Real vs. Fake
We’re talking about house plants, naturally.
My husband and I have a running joke that our yard is where plants come to die. It’s true. He does a fantastic job keeping our lawn in “golf course” shape, but as for the rest of the plants, they’re on their own.
Here are a few reasons why. First, I grew up in Arizona, where rainfall is scarce, and we had to give plants lots and lots of water. Even though I live in a part of the country that sees 50+ inches of rainfall every year, old habits die hard, and I probably over-water our plants.
If they’re not getting too much water, I’ve probably forgotten about them. So, in our yard, if you can’t survive on too much love or not enough, it’s adios.
The same rings true to the handful of plants inside the house. I have an aloe plant, some other green-looking thing, and one of those spill-over trailing plants. Here’s to plant taxonomy!
I have found, however, that the house plants tend to fall in the category of forgotten. But, by some small miracle, they’re hanging in there. Now that I mention them, I probably should go give them a little bit of water.
When it comes to your own home, what is it? Real or fake house plants?
Let’s break down the pros and cons of each.The look and feel.
It wasn’t too long ago, artificial house plants looked, well, artificial. But by today’s standards, it’s sometimes hard to tell the difference between a live plant and a high-quality artificial one. The real difference is only noticed if you touch them, revealing if they are real or not.
Since they both can look authentic, it’s a tie.
Real +1 , Fake +1
Sunlight.
Artificial plants can thrive in the darkest corners of your home or office. However, even the most adapted plants need sunshine now and then.
Fake +1
Watering.
This one doesn’t need much explanation; just be sure not to water your artificial plants.
Fake +1
Health benefits.
It’s true. Plants can make us feel better, reducing stress levels, boosting creativity and our mood. Artificial plants can have similar effects; however, they can’t clean our air like a live plant. We all know our indoor air can be filled with some pretty nasty stuff, and our green friends can clean the air of toxins and improve humidity levels in a room.
Real +1
Flexibility.
The last point of comparison is flexibility in choice. While somewhat predictable, you may not know exactly how wide or how tall your plant will end up growing. With fake plants, you can select the ideal size and shape for your space, and that’s how it will stay.
Fake +1
There are benefits to both real and fake plants. It boils down to which benefits are most important to you and the space you’re decorating. For me, I have a mix of both real and fake plants throughout our home, and I enjoy them equally for their own benefits.
Turn yourself into a #plantmom or #plantdad and add a little bit of green to your life. The benefits are there.