How Fiberglass Planters Enhance Corporate Office Interiors

In the past, offices were often sterile environments, built for the employer rather than the employees. Today, however, many employers have realized that efficiency and productivity increase when they tend to the well-being of their employees.

Modern offices also tend to pay more attention to elements like aesthetics and sustainability.

Having greenery in the office is one way of creating visual appeal, improving air quality, and creating a more welcoming environment. But what’s the best way to incorporate greenery?

Enter fiberglass planters, the stylish, durable, and eco-friendly alternative to traditional concrete and plastic planters. Not only does it have little environmental impact, fiberglass also comes with a wide range of customization options, making it ideal for any brand.

The Role of Office Greenery in Corporate Interiors

Biophilic design is a form of design used in the building industry in which the building occupants are consistently exposed to, and encouraged to build connections with, the natural world.

Including plants in an office space is considered a form of indirect exposure and qualifies as a type of biophilic design. But why is this type of design important, and does it have any real benefits?

Studies have shown that biophilic design has a range of benefits, both expected and unexpected, including the following:

• A report by Human Spaces shows that biophilic design can improve productivity by up to 6%, and creativity by as much as 15%.

• The presence of live vegetation has also been shown to improve both mood and self-esteem, and links to both improved physical and mental health.

• Designing with live plants also has a significant impact on air quality, leading to purer air and lower levels of carbon dioxide and other contaminants.

It is inarguable that biophilic design is a great strategy and can significantly improve workplace experiences. However, the next question is how best to incorporate live plants into the workplace.

Fiberglass planters allow you to keep plants in the office with minimal effort. Not only are they low-maintenance, requiring fairly little input apart from water, fertilizer, and sufficient sunlight, but they’re also stylish and can be used to create privacy barriers or focal points.

Why Choose Fiberglass Planters Over Other Materials?

As a material, fiberglass offers a range of benefits when used in planter design. Ranging from their durability, to the lightweight composition that makes them easy to move, there are few downsides to this material.

The following table demonstrates how well fiberglass compares to other planter materials.

How Fiberglass Planters Elevate Office Interiors

There are several ways in which fiberglass planters can elevate office interiors, including the following:

Offering Modern Aesthetic Appeal

Fiberglass planters complement the modern aesthetic perfectly, thanks to their clean lines, the available contemporary designs, and the diverse array of colors. As a result, these are the perfect planters for many modern businesses, and integrate seamlessly into everything from conference rooms to reception areas.

Enhancing Workplace Well-Being

Placing planted fiberglass planters strategically throughout a workplace can help to reduce stress, boost productivity and creativity, while reducing noise and helping to improve moods. The key is that they create a sense of connecting with nature, reduce distractions, and make focus easier, all of which have positive effects.

Giving an Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Choice

Unlike many other planter materials, fiberglass is a relatively sustainable option. Since it is made of glass, which is essentially just a processed form of silica sand, fiberglass is a 100% renewable resource.

Additionally, the plants in your fiberglass planter serve as an air filtration system, removing carbon dioxide and other impurities from the air. For this reason, many LEED-certified offices use fiberglass planters in their workspaces.

Maintain a Sustainable Office, Buy Fiberglass Planters Today!

Best Practices for Using Fiberglass Planters in Offices

When you decide to use fiberglass planters to bring the benefits of office plants into your workplace, there are several things you should know to make the process as successful as possible. Below, we’ll discuss the best ways to place planters as well as how to choose plants.

Strategic Placement Tips

When deciding where to place the planters to have greenery in the office, there are a few key places that you may want to consider placing these planters. These are some of our favorite locations for placing planters with plants in an office:

Near Entrances and Reception Areas

When you place planters around entrances and in any reception areas, it serves two purposes. First and foremost, it helps to create a welcoming first impression, which encourages people about the day that lies ahead.

It also serves to elevate the mood and ambiance of the space as a whole by reducing the sterile effect of many offices.

Around Workstations

When you install planters around workstations, it allows employees to fully experience the benefits of having plants in the workspace.

Not only will it help them to feel more comfortable and reduce their stress levels, it will also reduce distractions and create a sense of privacy. The sense of privacy alone can help to increase productivity in individuals with naturally introverted tendencies.

