Self-watering features

Step 1: choosing a suitable place for plants

Offices are busy environments, so you need to carefully consider where to place your new plant. Avoid placing a plant that likes light in a dark corner and don’t place a lush green plant in the middle of a hallway or in a walkway. Likewise, a tall plant will not be comfortable if you squeeze it in a small space.

1. More freedomAll plants need enough space to grow comfortably. Avoid putting plants in cramped spaces

Follow these tips and your plant will thrive:

• Do not place a plant between furniture. Make sure that it has enough space to grow and access to good air circulation.
• If you have a small office space, the minimum distance between your plant and other objects/furniture should be about 15cm.
• Choose spaces with good air circulation, maybe near a window, door, on a table or on a shelf.
• If there is no sunlight in the room, then choose a hardier species that will thrive in a darker environment.
• If you have the opportunity, take the plant out into sunlight regularly to help it gain strength.
• If you have placed several plants in a room with limited air circulation, we encourage leaving the doors and windows open when possible.

2. Avoid placing the plant in an area where it can be damaged

Make sure the plant has its own zone, away from potential damage from being kicked or knocked over. Avoid areas with more foot traffic, e.g. at an entrance, break room or toilet.

If, nevertheless, you decide to put your plants in one of these places, then observe how the movement is affecting its growth.

3. Temperature and watering 

The most common cause of plant death is lack of watering when the office is closed for weekends or holidays.

Leave your plants in their required temperature and on holidays and weekends, move the plants to a location with better optimum air circulation.

Placing plants in the Lechuza self-watering planters help to avoid drying when the office is closed.

Step 2: Buying the right plant

Once you have chosen a suitable location for your new green pet, it is time to choose the species, taking into account the characteristics of each plant type.

What size to choose?

It is important to remember the following requirements:

• Consider where the plant is being placed. Smaller plants are best placed on a table or shelf and taller plants are better placed on the floor.
• It is important to remember that your plant will grow. Ensure that your plant has enough space to grow comfortably.
• Decide how big of a feature you’d like your plane to be, Will it be the main focus of the room or will it be a small addition?
• Examine the room carefully so that the plant fits harmoniously into the interior. A small flower or plant with luscious leaves is the perfect solution to freshen up a room.

For convenience, we have divided certain plants by type and suitable location. Sort between plant types to pick the most appropriate for your environment.

Determine the lighting level in the office

Light levels are very important when deciding on plant types for your room. Your plant will suffer if it does not have access to enough light. Therefore, it is extremely important to consider the characteristics and preferences of your new green pets.

There are many plants that love sunshine. We advise putting plants of this type on or near a window with direct sunlight. Shade-loving plants should be placed on something like an office table, taking into account that they will still receive a small amount of light during the day.

We sell unpretentious plants that can thrive without daylight and feel comfortable indoors under artificial lighting or in the dark.

Step 3: Caring for the plants

When you purchase a plant from Urban Gardens Direct, you will receive helpful plant care instructions. Read about the preferences of your new green pet to create the perfect growing environment to maintain a healthy plant.

Our guides also contain information about watering, lighting, feeding, soil, choosing a suitable pot and more. We made sure that all of the information you need is in one place. Some of our useful tips include:

1. Watering

Different plants require different levels of soil moisture, so take a good look at the requirements of your new purchase. Determine whether your new plant love prefers a dryer or more moist environment.

It is also important to consider the period when the office will be empty and whether your plant can survive a few days without being watered. The Lechuza self-watering planters are perfect for offices which are empty on a regular basis.

2. Cleaning

We appreciate that office workers are busy, but it’s vital to remove the dust from your plant’s leaves to promote optimum growth. Take a damp paper towel and walk it from the stem to the tip of the leaf to remove all of the dust. We recommend cleaning the leaves every 2 weeks.

3. Cropping

Plant owners should prune dried leaves and stems to make it easier for the plant to grow. This will make sure your plant stays healthy, green and attractive.

4. Fertiliser

Your plant absorbs nutrients from soil. However, the nutrient supply can deplete, meaning the plant will need a fertiliser boost for those all-important trace elements. We advise researching your plant and determining the most suitable fertiliser.

5. When the office is empty

If your plants are usually kept in a dark room, we advise moving them to a brighter spot when the office is empty. While they will spend a couple of days without being watered, you should ensure that your green pets have enough air circulation, leaving them near open windows or doors between rooms.