YOUR desk is a mess, the office makes you sneeze, and the air at work always seems stale.

Here's a quick fix: Buy a plant.

Besides being an instant beautifier, desktop plants regulate oxygen in the office, absorb pollutants and help clear the 'sick syndrome' at work, says a spokesman for leading plant nursery Far East Flora.

You can have your pick from a wide range too. Too many choices? Grab two or more different species and put them in a table garden to give a new meaning to 'garden variety'.

You may think that with the ongoing financial crisis, you don't have time to grab lunch, much less water the plants.

But Far East Flora has come up with a neat trick to make sure your greens stay healthy, even if the capital markets don't.

Its Plant Plus collection comes with a water indicator in each pot, to show at one glance whether it's time for a refill.

The pots themselves are filled with expanded hydroclay, a lightweight, odourless soil replacement that stores water, thus retaining moisture and reducing watering frequency.

Just fill up to the 'optimal' level and leave until the indicator drops below the 'minimum' level.

If you're going for a holiday, fill up to the 'maximum' level, which should last for a week to 10 days.

Some of the more common species include the compact, leafy Fittonia, which also comes in pink for a girly twist.

Or try something different with the interestingly patterned Sansevieria, cheekily known as 'mother-in-law's tongue' for its sharp and pointy leaves.

A similar designer look can be achieved with the Dracaena, with its high-contrast leaves and graceful appearance.

For the opposite effect, opt for Pellaea, a fern with an abundance of short, sometimes rounded leaflets that offer the effect of cascading, bountiful flows.

If slim, long elegance is your cup of tea, go for baby palms such as the Chrysalido or Chamaedorea, which may give the impression that your desk is neat and streamlined.

Traditional types can go for money plants or a cacti mix, depending on whether you're hoping for a pay raise or a drought of paperwork.

This article was first published in The Straits Times on September 22, 2008.