The way that you choose to decorate your home, outdoor spaces, office, and wedding is highly personal. A lot of factors go into the choice between real plants and artificial plants, and each has its own pros and cons.
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So, which is better, live plants or artificial plants?
Whether fake or real plants are better for you depends on your own circumstances and taste. Keep reading to find out more about the pros and cons of both real and fake plants and how they differ.
When Comparing Live or Fake Plants, Consider the Time You Have to Care for Them
Both real and artificial plants require some care to keep them in good condition and looking great. However, one certainly needs more care than the other.
When you are deciding between real and fake plants, think about how much time you have to care for them. If you don’t have a lot of time for plant care, artificial plants may be best for you.
Real plants require watering, pruning, fertilizing, and rotating to keep them healthy. Artificial plants also need a little care, but generally they only require that you occasionally dust, clean and rotate them.
You might also need to store them if you don’t want to display them all year long.
When Comparing Live or Fake Plants, Consider Your Budget
If your budget is tight, you need to consider the cost of both real and artificial plants. The cost of most live plants is low, and they don’t require much money to keep them alive.
You may need a larger pot occasionally, as well as fertilizer. You might also want to use a soil moisture meter and/or a soil analysis kit to keep them healthy. None of these supplies cost very much.
When you buy an artificial plant, it will cost more up front, especially when you buy a high-quality one.
However, they don’t have any ongoing expenses. You will likely never have to buy anything for it unless you buy a bag for storing it.
When Comparing Live or Fake Plants, Consider Your Living Space
Another consideration when you’re comparing live and artificial plants is to think about the space you live in.
Does it get a lot of sunlight? If so, how many hours a day does it get direct or indirect sunlight? The answers to all of these questions can help you decide between them.
Each type of plant has its own need for sunlight. If you love plants that need full, direct sunlight but you don’t get much of that in your home, a fake plant is likely a better choice for you.
If you don’t get much sunlight at all, fake plants are going to work better. There are some plants, however, that can thrive in a little sunlight such as sun only in the mornings. Peace lilies, English ivy, snake plants, and parlor palms are a few such plants.
If you get a lot of light but like low-light plants like those, getting an artificial plant may be the right choice.
For low-light plants, getting a lot of sun will scorch their leaves and cause them to go downhill quickly. Is it bad to have fake plants?
No, there are many artificial plants that look just like the real thing, and they will look great in your living space.
When Comparing Live or Fake Plants, Consider Your Long-Term Needs
Are live plants better than artificial plants? Much like buying a pet, you make a commitment when you purchase a live plant. Real plants may not talk or play, but they are living things that have a variety of needs that have to be met.
They need an owner who can care for them to keep them healthy.
Are artificial plants better than live plants? They can be in some circumstances.
For many people, it’s just too difficult to make this commitment and to spend time on their plants. This is often true when people travel a lot or work long hours and come home tired.
Many people have packed social schedules and can’t fit plant care into their week. If any of these are your situation, you may do better with artificial plants.
They will add a touch of color and beauty to your home without requiring a lot of care and attention.
When Comparing Live or Fake Plants, Consider Your Allergies
Being allergic to plants is common, and some people are allergic to more plant varieties than others. It can be hard to know if you’re allergic to a type of plant before you have it in your home.
For people who have allergies, getting an artificial plant instead can make a lot of sense.
Having an artificial plan in the house rarely triggers allergies unless you don’t dust them occasionally. For those who have dust allergies, it’s important to keep fake plants free from dust to avoid aggravating them.
If you don’t have any plant allergies, getting a real plant shouldn’t be of any concern.
When Comparing Live or Fake Plants, Consider Your Event
If you are planning an event such as a wedding or an office party, think about the role that the flowers and plants at the event will play. If the flowers are going to be front and center, such as the centerpieces at a wedding, getting real plants may be the best option.
If the flowers and plants are going to be a part of the background, getting artificial flowers may be a better way to furnish the event.
If you have events regularly, such as office parties or dinner parties, investing in some artificial plants will allow you to have them available each time that you have your events.
This can be a smart way to keep your plant supply on hand without having to display them at all times. You can simply store them until the next event rolls around.
When you’re trying to choose between real and fake plants, it’s important to consider how much time you have, how much you want to spend, whether you have allergies, and how much sunlight you get at home. If you have any tips for choosing between live and artificial plants and flowers, let us know in the comments.
