Nowadays, plants play an important role in our lives no matter in the interior or outdoor space. However, pest problems often trouble plant lovers. Most people want to enjoy the beauty of plants but don’t want to be bothered by pests. They usually have a doubt: Artificial plants vs real plants, the real plants attract bugs.
Do artificial plants attract bugs, either? This doubt not only affects our decision-making on indoor and outdoor decorative plants, but also influences the cleanliness and comfort of the home environment. The answer is artificial plants don’t attract pests naturally. In this article, let’s take a deep look at the relationship between artificial plants and pests to help you solve your doubts.
Why Don't Artificial Plants Naturally Attract Pests?
Real plants are essentially magnets for a wide variety of insects. First, the sap, leaves, and nectar of real plants provide a rich food source for common houseplant pests such as spider mites, aphids, mealybugs, scale insects, fungus gnats, and thrips. These insects specifically target live plants, using them for nutrition and as places to lay their eggs. Second, the moisture in the soil and plant tissues of real plants is also an important resource for pests, and soil and plant structure are breeding grounds for pests.
Unlike real plants, fake plants do not provide the key biological components that the pests need to survive and reproduce. We all know that artificial plants are made of materials such as polyethylene (PE), polyurethane (PU), or polyester fabric. These synthetic materials do not provide any of the biological necessities that pests need.
Faux plants have no sap in their bodies, they do not require soil to grow, and they do not need to be watered regularly, which completely eliminates the moist soil conditions that pests prefer. They also do not organically decay over time like real plants do. So, no matter how realistic an artificial plant looks, bugs simply do not see the value in it.
Why Might You May Find Bugs On or Near the Fake Plants?
If you happen to find insects on or near artificial trees, it is important to understand that their appearance is almost always accidental and not because the artificial plant itself attracts them. Because an artificial plant is just an inanimate object. This situation generally occurs for the following reasons.
First, it may be that the high-quality fake plant you purchased has very exquisite craftsmanship, which can give bugs the illusion of a real plant. These unsuspecting insects explore it out of curiosity. However, insects will soon realize that artificial plants do not provide them with a food source or a suitable long-term living environment.
Secondly, factors that may cause bugs to appear are dust accumulated on artificial plants. The gaps within the leaves and branches of these plants are easy for bugs or insects to crawl in and decide to stay. Another possibility is that insects are just going through their normal behavior of exploring their surroundings. They may be looking for temporary shelter to hide from predators, bad weather conditions.
They also happen to be attracted to something else near the artificial plant, such as a light source or a warm corner. Especially those artificial plants placed near doors or windows. In addition, if your artificial plant decorative flower pot does not have a drainage system and has serious water accumulation, it may become a breeding ground for certain insects such as mosquitoes.
Are Spiders Attracted to Artificial Plants?
The answer is no. If you find spiders on artificial plants, it usually indicates that there is a prey source nearby, not that the spiders are attracted to the artificial plant material itself. From a biological point of view, spiders are not attracted to artificial plants specifically for food or nesting. Spiders' natural enemies are insects. They usually build intricate webs in quiet, undisturbed places frequented by small insects. Artificial plants can serve as suitable supports. Just like a corner of a room, a windowsill or a piece of furniture, artificial plants simply provide a place for spiders to build their webs.
What Other Insects Might Hide in Artificial Plants?
Although it is not common, you may occasionally encounter other insects temporarily hiding in artificial plants or moving through them, especially if the artificial plants are not cleaned regularly. If your artificial plants accumulate dust, it may become a hiding place for silverfish. Dust mites can thrive in the thick layers of dust that accumulate on artificial plants.
Ants, on the other hand, are always looking for food sources. They may explore your artificial plants while searching for edible items such as crumbs nearby. In addition, carpet beetles may be attracted to nearby natural fibers such as wool carpets or cotton curtains. They may approach or enter artificial plants as they move around them. But what we need to know is that none of these insects feed on synthetic plant materials themselves. Their presence is either opportunistic, taking advantage of the conditions around the plants, or related to the characteristics of the surrounding environment.
What Are the Best Ways to Prevent Bugs from Gathering on Fake Plants?
While fake plants don’t attract bugs, it would be better if we took some precautions to ensure that bugs aren’t attracted to your living space. Here are the best ways to use fake plants without attracting bugs.
Bugs love dirty and messy environments, and dust can be a hiding place for mites or attract other insects. Regular vacuuming, cleaning, and dusting of artificial plants can help eliminate potential insect attractants. Cleaning faux plants can be done weekly with a soft microfiber cloth, duster, or soft-bristled paintbrush. By removing dust, you can reduce the chances of insects being attracted to the fake plants.
Secondly, you need to pay attention to the placement of artificial plants. If we have real plants that have pest problems at home, separate artificial plants from them. Because real plants can transfer pests to artificial plants. In addition, we need to avoid placing fake plants directly next to open windows or doors. Because these are entry points for insects, having artificial plants nearby makes it easier for them to land or explore the plants.
Another important aspect is to ensure that decorative flower pots without drainage devices do not accumulate water. Because everyone knows that stagnant water attracts mosquitoes and other water-loving insects. Apart from these measures for artificial plants, we also require you to maintain good household cleanliness and practice proper pest control at home, which will also reduce the chances of bugs coming into contact with artificial plants to a great extent.
How to Clean Artificial Plants Effectively?
When decorating with artificial plants, cleaning them effectively is a simple yet essential task. Only by doing this you can maintain the appearance of the artificial plant and prevent dust accumulation. Because dust accumulation can be a hiding place for bugs.
First, for daily maintenance, we recommend dusting the leaves and stems weekly with a soft microfiber cloth or duster. Secondly, for a more thorough cleaning, we recommend wiping the leaves with a damp cloth. You can use clean water to clean. Thirdly, if there are stubborn stains or a lot of dirt, you can use a very mild dish washing liquid and water solution. It should be noted that you must be careful when using soap solutions to avoid leaving any residue. After cleaning, make sure the artificial plant is completely dry, paying special attention to the gaps and bottom of the pot.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that if your goal is to avoid pest problems, faux plants are a better choice than real plants. Whether it is daily home use or commercial places with extremely high requirements for hygiene and aesthetics, artificial plants can do the job perfectly. Because of the characteristics of their own materials, we fundamentally say goodbye to the trouble of pests, and at the same time, they also provide us with a clean, low maintenance green decoration option. Choose artificial plants, you will truly enjoy the tranquility and beauty.
