Plants transform the sensation of a house. Even a small plantation can help to make hard lines softer, add warmth to bare walls, and make any place more welcoming. In spite of all their beauty, real plants are not very good housemates for many people. They require ideal light, constant moisture and care which sometimes busy schedules do not permit.
You are not alone in seeing one of them wither away. Numerous well-known species are quite difficult to maintain in life. Luckily, fabrics such as silk and modern synthetics have enabled one to have greenery that appears and feels natural without the use of watering cans. The following are ten real houseplants that are hard to keep and how you can have the beauty of such without the hassle using the realistic versions.
1. Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata)
Fiddle leaf fig is not a bad choice of design. The personality of a room is filled with its wide, violin-shaped leaves and its erect form. But this showstopper is fastidious. It is indigenous to warm and damp forests and detests abrupt variations in air or light.
According to a survey by The Spruce, it was revealed that about 68% of the fiddle leaf figs die within half a year. Majority of the owners attribute it to dry indoor air, cold draft or irregular watering. The plant responds quickly and not in a friendly manner when there is even a slight change in the routine.
An artificial fiddle fig trees, and save you the heartache. The leaves are designed and colored to reflect the slight twist of natural leaves. They also move freely and in the light, with flexible stems, and the finish is glossy up to a period of ten years. Put one in any high basket or floor planter, and you will have the same drama, except without the fear of watching another leaf fall.
2. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
Boston ferns introduce the feeling of softness and motion to a room. Their plumage feathers appear fresh and careless, in a hanging basket, or on a table edge. The thing is they are moisture-sensitive. They like the smell of a greenhouse in the tropics, not a warmed-up living room. Their fronds turn brown, shrivel, and drop off because most of the homes do not achieve their optimum 60-70% humidity.
An artificial Boston fern with good texture and volume does not require the maintenance. Fronds of layered silk are used to replicate the lightness of the actual plant, and UV coatings are used to ensure that they do not fade away. You can suspend one in the bathroom, or pile it up in a shady spot, or on a sunny sill; it will never be out of style.
3. Orchids (Phalaenopsis and Others)
There are not many plants that add elegance to a room as an orchid does. Their curving stems and their fragile flowers are an indication of tranquility and order. But there is a long list of rules behind that beauty. Too much light scorches them. Excessively little and they cease to bloom.
More than 80% of orchids grown indoors do not rebloom due to their environment not being exactly the same as the tropical environment. This is due to the fact that overwatering leads to root rot, whereas dryness kills buds.
Orchids made by artificial means eliminate that conjecture. They are made of silk or latex with soft and realistic petals, which emulate the radiance of live flowers. Hotels, event planners, and designers adore them due to the reduction of replacement expenses by up to 60 percent. At home, they remain erect, bright and presentable throughout the year, no damp towels or schedule keeping required.
4. Alocasia (Elephant Ear)
The alocasia is theatrical and imposing. It is the focus of any room with its bold and heart-shaped leaves and strong veins. Poorly enough, it is also a diva. The plant requires a humidity level of more than 50%, warm air, and soft and indirect light. It goes down the drain in a sudden change of weather.
Alocasias lose close to 40% of their leaves when the air becomes too dry. Indoors, that happens fast. Artificial alocasias provide the same sculptural effect with no constant adjustment. A fine veiling and faint luster are applied to each silk leaf. Synthetic stems are flexible and are used to maintain their height and finishes are UV-safe so that the color does not fade even in bright lights. They had a 97% retention of their tone in the 300 hours of simulated sunlight in controlled tests. They provide you with the tropical power throughout the year, no heat lamps needed.
5. Croton (Codiaeum variegatum)
Crotons are appreciated due to their color. Their leaves are a mix of red, orange, gold and deep green in wild patterns that lighten any area. But they’re also fragile. Once, or get them into a cold draft, and you will be raking leaves the following day.
It has been found that crotons lose nearly half of their foliage when they are moved or subjected to unequal humidity. Their brightness can be dimmed even by a change of light. Artificial crotons retain their color, shape and shine forever. The stratified pigments have been printed on the leaves and thus they reproduce the richness and the brightness of the natural croton leaves. You will have a tropical bold look, but quite stable. You may put one in a dark passage or a sunny office, and it will retain the same blazing appearance years.
