Artificial Plants - Pros and Cons

You might think that artificial plants and flowers are just dust traps. They probably are but, then again everything in the home and office collects dust if it’s stationary for long enough.

Fake flowers are widely used in cemeteries on graves and you can often see a faded bunch of roses in windows of empty houses so they looked lived in. Older and cheaper types don’t have any UV protection so will fade quickly in a sunny window. 

Ignoring the stigma put on artificial plants and flowers there is a place for them in some houses and offices that either don’t have enough light or for people who don’t pay any attention to real plants to keep them alive. 

Like the natural world, artificial foliage comes in all shapes, colours and sizes – and quality. 

Replicating something that nature does so effortlessly is no mean feat as plants and trees are complex structures perfectly designed to carry out their purpose. It takes patience, planning and raw skill to create and when it’s done correctly; it is indistinguishable from the real thing unless you feel the leaves and petals.  I’m not favouring real or artificial here as there’s a place for both in some buildings (and gardens) it’s hard to say if a real plant stimulates the senses any more than an imitation one when you are walking through a shopping precinct or you catch a glimpse of one of the lovely range of artificial centrepiece orchids for sale. 

Pro’s and Con’s list for Artificial Plants

I’ve compiled a list of pros and cons regarding artificial plants. It’s proved to be quite a challenge as what one person will see as a bonus another could see as a negative. For example you now can't take real flowers into the hospital when visiting, so artificial ones can be used. That’s great for allergy sufferers but no so good for people who like to see a bit of nature.

Pro’s

They won't attract insects and if one does land on a flower they won’t stay long (Could also be in the con’s list)

They are non-toxic to pets

You can put them anywhere and are great for dark rooms or rooms with no windows.

Low/no maintenance

Great for allergy sufferers

Good for your pocket – yes they may cost more at the start that a real plant, but they will last a long time.

They won’t die from neglect. There is the common dilemma that everybody experiences when keeping living plants alive – when does it need to be watered? And how many times? Do I buy plant food? The only thing you need to think of is a duster, the only maintenance they will need in order to keep them looking fresh is the occasional wipe over with a soft damp cloth. An artificial plant will only start to look a little worse for wear with the accumulation of dust; looking after them means they retain their colour and overall look of freshness forever.

Maintenance is very easy .  They’re cleaner, artificial plants will not shed leaves or petals and there won’t be any water spillages that often occur when watering living plants. If an artificial plant is accidentally knocked over, there isn’t the issue of having to clean up any soil.

Temperature will not have any effect on artificial plants, and so they can be placed anywhere in any environment – in direct sunlight or cool areas – without the risk of them wilting.

 

Con’s

Some of the plants and flowers are made with plastic which can’t be recycled.

Just don’t have that “real” feel

Unlike real plants these don’t raise humidity in rooms (Could be in the Pro’s list)

They don’t reduce Co2 in the atmosphere (You’d need around 300 real plants in one room to make a lot of difference though)

Don’t prevent bacteria and mold

The con’s list is a lot shorter but a lot of people will probably find these a lot more important in the home and office.

Recycling

Plastic is popular which has its issues especially when it comes time to replace as not all of them biodegrade. Other materials like silk, wire, hemp, bamboo and papier-mâché are available and you can check the labels to see how well they can be recycled.

Feng Shui designers don’t really go with artificial plants and flowers and are seen as dust-catchers that represent dead, stale energy wouldn’t sit well with their designs in general, but I have seen the occasional artificial flower in a vase.