Interior plant care service

Thornlea

The Power of Plants: Bringing Nature Indoors

A growing body of research shows that spending time surrounded by nature can have a powerful positive impact on our mental wellbeing, helping us feel calmer, less stressed and more connected. Across the university grounds, there are many spaces where you can pause, reflect and spend time with others while enjoying the benefits of green surroundings.

However, many of us spend much of our day indoors; this makes the quality of our indoor environments especially important and interior plants can significantly enhance how our work and study spaces feel.

 A wide range of studies highlight the positive impact that access to nature can have on mental wellbeing, helping to reduce stress and support a sense of connection. While the university grounds offer many opportunities to experience green spaces outdoors, the quality of indoor environments is equally important, particularly as many staff spend much of their working day inside.

Interior plants and views of green spaces can significantly enhance office environments and contribute to staff wellbeing.

Why Interior Plants Matter

Research into interior plants has found a wide range of physical and psychological benefits including:

• Improved mood
• Reduced stress levels
• Increased productivity and attention span
• Lower blood pressure, fatigue, and headaches

Certain plants have also been shown, through lab-based studies, to help improve indoor air quality — supporting overall health and wellbeing.

Plants That Make a Difference

Some of the most effective houseplants for indoor environments include:

• Chlorophytum comosum – Spider Plant
• Dracaena fragrans – Dragon Palm
• Ficus elastica – India Rubber Tree
• Nephrolepis exaltata – Boston Fern
• Sansevieria trifasciata – Mother-in-Law’s Tongue
• Rhapis excelsa – Bamboo Palm
• Aspidistra elatior - Cast Iron Plant
• Howea forsteriana – Kentia Palm

Our Interior Plant Care Service

The Grounds team offers a full service to supply and maintain interior plants for offices and indoor spaces across the university. While houseplants are relatively easy to care for, they do require regular and consistent attention throughout the year.

Our service includes:

• Watering and feeding
• Pruning and cleaning
• Compost maintenance
• Monitoring for pests and diseases
• Advice on plant selection and placement
• Replacement plants where needed

If we care for your plants, all you need to do is enjoy them.

Annual Maintenance Costs

In addition to the initial cost of plants and containers, our annual maintenance charges are:

• Large plant (>12” diameter): £70.75
• Medium plant (6–12” diameter): £8.50
• Small plant (<6” diameter): £29.20