In today's economy, it is more important than ever for businesses to gain the competitive edge. Constant fluctuations in unemployment, productivity, consumer confidence and other major economic factors make it imperative for businesses to implement the right strategies to stay ahead of their competition.

To gain the competitive edge in the modern economy is easy to understand - a happy, productive workforce. And, while sometimes the easiest notions can be the most difficult to achieve, a recent scientific study conducted at Texas A&M University finds that nature can hold the secret to business success. The research demonstrates that workers' idea generation, creative performance and problem solving skills improve substantially in workplace environments that include flowers and plants.

Research Findings: Overall and Men vs. Women

In an eight-month study, the Texas A&M University research team explored the link between flowers and plants and workplace productivity. Participants performed creative problem solving tasks in a variety of common office environments, or conditions. The conditions included a workplace with flowers and plants, a setting with sculpture and an environment with no decorative embellishments.

During the study, both women and men demonstrated more innovative thinking, generating more ideas and original solutions to problems in the office environment that included flowers and plants. In these surroundings, men who participated in the study generated 15% more ideas. And, while males generated a greater abundance of ideas, females generated more creative, flexible solutions to problems when flowers and plants were present.

Practical ways to change the office environment

A potted green plant or garden in the Office will soften the harshness of Fax machines, computers and copiers. Green plants provide both esthetic beauty and are great at scrubbing the air we breath. This is especially useful in the office or home office to help cleanse the air of toxins in the air as a result of the various machinery.

Consider a weekly floral bouquet on a vase exchange basis. Give us a call, we have a plan to put flowers in your office.

If you were to take all the people off the face of earth plants would thrive indefinately but if you were to remove all plants from the earth people would die at once just from the lack of oxygen. Plants are wonders at providing clean air for us to breath, try them throughout your home.

Make certain to select plants appropriate to the lighting conditons you have in the office. If you have windows, most plants will need to be within four feet of the window to receive the full benefit of the sun's rays. If you have only fluorescent lighting the plants will do well for about a year but because the fluorescent light does not contain the full spectrum the plants will eventually suffer and need to be replaced. A possible, though more costly, alternative is to use full spectrum fluorescent lighting.