One way to make your office a more relaxed and inviting place for clients is with the addition of a few tropical plants.

“People are drawn to nature,” says Lianne Unwin, manager of sales and design with Moore Park Plantscapes in Shomberg, Ont. “If you can bring a little bit of the outdoors indoors, you provide a much more relaxed atmosphere for both employees and clients.”

The best way to keep your office plants green and healthy is to hire a professional, says Unwin. When you’re running a business, it can be difficult to remember when to water the plants — let alone to figure out how much water to give them to keep them looking nice.

Look for an interior landscape professional to help you with your office foliage, says Unwin. Most contractors can help even the smallest offices with only eight to 10 plants for about $20 to $25 per week.

If, however, you think you’ve got a particularly green thumb or simply can’t afford a professional, here are some basic tips to keep in mind to select and maintain tropical plants for your office:

Buy from a greenhouse
Make sure you’re getting the best quality plants for your office.

Buy your plants from a reputable greenhouse that deals in tropical plants, says Unwin.

“Avoid big box stores,” she says. “They are not a good supplier of tropical plants.”

Check the light
Check out the lighting in your office before you buy any plants. Most offices are considered low light, no matter how many windows there are, says Unwin, because most office plants are tropical and come from places that receive an abundance of sunshine.

When you go to purchase your plants, most will have a tag indicating how much light they require, says Unwin.

Let the plants dry a little
Most indoor plants die from overwatering, says Unwin, so make sure you only water your plants when they need it.

You want to let the soil dry a little bit between waterings, says Unwin. Check to see if they need water by placing your finger in the soil.

Give the plants some breathing room
Let the plants breathe by making sure they have proper drainage.

Make sure there are spaces in the plants’ pots for excess water to drain away and for air to reach the roots, says Unwin.

Recommendations
Some plants are a little easier to maintain than others. For instance, Unwin suggests that plants such as dracaenas, snake plants and pothos ivy are relatively low maintenance.

Avoid large, leafy trees, such as a ficus tree, warns Unwin, as they are very difficult to maintain.

IE