Rooted in Care: Meet John Harris, the Man Who Nurtures the Boston Office’s Thriving Greenery
Every time I walk into the Belvidere building, the headquarter office of the College of Professional Studies, I find myself quietly marveling at the lush, healthy plants lining the halls and brightening the corners. The pothos spill like waterfalls from bookshelves. Towering cane plants stretch upward like green sculptures. Even in the driest, draftiest corners, the leaves look impossibly glossy and alive.
For months I found myself wondering: Who is taking care of these? What kind of plant sorcery is going on here?
The answer is John Harris.
A Lifelong Love Rooted in Family
Originally from Norwood, MA, John Harris grew up surrounded by plants. His mother taught him how to care for a geranium when he was just a kid, sparking a lifelong love of horticulture. Even as his life took unexpected turns, he never gave up on plants.
John earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from the University of Lowell in 1979, but initially pursued another kind of care: nursing. He spent nearly two decades working as an LPN in Boston hospitals and long-term care facilities, specializing in head injury rehabilitation.
“Caring for people and caring for plants; it’s not so different,” Harris reflects. “You have to pay attention. You have to notice when something isn’t quite right.”
Reinvention Through Resilience
After 18 years in nursing, Harris felt the toll of burnout and entered what he candidly calls a difficult period. He explored different jobs and even experienced a kind of depression, unsure of what was next. Through it all, one thing remained steady: his connection to plants.
That passion led him to earn a diploma in floral design and open a flower shop in Walpole, MA. Running a business during the Great Recession (2008–2012) proved difficult. “In a down economy, flowers aren’t a necessity,” Harris says. “People cut them from their budgets.”
When the business closed in 2012, Harris joined Four Seasons Greenery, a Chelmsford-based plant management company that services corporate and university clients—including Northeastern University, where Harris has been tending plants for over a decade.
Harris’s own favorite saying is: “It won’t thrive, but it’ll survive.” It’s a phrase that applies not only to plants placed in less-than-ideal conditions, but to life, too.
The Science and Art of Office Plant Care
Today, Harris specializes in interior plant care, not landscaping. He manages nine departments around Northeastern, including the College of Professional Studies at Belvidere and Nightingale; NetSI at the177 Building; the Northeastern University Office of the General Counsel; D’Amore McKim School of Business at Dodge Hall; Student Life at Ell Hall; School of Law Admissions at Knowles Center; Undergraduate Affairs at Stearns Hall; and the Visitor Center.
He doesn’t install the plants himself; that’s the installation team. But he’s the one keeping them thriving long after they’re delivered. His work involves more than watering. It’s observation, judgment, and quiet attentiveness.
“I’m taking care of these plants for the customer,” Harris explains. “I look at how they present; are they in the right light, is the temperature okay, are they too wet or too dry? You can tell a lot just by how a plant looks.”
Over the years, he’s developed what he calls a “lifetime eye”, the intuitive ability to recognize what a plant needs. But it’s also deeply informed by science and experience.
The Belvidere Advantage
The Belvidere building, Harris says, offers a particularly good environment for plants. The natural light and stable indoor temperatures allow for more plant diversity. But that doesn’t mean you can place anything anywhere.
“ZZ plants [Zamioculcas zamiifolia] can handle bright morning sun, but a Dracaena will burn,” Harris says. “You’ve got to know your species.”
His approach is practical and precise. Snake plants for low-light corners. Peace lilies are great for owners who are prone to overwatering because they are extremely forgiving. Prune cane plants when they drop lower leaves. And always, always match the plant to the conditions, not the other way around.
A Gentle Philosophy of Attention
Asked what he loves most about his job, Harris doesn’t hesitate. “I love working with plants,” he says. “I have a lot of autonomy, I meet different people, and I get to build relationships.”
That sense of relationship extends to the plants themselves. He uses tools like moisture meters and careful touch to determine when and how much to water. “Overwatering is the number one killer of interior plants,” he warns. “Roots need oxygen. If they’re always wet, they can’t breathe.”
And if a plant does get sick? Harris will treat for pests like scale using manual methods first. For anything needing insecticides, he calls in a licensed colleague.
Lessons from a Lifetime with Plants
Harris’s own favorite saying is: “It won’t thrive, but it’ll survive.” It’s a phrase that applies not only to plants placed in less-than-ideal conditions, but to life, too.
When he talks about plants, Harris often slips into quiet wisdom. “Plants force you to slow down,” he says. “They demand your attention. They make you present.”
He notes that research has shown people feel better, emotionally and physically, when plants are around. “They lift people’s moods. They clean the air. And they’re a way to escape a busy life, even if just for a few minutes.”
At home, Harris has a whole collection of plants. His latest favorite? A Ficus lyrata (fiddle-leaf fig), native to western Africa and used often as an ornamental plant.
Advice for Aspiring Plant Parents
What does John recommend for those of us trying to keep an plant alive in the interior?
Know your plant. Research its needs before placing it in a space.
Don’t overwater. Test with a finger or moisture meter—most plants prefer to dry out between waterings.
Mind the sunlight. Especially in summer, move plants back from direct sun.
Watch for signs. Drooping leaves, discoloration, and leaf loss are all signals. Learn the language.
Start with forgiving species. Snake plants, pothos, and ZZ plants are good beginner choices.
Above all, Harris says, “Be patient, and be curious.”
Final Thought
Next time you walk past a pothos or admire a towering fiddle leaf fig in the corner of your office, know that it’s not just luck or a fake plant (although Harris admits that he has no idea how the fake snake plants located next to the fourth floor kitchen in Belvidere got there). It’s the result of care, consistency, and the quiet expertise of someone like John Harris, someone who’s made it his life’s work to help things grow.
