the plant cannot generate adequate food to promote health. Defoliation and a general decline in appearance are the certain results of inadequate light.A Foot-Candle is the increment a professional uses to measures light intensity. A foot-candle is the amount of light a candle emits measured one foot from the flame. We use a simple GE light meter to establish foot-candle availability. In our industry, light is typically described in three intensities:
1. Low light: 50 to 150 foot-candles; florescent light only
2. Medium light: 150 to 250 foot-candles; florescent plus some window light
3. High light: 250 plus foot-candles; florescent plus strong window light
Placing plants in adequate light is as much art as science; view Everliving Greenery's work in office spaces for examples. Many factors may come into play when placing plants such as:
The plant's general requirements for light intensity: The general guides published with this information are notoriously inaccurate. Experience is by far the best guide
The availability of natural window light from windows and skylights: factors to consider include light source orientation, window tinting, and neighboring buildings or trees blocking light.
The availability of artificial light: artificial light is as beneficial to a plant as natural light. In offices, banks of florescent bulbs provide low to medium light that is extremely consistent because of the daily duration. Here at Everliving Greenery, we use primarily artificial lights controlled by timers to maintain our plants' health.
Generally the more light available, the better. The exception is that many low light plants' tender leaves can burn or rapidly pale in intense direct light. These plants are usually grown in moderate light and spend a good deal of time under shade cloth to insure they are acclimated to low light.Providing adequate light is the vital factor in insuring the plant's long term health.
Living Plants
Living Plants can enhance the atmosphere and image of both public and private spaces. From corporate lobbies to individual offices, plants bring forth the freshness of outdoors, boosting morale and productivity of employees and visitors alike. We create professional office images and environments using living plants. Click here to view more office plant examples.
On Plant Going Care
Protecting your investment is our main concern. Once your landscape has been installed, our personable, trained technicians will visit regularly to provide on going plant care. We strive to keep every plant as healthy and attractive as possible.Our Maintenance and Guaranteed Replacement Program includes a full guarantee on all plants under contract. Your plants will be watered, fertilized, cleaned and trimmed. Any plant that begins to lose vitality will be promptly replaced at no additional cost to you.
Plants offer a breath of fresh air
Indoor tropical plants can add a wonderful appearance to a room or office but they need a little maintenance to continue to look their best. Remove yellow leaves: When a leaf on a tropical plant begins to yellow we remove it as soon as we see it. Yellow leaves will not return to their former green color; they are dying. It doesn’t mean that the health of the plant is compromised because part of the growing process is for a plant to periodically shed older leaves as it grows new ones. Remove damaged and “tipped” leaves: Tropical plants can sustain leaf damage in transport. The resulting creases and cuts won’t heal so we remove the entire leaf to improve the overall appearance. Leaves that have noticeable yellow/brown tips at their ends are also best removed. Some people trim these leaves to remove the discolored area but the “tips” will reappear. This “tipping” of ends of leaves is usually caused by continual over watering of the plant. Clean the leaves: There are a few methods we use to clean leaves of tropical plants at our office accounts. The easiest is dusting occasionally with a feather duster or Swifter duster. One can also wet a rag or paper towel, then hand wipe the leaves. We also use a commercial leaf shine called Pokon to improve the appearance of plants. Prune taller stems: On woody plants like Aralias and Ficus, we prune taller and longer stems to shorten them and keep the overall look of the plant in balance. Tropical plant stems grow longer at variable speed so it’s easy to have some of the plant foliage appear too long or tall. Pruning is process that will shorten the stem and allow growth to start just below the cut end of the plant. It’s an important part of tropical office plant maintenance.
Everliving Greenery provides tropical plants for your lobby that accommodates the size and aesthetics of your space no matter the size. We provide the best interior landscape service available because we have a true desire to keep the plants under our care healthy and attractive all times. Call us today to schedule your free consultation.