Despite the fact that I’m a horticultural rube, I have lovely plants in my office (if I do say so myself).
The only thing I have going for me are my bush-craft skills. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned from spending a ton of time in woods and wild places is that you look for plants in places where they like to be. Look for Mint where it’s moist and partly sunny, Dandelion and White Man’s Foot in full sun by roadsides, and so on. It’s all about the real estate. Location, location, location.
Instead of buying gravel for the bottom of your pots, try putting a coffee filter in there. For me, seems to work way better than gravel.
So, tip #1: “Select plants suited to the environment.” Examine the spot where you want to put a plant. Does the temperature fluctuate a great deal? How much sun does it get? My office stays a constant 70° F and gets only filtered fluorescent light. I have particularly great luck with Pothos, Philodendron, Spiderwort (Tradescantia pallida), Snake Plant, and Arrowhead (Syngonium podophyllum). If your office gets a little more light, like maybe a sunny window, you might try a Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum).
Tip #2: “Don’t over water.” I would say that over watering is the single worst thing you can do. For years I’ve been watering my plants only on Thursdays. Works great.
Tip #3: “If all else fails, buy a Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata).” If you kill it, give up and get fake plants.
If you want to get just a weensy bit more technical, or you want more ideas, here’s a solid article from Better Homes and Gardens called 24 of the Easiest Houseplants You Can Grow.
Robert Mitchell Jr. 