Real Plants vs. Fake plants
Artificial flowers nowadays look so realistic that it is almost impossible to tell if the plant is real or fake by sight alone. In fact, touching an artificial plant, with its silk-based leaves and soft texture might prove to be quite deceiving. Thus, when it comes to choosing between real and fake, there isn’t much to consider when it comes to appearances. However, there is much more to life than looks. Thus, below let’s do a cost-benefit analysis of which plant is best for you; artificial or real.
Real Plants
Real plants are the best gift given to us by Nature. At night, these plants give out carbon dioxide, so they should not be kept in the bedroom.
Real plants purify indoor air. They remove airborne contaminants indoors. NASA‘s clean air study has listed several plants capable of removing toxic pollutants from the air, enabling you to breathe fresh air indoors. Our indoor environments are full of volatile organic compounds (VOCs); these are gases released from industrial cleaners, beauty products, and building materials like paint and carpet. VOC permeates air contributing to low air quality, leading to serious health effects such as asthma and cancer. Real plants act as a natural filtration system that removes air pollutants like ammonia, formaldehyde, and benzene.
Real plants also act as natural humidifiers. They transpire and regulate humidity. Plants save us from dry air, prevent diseases like flu and conditions like sinusitis, asthma, itchy eyes, a sore throat, and extreme dryness. Moreover, taking care of plants benefits our emotional quotient. We nurture the plants, and they grow in front of us – sometimes because of us. These are feelings we can never experience with a fake plant.
Research has shown that indoor plants relieve stress in work environments. Studies have shown that plants create calm and restore well-being, reducing stress and even illness, enabling employees to concentrate better and take fewer sick days. Plants also boost productivity. Less stress and cleaner air improve one’s memory retention and concentration span by 20%. With a boost this significant, the workers’ productivity improves, adding value to your business’s bottom line.
Fake plants
A real plant doesn’t always look its best. There are many reasons for this. It might not be the flowering season, or perhaps the plant is not being fed or watered regularly; there might not be enough light – or there might be too much. Even the temperature has to be optimal to keep a real plant healthy. This can all be pretty complicated and challenging. In a way, a real plant is a needy household member; if it is not given the right amount of care, it will look miserable and inevitably end up in the bin. Fake plants need some love, like the occasional brushing to remove dirt and grime or being turned away from direct sunlight every few weeks to prevent them from fading. However, the best part is that they are low-maintenance, but they are still beautiful. They won’t die if you go on a vacation. Also, there’s no need to go around digging into different corners of your house to install fake plants.
Details
Enjoy the relaxing feeling that the tropics evoke when you decorate your room with an artificial Bulb Areca tree. Beautiful, curved palm fronds branch out from the realistic-looking and incredibly textured tree trunk. This faux tree comes already potted and stands 4.5 inches tall.
Fake plants save long-term costs not only in money but also in time. A real one comes in small size and needs to be watered and fed to grow to a certain point. It will require constant, careful care, whereas a fake plant will come fully grown with no patience or feeding required. Thus, when discussing real versus fake plants, the costs of time and money are significant factors to consider. There will always be a risk of your real plant not surviving despite your care, while artificial plants do not come with this risk.
Artificial plants do not need any seasonal change. Real plants seasonally shed their flowers and leaves; therefore, changing their appearance won’t add to the desired appeal for your outdoor and indoor decorations. Artificial plants, on the other hand, are not affected by seasonal changes. They stay as they are, even with minimum care. Just plain washing is required to keep them looking fresh all year round.
Fake plants come in a lot more variety than real plants. From fuchsias to morning glories and from cyclamen to flame roses, you will be in a fix. Almost all popular real plants can be reproduced in fake forms. This also means that you can have artificial flowers in your home or garden all year round. Whenever you are tired of those flowers, you can always change them depending on what suits your mood, the décor, or the season.
These also cause fewer allergies. With real plants, you expose children and pets to poisoning, thus making them potentially dangerous. Real plants can trigger pollen allergies or asthma, while fake plants reduce the risk of exposure to potential health problems.
Having plants – real or fake – is something one should invest in. They have multiple benefits for our mental and physical well-being. However, one should weigh the pros and cons of getting a real or a fake plant and make an educated decision as to what will suit them best.