6. Olive Tree (Olea europaea)
There is hardly a plant that is as calming as an olive tree. Its green leaves and thin branches are a warm Mediterranean touch in the house. The problem? Authentic olive trees require more sun than houses can provide. They require all the sun, well-drained soil and constant warmth. In the absence of those, the plant ceases to grow or perishes.
The same modest beauty is caught in artificial olive trees. They are shaped in a lifelike manner with the texture of a real bark, and the leaves are made of silk, and they have the same soft silver glitter which real olive leaves possess. UV resistant coatings allow the color to last ten or more years even in sunny rooms. They are as simple to put in an urban flat as in a rural sitting room, never hysterical, never moody.
7. Monstera Deliciosa (Swiss Cheese Plant)
The Monstera is iconic. Its perforated leaves, which are bold, have become the symbol of tropical modern design. However, it is not an easy task to take care of one. It requires high humidity, filtered light and fertile soil. When you allow it to dry up the edges become brown, when it is too wet the roots rot.
Over watering or pest infestations are the cause of most problems. A fake Monstera is the embodiment of its greenery. The silk leaves are sliced and veined as the original ones and the matte finish provides a depth in the indoor light. Their favorite with designers is to use in an open-plan room or office, where they add texture and life without having to take care of one more object. You can receive tropical presence that is eternal.
8. String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus)
The String of Pearls is exquisite and alluring. Its trailing tails of green beads spill out of shelves and baskets with grace that is effortlessly achieved. It is also a well known amateur killer of plants. It keeps water in every small pearl, and thus one heavy watering can kill it.
The root rot or poor lighting is the cause of most cases. Things are made easy by artificial versions. The stems are flexible, and the leaves are smooth and bead-like, and they reflect light as the real ones do. The color remains bright and fresh with the passage of years. It is hung up by the window or hung down a bookcase, and it is full, and green, and in perfect shape, and you cannot see any watering can.
9. Bonsai Trees
Bonsai trees are living art, which is molded over years to convey the ideas of balance and patience. Rearing them requires the same discipline. Their small pots dry fast and they have to be pruned all the time to keep their shape. In case of improper pruning, the shape is lost and it takes time to restore. Overwatering or miscalculating sunlight is also a problem to many owners that can damage the tree.
The same beauty is replicated with artificial bonsai trees that do not need maintenance. Their trunks are shaped in a natural way and the leaves are put on by hand to recreate natural growth patterns. The color and shape do not change with time. An artificial bonsai provides some serene harmony and peace whether it is on a desk, in a waiting place or by a window. It gives the essence of the art without the rigorous attention.
10. Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae)
Bird of Paradise is nothing but pure drama. Its fan-shaped and tall leaves and bright orange-blue flowers are eye catching. The plant is unfortunately too demanding. It requires a minimum of six hours of sunshine in a day and constant humidity to remain healthy. The leaves are torn indoors, mites are attracted, and seldom bloom.
Plants of Artificial Bird of Paradise provide you with the same sculptural effect but none of the delicacy. The silk petals and UV stems maintain their shape and color as long as ten years. The tall leaves are well-placed in corners and the texture is as rich as the actual one. It has a tropical design, which is simple, bold, elegant, and durable.
Conclusion
Real plants require time, patience and optimum conditions to be taken care of. That is not realistic in the case of many homes. Maintenance is challenging because of the light variations, dry air, and day to day schedules. That is why realistic artificial houseplants are becoming the more preferable option. They provide natural beauty that will withstand years and will never require watering or trimming.
The world faux greenery market has grown to over USD 2 billion with the improvement of materials and design. Artificial plants that are produced using silk and UV-resistant synthetics are now so realistic and touchable that they cannot be distinguished between real plants and artificial ones. At FeelReal Artificial Plants, you will be able to find the pieces that will suit any space and style. Both of them retain their shape, color, and texture over years. Cozy up and bring life to your house without the daily grind. And see how easy it is to take nature in.