In Breakout and Lounge Areas

When you incorporate planters into breakout rooms and lounge areas, you help create a more relaxing atmosphere. Not only will employees be able to relax more fully when taking their breaks, but it may also improve creativity and boost the effectiveness of team collaboration attempts.

In and Around Conference Rooms

By incorporating plants and planters in and around conference rooms, you can create a calming effect in what is traditionally a high-pressure environment. Not only will employees deal better with their nerves, but they’ll be better able to retain the information imparted to them.

Plant Selection Guide

When bringing plants into the workplace, choosing the right plants for your application is essential. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of different options available.

Some of them are high-maintenance and require consistent care, which isn’t ideal for many workspaces. Others may need little attention but have few effects on air quality or other similar factors.

Below, we’ll discuss some of the best options for different office scenarios:

Low-Maintenance Plants for Busy Workspaces

Not every workplace or office has the means to care for a demanding plant. The following plants are some options that require fairly little care, making them ideal for fast-paced workspaces that lack the time to care for plants.

• Snake Plant (Sansevieria spp.) - The snake plant is a common sight in many offices and commercial buildings, thanks to its hardy nature and low water requirements.
  It reaches heights of up to 20 inches (depending on the species and variety, and only requires infrequent watering. Once every two to four weeks should be sufficient. No fertilizer needed for this trouper.

• Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) - Pothos are one of the easiest houseplants to grow, and can create a magnificent sight with their long vines (reaching lengths of up to 10 feet). They require little water, and the top inch of soil should dry completely between watering sessions. They should receive a balanced liquid fertilizer once every few months.

• ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) - Reaching heights of up to three feet tall, the ZZ plant is a no-fuss filler for smaller planters that’s easy to care for. These only need watering every 2-4 weeks, and overwatering is generally more of an issue than underwatering. Give them a balanced liquid fertilizer every month or two.

• Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum spp.) - Peace lilies are great for really filling a space and can grow up to six feet tall. They require more water than the other options and their soil should remain moist but not soggy. Give them a diluted (to half-strength) liquid fertilizer every two months.

Air-Purifying Options

If you’re looking to improve air quality in the office, these plants are an ideal choice. They may have more stringent requirements, but they pay their way.

• Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens) - The Areca Palm has relatively intense light requirements and should preferably be placed in a window that gets sufficient sunlight. It’s a dense, clumping plant that reaches heights of around eight feet. Water them when the soil begins to dry out, and fertilize them regularly in the Spring and Summer.

• Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) - The Rubber Plant is a taller plant, reaching heights of ten feet. With its beautiful red and green foliage, it really creates a focal plant in the room. Try to maintain slightly moist soil for these plants, watering whenever the soil begins to dry out. They require fertilizer every two to four weeks.

• Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) - The spider plant is one of the smaller plants with air purifying abilities. They can grow up to eight inches tall, but they consistently create cascading runners that will establish themselves to fill out the space around the original plant. Water them well when the soil dries out, but less often in the Winter months.They require monthly fertilizing from Spring to Autumn.

Best Plants for Low-Light Areas

If your office isn’t particularly bright, with natural light, these plants are a great choice.

• Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema spp.) - The Chinese Evergreen is a small, dense plant reaching heights of up to three feet. Try to keep the soil evenly moist, but not soggy, and fertilize monthly with a dilute fertilizer. They thrive in warm conditions, so keep them away from cold drafts and AC vents.

• Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior) - Reaching heights of up to 24 inches, these plants require moderate amounts of water and monthly fertilizing from Spring to Fall.

• Ferns - There are many types of ferns, renowned for their ability to withstand low-light conditions. Depending on the type, they may be as little as a few inches or as tall as a few feet. Keep them moist and fertilize lightly every couple of months.

Conclusion

There are many different ways in which fiberglass planters allow you to take advantage of plants in the office. As you’ve already seen, office plants can make a huge difference to the health and well-being of the workers, both psychologically and physically.

Using fiberglass planters to accomplish this allows you to accomplish all these benefits without compromising on style and aesthetic appeal. With their lightweight durability and long lifespans, fiberglass planters are the best available option for many offices.

The fact that these planters are also fully brandable, while allowing you to build a more comfortable, more sustainable workplace, is just one of the many added benefits.

Improve Health and Wellbeing With Fiberglass Office Planters