Houseplants: Real or Fake?

Remember when artificial houseplants used to consist of philodendrons or rubber plants that were so obviously fake that they wouldn't fool a 3-year-old? Fast-forward to artificial houseplants of today. I'm sure you've had to do what I've done, namely, touch the plant to see if it was real or fake.

Yes, fake houseplants have come a long way. This new generation of fakes may be so real right down to slightly wilted petals, leaf bruises, water-bound roots and moss-covered pots. Did I say fake flowers? No, these new-age fakes are now known as permanent botanicals or floral reproductions. Shoot, you can't even call them silk flowers anymore, much less fake or artificial!

These faux plants, if you will, aren't cheap either. High-quality faux can be costly, usually about twice the cost of the real thing. Some large faux ficus trees can cost $200 to $500, with some as tall as 15 feet running more than $1,400! But then, when you think about it, how much have you spent over the years on houseplants that have died? As an aside, do you know what the number-one cause of houseplant death is? Overwatering; we kill houseplants with kindness.

And you'll find these fakes (sorry, I just have to call them what they are) in stores ranging from Michaels to Strouds to Pier 1 and furniture stores. Natural Decorations, the nation's largest wholesaler of high-end fake plants, trees and flowers, has a great web site at www.ndi.com. Just be aware that they are strictly wholesale, so you won't find prices (only retail outlets where you can buy).

Be aware, too, that fake houseplants aren't just for hotels and restaurants anymore. More and more modern homes have high shelves built in where no one will ever go. Then, there's open areas under the stairs, built in alcoves and other nooks and crannies.

I always mix in a few fake plants with my real ones. You know, keep house guests guessing. You can also throw in some tricks, such as a stem or two of the real thing that is completely dead and brown. I wouldn't go so far as to glue tiny specks of cotton on leaves to resemble mealy bugs, but you never know.

Among the most popular fakes today are large, bushy ficus trees. Of course, it doesn't hurt that real ficuses are somewhat hard to grow in that you need to find just the right spot, with the correct amount of sunlight and hold back on the water! Natural Decorations started with 16 pages of

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