It can be depressing to leave your cheery collection of succulents each morning to go to work, especially if you work in a drab office environment. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could spice up your work space with a little greenery?
Thanks to the diversity of succulents and cacti, you can! These nine succulents and cacti are low-maintenance and ideal for low-light environments like an office. Take your passion for succulents with you to work and that eight hour day won’t seem so long.
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Schlumbergera truncata ‘Christmas Cactus’
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The Christmas Cactus is an unusual looking plant but is a popular choice for indoor gardens because of its low light requirements. In fact, it actually needs a considerable amount of darkness to induce blooming in the winter months. The long stems of the plant are composed of flattened segments, which produce pink or white flowers at their ends.
The Christmas cactus prefers partial sun and cooler temperatures, so long as there is no risk of frost. It prefers well-draining soil with infrequent watering. Propagation is simple and can be done with cuttings as small as 2 or 3 segments.
Gasteria ‘Little Warty’
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This low-light loving plant somewhat resembles an Aloe in shape, but has thick, tongue-shaped leaves. Its leaves consist of varying shades of green with an almost bronze hue at the tips. At maturity, it can reach up to about five inches in height.
Gasteria thrive in low indoor light conditions and are incredibly easy to maintain. It requires good drainage and deep, infrequent water. This plant is not particularly frost-hardy, so it must be protected or brought inside during freezing temperatures. It’s non-toxic to pets, so it’s an ideal choice for a pet-friendly office space.
Aloe aristata ‘Lace Aloe’
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The Lace Aloe is a rosette-shaped succulent with long, sword-shaped leaves. The leaves are dark green in color with small white spots. The leaf margins are covered in white spines. The plant can reach up to 12 inches in height. In the fall, Lace Aloe produce a stalk, up to 20 inches tall, that is covered in branches of cylindrical, orangey-red flowers.
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Aloe aristata is a hardy plant that can survive long periods without bright light. However, it will grow better if placed near a window, if possible. The plant thrives at normal room temperatures and will comfortably tolerate the dry air of an indoor office. It requires infrequent water, but in its winter dormancy period, it will need to be watered only sparingly.
Sempervivum ‘Mona Lisa’
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Sempervivum are sometimes referred to as Hen and Chicks because of the offsets the plant produces. This variety, called Mona Lisa, features green and red leaves in a rosette pattern. The leaves are covered in a white webbing.
Although Sempervivum are capable of living in low-light conditions, they will also do well in full sun if they are allowed to adapt to the change of light over a period of several days or weeks. If you’re interested in sharing your love of succulents with your coworkers, Sempervivum is easily propagated by removing the offsets that are produced by the main plant.
Hoya kerrii ‘Sweetheart Plant’
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The Sweetheart Plant gets its name from its thick, heart-shaped leaves. It’s a trailing plant that is ideal for hanging planters or containers set on a high shelf. The leaves can grow up to about 2.5 inches in width and about a quarter of an inch thick. When blooming, the Sweetheart Plant produces a stalk with petite, star-shaped flowers that are white with pink or purple centers.
Hoya kerrii is a low-maintenance plant, needing only well-draining soil and infrequent water. It does well in low-light conditions. Repotting often is not necessary, as the Sweetheart Plant actually blooms more frequently when it is slightly root bound. Propagation can be accomplished easily through cuttings.
Sansevieria cylindrica ‘Snake Plant’
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This unique succulent is native to Madagascar. It is stemless with solitary, cylindrical leaves that stand upright or with a slight curve. The leaves can grow up to three feet in length and about an inch in diameter. In the spring, the plant produces a stem, about six inches in length and separate from the leaf. At the end of the stem are tubular, white flowers.
Although Sansiveria cylindrica does well in low-light environments, it does prefer partial sun and more light will help the leaves grow tall and strong. Like most succulents, standing water must be avoided at all costs, so well-draining soil is essential.
Parodia schumanniana
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If you would prefer a pricklier office plant, Parodia schumanniana has you covered. This low-light loving cactus can grow up to six feet in height and a foot in diameter under the right conditions. Luckily, it’s a slow growing plant, so you won’t need to repot often. Its bristle-like spines start out as yellow and turn to brown or gray as the plant ages. In summer, bright yellow flowers may appear.
Parodia schumanniana is an odd cactus in that it doesn’t do well in direct sunlight and it actually prefers a bit more water, even throughout the winter. However, keep this cactus out of standing water to prevent root rot. Adequate drainage is the key to a healthy cactus.
Rebutia heliosa
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This petite cactus is ideal if space is in high-demand. At maturity, its stems measure just over an inch tall and about 1.5 inches in diameter. Rebutia heliosa is a slow-growing cactus that grows in tight clumps. This cactus in native to Bolivia and produces vibrant orange, funnel-shaped flowers when blooming.
Rebutia heliosa thrives in well-draining soil with infrequent water. Although it does best with full sun, it is capable of surviving in low-light conditions. It can be propagated by removing offsets, or it can be left to grow in clusters, which look quite lovely when blooming.
Crassula ovata ‘Hobbit Jade’
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Hobbit Jade is a great indoor plant because it can thrive in nearly any light condition. Its thick, slightly curled leaves are bright green in color, but can develop red tips if grown in direct sunlight. At maturity, it can reach up to three feet in height and about two feet in diameter. When blooming, Hobbit Jade produces tiny star-shaped flowers that are completely white or white with a hint of pink.
Jade Plants are considered to be symbols of good luck and success, so it’s perfect for work environments. Thankfully, you don’t need luck to care for the Hobbit Jade. This gorgeous succulent needs well-draining soil, infrequent water, and as much sun as you can manage. Propagation is simple and can be done with either leaf or stem cuttings.
Many types of succulents prefer a lot of sun, but there are still plenty of plants that are ideal for low-light environments. Thanks to the adaptable nature of succulents, you have plenty of choices for office plants.
Whether you prefer a petite Rebutia heliosa or a trailing Hoya kerrii, these nine succulents and cacti are sure to bring a touch of home to your workplace. Take a few to work and your desk will be the envy of the office.
Succulent City
All these succulents look utterly adorable. But Lace Aloe is the one to take away my heart...Great article, keep it up!
Patrick Grubbs
Thanks! I have to agree, some of the Aloes are adorable 🙂