Top Four Advantages of Artificial Plants over Natural Plants

Gone are the days when artificial plants used to look so… well… artificial! Today’s artificial plants and flowers are designed, moulded and painted in such a way that they look and feel real. Some artificials even have a withered leaf or two and insect holes. On closer inspection, you may certainly mistake it for real, such is the quality of our artificial plants, trees and flowers. The resources used in creating them are of advanced quality and are longer lasting. Most plants are rain resistant due to the coating applied to the polymer leaves. They have many advantages in comparison to natural plants; some of them are listed below:

- No seasonal changes

Most important advantage is that artificial plants don’t change according to seasons. Live plants or trees seasonally shed their leaves and therefore the appearance changes and will not give the desired impact to your indoor or outdoor decoration. Artificial plants stay as they are always with very little care, although occasional care is needed to keep them looking in tiptop condition for many years to come.

- Less care and more realistic appearance

It’s true that artificials require less care and attention when compared to natural plants. You don’t need to water them. Since they are dead they don’t grow and hence don’t need constant trimming. They stay in the shape you first purchased them. Even then they look beautiful and enhance the home/office environment all year round.

- Don’t need natural factors

All living things need air, water and sunlight. Our artificial plants need none of these requirements so when you are on vacation you need not worry about who will water your plants and you can enjoy your vacation to the fullest. As artificial plants don’t need sunlight you can place them anywhere you like irrespective of whether that place gets enough sunlight or not, giving you the freedom of using them as a design aspect. No need to worry about the attack of pests or insects that will spoil the growth and perfection of your plant, or the rotting of trunks due to waterlogged planters.

- Not restricted to one place

Another advantage of artificial plants is that they are not restricted to one place; you can move them wherever and whenever you want. You are free to place them where you think they will look the best while also giving a new appearance to you room or garden. They are also easier to re-pot should you fancy a new look, new shape, or new colour planter.
These are just some of the advantages of owning artificial plants when compared to natural ones. They give you all the benefits of a natural plant but without making any compromises.

New Generation Artificial Plants and Flowers

In the last 4-5 years, the development of artificial plants and flowers has leaped to new levels of creativity. Much improved and innovative manufacturing processes have added new dimensions to what consumers can now buy. In fact the term ‘silk-flower’ is used a lot less today because of the different types of materials used in the construction of a plant or flower. Attention to detail is seriously employed so that stems, leaves and flowers boast ‘botanically-correct’ design.

The design process now involves the study of living plants and flowers, their structure, colour and handfeel and noting the many intricate details of the stems, leaves, stamens and calyx. Some faux plant designs for example, the orchid, have ‘hairy stems’, and cacti have a matted, chalky surface, some PU trunks on artificial trees have deliberate holes and ‘aged’ markings.

Although it is the manufacturer that ultimately creates these new designs through trial and error, it is mostly the importers worldwide that conceive the original designs and work closely with the manufacturer to visualize and create the final development.

Screen printing methods have become ever more challenging in the manufacture of high quality artificials. This technique adds not only base colour, but very subtle colour variations, leaf and petal detail, ‘mature’ and ‘new growth’ pattern and even natural faults (insect holes, withered petal/leaf parts). The new screen printing process allows a far more realistic design and is almost impossible to differentiate from the real thing.

With the exciting new developments and complicated manufacturing techniques now used in the creation of new millennium faux plants, they are now more complex and delicately constructed. This means they need to be maintained in a proper manner so that they will continue to look fresh and beautiful. Whereby 20 years ago, artificial flowers and plants could be washed in warm soapy water to rid them of dust, today’s high end artificials will need regular care and attention precisely because they comprise different materials and parts using glue, florist tape, inner wiring, moss attachments etc.

To make the most of your artificial plants longevity, have a read of our section on the upkeep and maintenance of new generation artificial plants and flowers.

Artificial Plants – A great way to add ambience to home or office

Flowers and plants are always a delight to see, it creates an atmosphere of a very natural and exciting environment. Live flowers or plants however are very fickle, and need regular care and maintenance to continue looking fresh and vigorous. For busy homeowners and office staff the continuous attention might not be ideal.

