Designing for Maintenance: Plant Care Technology in the Office

This article examines the design and incorporation of potted plants in office interiors around the late twentieth century. This era saw an increasing use of plants, not only deemed healthy for office workers and the office environment but also as architectural and social interior design tools, fueling the growth of "interiorscaping" as a design field. Working within the constraints of designed offices, interior landscapers were responsible for managing plants' relationship with the office environment and providing ongoing care in the months and years ahead, in order to ensure each plant's long-term survival. Delving into the technical and social systems of interiorscape maintenance practices, the author argues that maintenance was a primary concern in interiorscape work, from the initial cultivation and acclimatization of plants through their installation and ongoing care.