What an office plant rental contract includes, how the monthly price is set, and when renting works out cheaper than buying plants.
Part 1
What you get in a rental contract
A rental contract covers the plants, the planters, the maintenance visits and the replacement of any plant that declines. The office pays one monthly fee and does not own or look after anything.
A typical contract starts with a site survey. The vendor notes light levels, air-conditioning vents, footfall and the look of the interiors, then proposes a plant list for each area with planter finishes.
Part 2
How the monthly price is set
Most contracts are priced per plant per month. Desk plants cost less than floor plants, and large statement plants in lobbies cost more. The number of visits per month and the planter finish also change the price.
Our rental starts at ₹250 per plant per month in Pune, including visits and replacements. A 40-plant office would therefore pay from ₹10,000 a month.
Part 3
Renting or buying
Buying looks cheaper at first, but the office then has to employ or contract a gardener, replace plants that die in air-conditioning, and replace planters that are damaged. Renting moves all of that to the vendor and turns it into a fixed monthly cost.
Buying makes sense for a small number of hardy plants that staff will look after. For more than about 20 plants, or for offices across several floors or cities, a rental contract is usually simpler and more predictable.
Part 4
Plants that survive air-conditioned offices
Snake plant, ZZ plant, pothos, philodendron, aglaonema, peace lily and rubber plant tolerate low light and dry air-conditioned rooms. Areca and kentia palms need a bright spot near a window.