Watering (and different plants need different water amounts at different times), removal of dead leaves, possible insect infestation, exposure to sunlight for growth pattern, and soil mess are some of the points associated with the care and handling of live plants. And no-one wants to see a few dead plants and withered flowers around the home or office – it just does not give the impression of a well ordered environment!

Artificial plants are becoming hugely popular for the above reasons and more. All artificials require minimum maintenance – but they DO need maintenance to keep them looking fresh. A quick dust every few weeks and a thorough wash 2-3 times per year will maintain and allow a longer durability. Today, artificial plants and flowers are manufactured to precisely replicate the real ones. Materials used are coated to give good hand-feel and the choices are endless – from delicate orchids to complicated and highly realistic Kurrajong Palms, Bismarkia and Ficus trees.

Most can be purchased online easily and from knowledgeable suppliers. So, now decorating home or office with plants is not a daunting task, in fact you can have an awful lot of fun choosing your favourite plants and flowers in a great many colours and styles, and choosing the ideal planter to coordinate the whole effect.

Making the most of artificial plants

If you are planning to beautify your home or offices using plants, then artificial plants are the best choice, they require low maintenance and have largely improved in design over the past decades.

Today’s artificial plants, trees and flowers are very realistic looking and even have ‘real-touch’ feel and ‘imperfections’. There are now a large amount of artificial plant designs available, that 20 years ago would have been impossible to manufacture, such as – ‘real-touch’ orchids, ivies and hanging plants, kurrajongs palms, bonsais, Yucca trees and much more. In recent years, due to advance technology in the manufacturing process, the quality and colour of artificial flora has become an innovative and creative process. Always evolving and technically challenging, as designers come up with more complex ideas to replicate the natural stunning beauty of flowers and plants.

If you are looking for artificial plants, you might want to consider the following:

1.  Artificial foliages are made from a wide array of textile fabrics, the most common being polyester because of the lower cost. Chiefly though, polyester fiber has a greater life span and reacts positively to the fabric dye used for leaf colour. It is well suited for the heat process applied in the molding of leaf shape as well as the glues and wires used to stabilize and hold the shape. The polyester foliage can also be latex coated, which enhances the ‘real-touch’ effect.

2.  Real trunks/branches:
Artificial trees partly constructed from organic materials (such as real tree trunks, branches and bark) have artificial leaf stems inserted into the wood. They are usually not recommended for outdoor use. Climatic elements as well as other outdoor factors easily affect them (they are organic after all!). Even indoors, attention needs to be paid as humidity can cause mould if left unattended. Real trunks and branches are mostly inflexible – you cannot bend or adjust to shape.

3.  Synthetic trunks/branches
Most artificial tree trunks and branches are constructed from PU and/or PVC which allow them much more flexibility and long term durability. PU trunks may use PVC tubing inside to hold the shape and for stability, or steel wiring so they can be easily bended. Branches have steel wiring inside which also makes them easy to bend and shape. PU and PVC trunks are becoming the more popular choice because of the authentic look and feel and overall lower maintenance. These materials are also recommended for outdoor use as they are not easily damaged or subject to inclement weather.

Finally, whether your artificials are inside or outside, be sure to dust the leaves once a month, and/or use a Silk Floral Spray cleaner. The polymers used in modern artificials will lose moisture over a period of years, and the conditioners in Silk Floral Spray cleaners will help keep the leaves supple. There are several on the market. They are inexpensive and will help keep your lovely silks in top condition.

Cleaning and Upkeep of Artificial Flora

Plants and flowers are loved by all irrespective of age and gender. The sight of flowers in our home or office gives a calming and fresh feeling. Many people however are allergic to real plants, and for them, our artificial flowers and plants with the look and feel of real ones would be the best.

