We’ve flipped the calendar to May, and the season for sunshine, shorts, and flip-flops is almost here.
But with the return of lots of sun and warmer weather, it’s time to think about the best way to care for your artificial flowers through the summer months.
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Preparing For Summer Care Of Artificial Plants, Flowers, And Trees
Abundant sunshine is good for the soul, but it may not be so good for your faux trees and flower arrangements. Faux plants need little care but giving them a little attention in the summer will allow you to enjoy your fake plants for years to come. So, grab a drink with an umbrella in it and read on for the five best ways to care for your artificial plants during the summer months.
A beautiful, Lilac Twig can spruce up a room or porch.
Some of these products are not UV resistant so the best way to keep your plants safe is to prop them under an umbrella or invest in some UV spray to keep artificial flowers from fading.
Tip #1 – Purchase high-quality UV-resistant plants
The summer sun can be harsh on artificial plants. They fade because the sun’s UV rays break down the pigment in them. Long exposure to the sun can leave your average craft-store plants looking faded and tired. Purchasing high-quality UV-resistant plants can make all the difference.
Here are some great options to browse UV-resistant fake plants and flowers. These UV protected outdoor artificial flowers and plants are crafted with materials that are designed to withstand the sun’s penetrating rays. The UV-resistant materials won’t stop fading altogether, but it will slow it down substantially.
If you know your faux plant is going to be spending time in the sun, make sure you purchase one with a UV-resistant label.
Tip #2 – Use a UV Artificial Plant Spray
But what do you do if you didn’t buy high-quality UV-resistant fake plants?
Have no fear, you can still protect your plants in the summertime by spraying them with a UV-resistant spray. While not as good as purchasing the plants designed to resist fading, the spray can add months or years of usefulness to your fake arrangements.
Some may also ask, “Can you put indoor artificial plants outside?” The answer is yes! You must spray the plant liberally with a UV resistant artificial plant spray.
My favorite UV-resistant spray is the TriNova UV Protectant Spray.
One tip, though, is to be sure you clean your faux plants well before applying the spray. By removing any dust or dirt from the plant, you’ll ensure that the spray evenly coats your plant and adheres to it.
Even if your plant isn’t UV resistant, you can protect it with a UV-resistant spray to help block the harmful effects of the Sun.
Tip #3 – Rotate your plants
The best way to protect your artificial plants from the sun’s harmful rays is to rotate them regularly. You can do this in two ways.
First, actually rotate the plant itself. If one side faces a window or catches most of the sun, every month, spin the plant so the other side absorbs those damaging rays.
If your plant faces the Sun, be sure to rotate it occasionally to minimize the effects of ultraviolet rays.
The second idea is to rotate your artificial plants around your house or during different seasons. In other words, have your faux arrangements switch places inside or outside your house.
This gives your plants a different angle on the sun or it may remove them from the sun entirely. It also has the side benefit of giving your house a newly decorated look.
You can also use different arrangements at different times of the year to keep your plants and your house looking fresh.
Tip #4 – Keep your plants clean
Dirt and dust build-up can cause your fake plants to fade before their time. Clean your artificial arrangements monthly, especially in the summer.
Use a feather duster, a hairdryer set on cool, compressed air, or a cool, wet cloth to clean your plants every month. If you use a wet cloth, let your plants air dry.
Using a duster that’s small enough to get the crevices of each leaf is ideal for making sure you get all the dust and dirt off. I use the Swiffer Dusters to clean my artificial plants and flowers.
Cleaning your artificial plants helps keep them visually appealing and extends their life.
This little bit of maintenance can add years to your artificial plants’ lives. For detailed instructions on keeping your artificial plants clean, check out this post I wrote on different ways to clean your faux arrangements.
Tip #5 – Minimize direct exposure to sunlight
The best way to protect your faux plants from the summer sun is to minimize their exposure to sunlight. If do you use fake plants in your landscaping, try to use them in areas where they are not in full sunlight.
Consider placing faux plants in troublesome shady spots where they can add beauty to the landscape without absorbing the sun’s rays all day.
Inside your house, consider using fake plants in places where a live plant won’t grow because of a lack of sunshine, like a bathroom or a basement.
There are so many artificial hanging plants for outdoor and indoor. Even in a room with no sunlight, you can still add beauty using artificial flowers or plants like this hanging plant.
Find places where your faux arrangements are out of the direct sunlight, like on a mantel or a bookshelf.
If you are looking for smaller spaces to add your faux plants or flowers, check out these small plant pots from KITADIN. Perfect for succulents or small flower arrangements.
If you are thinking of adding a hanging plant to your porch or patio, consider an outdoor artificial hanging basket. These baskets can add feng shui to your space and help pull everything together when paired with outdoor artificial hanging flowers!
Faux plants can brighten up your home in any season, including summer. Just take the same care with your artificial plants as you would take with your own skin during the hot summer months, and they will bring beauty to your home for years to come.
If you’re looking for some inspiration for how to use summertime flowers to add color to your space, check out some of these ideas from DigsDigs.
We’d love to see how you use faux plants in your home during the summer months. Leave us a link to your photo in the comments.
As always, don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions.
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Hi – I have several questions:
1. For the initial UV spray, is it only done once, or should there be a second spraying?
2. How often should a UV spray be used on artificial plants? It is very hot here where I am in California.
3. After cleaning the plant with a wet cloth, is another application of UV spray required?
4. How do you waterproof styrofoam? I like the look of the artificial plants sold in stores that have small pebbles on the pot, and looks like there’s an acrylic protection of some kind and helps keep the pebbles in place (solidly glued in place). Can you suggest different products to use for waterproofing styrofoam? I would like to put small rocks/pebbles to make it look finished.
Thank you for your help,
M.Custer