Are Fake Plants Better Than Real Plants?

What to consider when weighing up buying real or fake plants

We don’t think choosing fresh or fake plants is a binary choice. You don’t have to choose one or the other, but rather consider your needs and the purpose of the plant. (It’s OK to have both!)

Many of our best-sellers, like faux palms, exotics and ferns, were chosen because their natural counterparts don’t meet the needs of people or the environment.

Perhaps you’re a time-pressed professional, or have reached an age where you can’t care for plants. Or maybe you dream of owning a tropical palm or monstera, but don’t have the ideal light to help it thrive.

What about the environmental impact?

The initial environmental cost of artificial plants comes from the raw materials, the manufacturing process and shipping from the Far East. Once they’re here, however, it’s imperative to maximize the life of the plant.

Unlike single-use plastics like food packaging and plastic straws, indoor artificial plants can last as long as you want – as long as you care for them in the right way. You can also put them away for a while, or pass them down to family members or donate them to charity if you want to change up your decor or reuse them.

Natural plants are often imported from Europe and elsewhere, accumulating plant miles in the process. Many of these plants are grown in greenhouses on peat compost, which are energy intensive.

This is particularly problematic for short-term plants such as novelties and seasonal plants such as sprayed cacti, succulents and poinsettias - which are thrown into the compost heap after the festive season.

It's a similar story for particularly tricky plants such as arrowroots and finicky potted trees such as bay laurels. If you can't successfully keep natural plants alive, you may have to replace them again and again, which has a cost to the environment.

When it comes to flowers, a bouquet of quality flowers can cost anywhere from £10 in a supermarket to £50 from an online florist. These flowers are grown all over the world and airlifted to stay fresh, with a lifespan of 10-20 days at most.

Top-quality artificial floristry starts at around £80 and can last as long as you like. It can also be left in a cupboard until the right time comes, or reused by someone else.

Pets and allergies

There are many more reasons why artificial plants might be right for you. One of them is the peace of mind that there is no risk of poisoning pets or children – many natural plants are toxic. With that threat eliminated, you can enjoy your lilies, hydrangeas and other plants without worry.

For those with asthma or hay fever, fake plants can reduce the risk of exposure so you don’t get a runny nose when you walk past artificial flowers.