Other benefits as to why people prefer artificial flowers, is that long-term they are less expensive compared to freshly cut ones. Artificial flowers need not be replaced every few days like real flowers as they won’t wilt. Artificial flowers will last longer but they also need maintenance to keep them looking fresh and attractive.

Why artificial flowers should be cared for?

Many people put artificial flowers and plants in a vase/pot and forget about them because they don’t need water and they don’t wilt. However, with all artificials, dust is deposited and this will affect their beauty and shine. Artificial flowers should always be kept clean and it’s not at all difficult or expensive. Here’s how…

Occasional Cleaning:

Dust your artificial flowers with a soft brush or cloth once per week so they look as elegant as the newly purchased ones.

Thorough Cleaning:

Here are the easiest steps to clean artificial flowers:

1.    Artificial flowers should always be dusted before you proceed to clean them with water.
2.    Take out an artificial flower from the arrangement. If leaves are detachable, take one leaf at a time.
3.    Put the detached leaf under running tap water and wash away the dust and remove the excess water from the leaf. This is done to test whether there is any damage in color or texture of the artificial flower when washed. If not, you can go ahead and wash the entire artificial flower arrangement.
4.    Look for a suitable place to clean your artificial flowers depending on the size of the arrangement either indoor or outdoor.
5.    You can also add some bubble bath to the water but remember to rinse well – it does not leave stains and gives a subtle scent.
6.    For considerably larger flower arrangements, using a spray bottle will be time consuming; in that case, cleaning should be done outdoors using a hose. The hose spray should be kept light to prevent damage. After cleaning, allow them to dry outdoors.

The cleaning of artificial flowers should be done every quarter or every six months to keep them in tip-top condition.

Tips: For leaves that are constructed with ‘real touch’ or ‘natural touch’ material – spray a little window cleaner on a damp cloth and gently rub onto the leaf. It gives a healthy shine and does not leave a stain.

NB: You can also use a specialist spray for artificial flowers and plants. They are inexpensive and do the job, but can be messy. We think that if you use our steps above to maintain your artificials, they will look just as alluring as the day you bought them!

Creating an oasis of greenery in your home or office – choose artificial plants!

If you are planning to decorate your home or office, then most probably you might have thought of using plants. Keeping plants is a good option as it gives visitors/customers of home/office a relaxed and comfortable feeling.

But have you ever thought of how a potted plant will survive inside your home or office without getting adequate sunlight? Also, the atmosphere inside home or office is very likely not favorable to many plants and most of them die even though we try our best to care for them. This doesn’t mean you can’t fill home/office with plants of choice! How about artificial plants?

You might be thinking artificial plants will not give the feel of a real plant and closer inspection will reveal that it is an artificial plant! That is not necessarily true, these days the manufacture of artificial plants is technologically superior. They give the look and feel of a real plant even when close-up. These plants are made from durable quality materials and fabrics. The other important factor to consider in choosing artificial plants is that they require minimal cleaning: depending on the environment, twice monthly dusting and perhaps a thorough wash down twice a year.

Artificial plants are available in countless varieties, one can choose a range of plants like Ivies and Garlands, Hanging Plants, Bonsai, Bushes, Flowers, Orchids, Tropicals, Indoor Artificial Trees, Large Artificial Trees etc., to name a few. Select one or two that enhance your surroundings. Also, cost wise, artificial plants are cheaper in the long term compared to live plants.

Artificial trees and plants are a good choice for those who do not have time to take care of live plants properly. They are also ideal for choosing a plant or tree that would not be easily available as a live plant. For special occasions or events it is so easy to pick a style, colour and effect that suits e.g. Christmas – trees, plants and flowers and Wedding - flowers, pomanders, orchids, arrangements and All Year Round – garlands, hanging plants, ivies, yuccas etc.

Artificial plants lack the natural scents of live plants, but the good news is that artificial plants are available with the aroma of a real one; this is done by applying perfume to mimic the smell of a real plant.

In conclusion, artificials are perfect for allergy sufferers, for a busy household/office, and the clever new artificial plants out there today are the decoration of choice for many professional people.