Peace Lily - Photo Credit Janet Ramsden Photo by Janet Ramsden

Want to increase your productivity in the workplace? Buy a fern.

In a series of three studies, a team of UK-based researchers monitored the productivity levels of two large companies over a period of three-plus months. They found that the simple addition of plants to a relatively no-frills office could increase productivity by up to 15 percent.

“We know from previous studies that plants can lower physiological stress, increase attention span and improve well-being,” said Kenneth Freeman, Head of Innovation at Ambius, an interior landscaping company involved in the study. “But this is the first long-term experiment carried out in a real-life situation, which shows that bringing plants into offices can improve well-being and make people feel happier at work.”

If you’re skeptical about whether a plant can survive your cubicle, don’t be, says Kreg Krueger, who owns Vogt’s Flowers in Flint. His business currently provides and maintains plants for more than 30 commercial buildings throughout Genesee County.

“We find that the pothos plant grows well in environments with zero to low natural light,” Kreuger said. “Spathiphyllum, or the Peace Lily, is another type of plant that holds up well, although it does take a little more water. And we’ve installed quite a few ZZ plants (shorthand for Zamioculcas zamiifolia) in indoor settings over the past few years.”

However, it’s important to note that all plants require some type of light exposure, Kreuger adds.

“Will these plants live forever? The answer is no, but most of these (aforementioned) plants should go about 18 months to two years,” he said.

For more information about Vogt’s Flowers, visit www.vogtsflowers.com or call 810-238-6487.