From a plants point of view, there really isn't anything wrong with fluorescent light, the issue is not enough light intensity. If you measure the photosynthetically active radiation in a normal office it's about 30-100 umol PPFD; that's about the same as a shady spot outdoors (for reference, direct sun is usually about 1800 umol). Temperatures inside also usually stay pretty warm all year round.
For these reasons, the best office plants tend to be species that were historically found in the understory of cloud forests or rainforests. Some popular options are Dieffenbachia sp. (mother-in-law's tongue), Philodendron sp., Monstera edulis (it can grow really large, but it also produces an edible fruit that tastes like a pineapple), Ficus benjamina (weeping fig), many orchids and ferns will also work if you can supplement their lighting by placing them on a windowsill. If you are someone is who is not good about remembering to water, you might want to consider a bromeliad such as Tillandsia.
Succulents are not a good choice. Succulence in plants is usually an adaptation for an outdoor environment with too much light -- the exact opposite of what is found in an office. Mold on the soil is also a clear indication that you are over-watering.
Let me tell you what I have in my office (disclaimer: I like plants): Monstera deliciosa, Adiantum aleuticum (five-fingered fern), Vanilla aphyla (leafless vanilla orchid), Vanilla planifolia (Tahitian vanilla orchid), another orchid (can't ID it until it flowers), and Coffea arabica (yes, coffee actually does pretty well in an office, if you have the room).
Cannabis plants grow quite alright under fluorescent lights. Grow lights are better of course. There are also fluorescent grow lights (available in different spectra) but they are less cost effective than high pressure sodium or metal halides.
Can't cite a source on this one, you're just going to have to take my word for it. Seen it work in practice :)
More specifically they are high pressure sodium lights or Metal-halides. No ganja plant could healthily grow under fluorescent light. Wattage can range from 100-1500 these days. Maybe even 2000 if you check the latest gear out. That industry is constantly upgrading.
FYI, a spray bottle with some soapy water, will handle the mold on the soil. Just spray it on every so often. You have to do that with houseplants in low-light conditions from time to time.
A mild dish soap works, personally I get one with no dyes, fragrances or anti-bacterial stuff in it.
This is good advice, but it's also sort of like taking painkillers when you have a broken leg: it helps with the symptoms but doesn't address the underlying problem. If you have mold growing on top of the soil, it almost always is because the plant is being over-watered. Make sure the pot the plant is in has good drainage (a nice big drain hole at the bottom) and that the top layers of the soil have a chance to dry out between waterings.
There is more than one plant with the common name "mother-in-law's tongue." I think OP might have been referring to Dieffenbachia sp. which is a tropical rainforest understory plant and does very well in the low light conditions of an office. [It's leaves contain very large amounts of oxalic acid which is probably why it got the name -- eat the leaves and your tongue swells up and you can't talk anymore...]
In the UK, "Mother-in-law's Tongue" usually refers to Sansevieria trifasciata [1]. The plant being sharp and pointed, the name is presumably an un-PC reference to the archetypal "domineering mother-in-law".
All my plants do fine in 100% florescent office lighting. My personal favorite is the peace lily because it is beautiful, is a great air cleaner, and is easy to grow as long as you don't over water it. Anything that is a low light plant should be fine.
I always request to sit somewhere where there is at least some natural light, mostly for my well being, but the plants offer a nice excuse as to why I have to be near a window.
That sucks... I'm not even sure that a plant or eight would make that kind of hell hole any better. I'm happy to be in a country where it's actually illegal to make people work in rooms without windows.
Curious- what country? I didn't think there was anywhere that would actually make that illegal. Does that hold true everywhere, such as in industrial/manufacturing complexes, etc?
French law mandates eye-level transparent windows to outdoors in workplaces, except for those where it is incompatible with the activities. It also mandates sufficient natural light, and for rooms with no windows intended for long work, at least 200 lux of light on the desk (but the lighting also has to be "adapted" to the activities).
Rooms with no doors in large buildings are sometimes used as meeting rooms (since they aren't intended for permanent work). I have seen once a large room with just a few windows that were far away from most desks, I guess it was technically legal but would probably not pass should one of the employees sue (comfort is an important part of the law).
I'm in Denmark and I don't think the law applies to factory workers. however due to the prices on electricity you would be crazy if you didn't try to illuminate with day light, but I'm not sure a skylight counts as a window.
Pretty much all green plants survive under fluorescent lights. I live up north and we have three months of darkness every year. Most people use normal fluorescent lights for their plants (and lighting) during this period. The plants might not exactly thrive (you'd have to put up a huge light to compensate for no sunlight) but they certainly do survive.
There are better types of lights for growing plants but fluorescent are not bad at all.
Try pothos. It's philodendron-like and nearly unkillable. It'll withstand watering daily or once every 3 weeks, or just grow in a vase of water. It grows more attractively, with larger and denser leaves, in indirect and low light but can withstand direct sunlight or 24-hour fluorescents.
Perhaps you were over watering? Succulents in particular from allowing the soil to dry completely between watering. Heck, I have some succulents that are perfectly OK being watered once a month. (When you do water them, flood them)
