5 Considerations for Office Plants in a Pet-Friendly Workplace
Remi Marcelin • September 7, 2021
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Pet-friendly workplaces have become a rising trend in today's business world. Having dogs or cats in the office can transform your company culture without impacting efficiency. Workplace pets increase relaxation and comfort. They make break time more effective and can even reduce workplace conflicts. But pets also add a unique layer of complexity to every other office logistic. Especially office plants. Pets love indoor plants, but it's important to make sure the indoor plants are both safe from and safe for your office pets.
Plants in the workplace, living and arrangements, are an essential part of a positive work environment. Greenery lifts the spirits, releases clean oxygen, and creates good smells that everyone enjoys walking past. But bringing plants into your office alongside workplace pets can be a little tricky. With a few important considerations, you can choose the perfect office plants to get along with your office pets.
Non-Toxic Plant Life
Some plants that are common in workplace planters and arrangements are safe to work near, but not eat. This can make these plants dangerous to both dogs and cats who occasionally nibble on nearby leaves. For this reason, it's important to select the plants in-reach of pets with toxicity in mind. While there are many plants that pets shouldn't eat, most are perfectly safe if your dog or cat wants to nibble a little greenery to freshen up.
Potentially dangerous plants include amaryllis, ivy, poinsettia, elephant ear, and aloe.
Potentially Nutritious
Interestingly, you can even take the health consideration in the opposite direction. What plants are good for your pets to eat? You might want a few planters of catnip to play with the workplace kitties. Or you might want a few nutritional herbs that are safe for pets like basil, sage, and thyme. Especially if you want planters near the ground or multi-level planters, it's important to remember why pets chew plants in the first place: To get earth nutrients. So pick your plants with the understanding that they might get the occasional nibble.
Play Potential
The plants that are most lovely in an office setting are also often the most tempting for pets to play with. Springy leaves, dangling vines, and fluffy flowers are all too much temptation for cats and many dogs also like to pounce on a waving frond. Consider plants and arrangements that either minimize the temptation for your workplace pets to pounce and play or choose plants that can survive.
Indoor shrubbery, for example, is very sturdy while cacti varieties and more woody plants will create less temptation to play.
Out-of-Reach and Topple-Proof
One of your best plans is to simply keep those office plants out of reach of your floor-bound furry friends. Hanging air plants, for example, are a beautiful addition to the workplace and dogs will never take note of them. But cats might. Plants placed on top of shelves, refrigerators, desks, and in nooks are also less likely to attract attention or be subject to the occasional pet romp.
Topple-proof planters and vases also play a role. Trees and shrubs in sturdy, weighted planters are much safer than a delicate vase arrangement, for example. Make sure pet antics can't knock over your biophilic design with pay or completely by accident.
Alternate Toys and Snacks
Finally, don't forget to provide plenty of alternative toys and snacks. Bored pets will seek entertainment in the workplace environment, like the bouncy green plants. But dogs and cats with plenty of toys and tasty snacks will be much less interested in playing with your plant life. The key to making your workplace truly pet-friendly is to plan everything with pet safety and happiness in mind.
Biophilic Design for Pet-Friendly Workplaces
Biophilic design is one of the most versatile ways to improve your workplace environment in the industry. Plantlife can brighten a room, improve air quality, and entertain pets.
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