Speak for Yourself: Do you do fake plants?

Photo Credit: Atomic Bonsai

While we've certainly seen how beautiful a Frankensteined real branch/faux cherry blossoms arrangement can be (thanks to Pink of Perfection), the issue of real vs. fake houseplants can still be rather divisive. To some, man-made "plants" are a great idea; to others, they're an abomination fit only for the fluorescent-lit waiting room of a strip mall doctor's office. I'm wondering if the answer might be to go super-fake when you're going with the fake stuff, rather than trying to approximate real flowers in a way that is just disappointing when you get up close. (Also I wonder what happens to those real plants with the plasticky-looking leaves that you are just so sure are fake that you have to keep touching them for a really long time to find out—do those plants die prematurely due to all the excessive touching and hand oils and whatnot?) In any case, it doesn't get much faker (but still cute!) than Atomic Bonsai's No-Maintenance tree ($24.99 on nova68.com). The 7" x 7" printed-cardboard "tree" isn't going to be your own personal air cleaner (although the AM70 Amcor Ficus Air Purifier could), nor reduce your carbon footprint, but it does have the added bonus of...being a puzzle? I have to wonder (again, with the wondering!) if this is not just a gimmicky way to sell you on the idea of assembling your own flat-packed tree, but that's a different story. Also, it won't die, and you won't have to wonder if your friends are silently judging your faux-liage because it is so obviously a joke. Ahem. [via Curbly DIY Maven]

Now you tell us: Do you do fake plants in your home? And if so, what kind(s)?

Other chances to talk about the minutiae of your life on Shine:
Speak for Yourself: How often do you clean out your pantry?
How long do you keep an unwatched Netflix DVD before you just give up and send it back, already?
What's the worst thing you purchased this summer?
Do you work out in the morning or at night (or never)?

From the Community…

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Posted by Mom of Two Fri Aug 1, 2008 7:54pm PDT

I admit I have some (though most are in storage and should be tossed).Maybe I'll go "plant" them in my mailbox planter on the west side where nothing can stay alive due to the extreme heat reflecting off the brick mailbox tower.

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Posted by judy_mama_bk lvs Fri Aug 1, 2008 10:20pm PDT

plants are one of the mostimportant source of oxygen!fake them? for what? Better equipped the house with flowering plants, thus to get fresh air and stress free house!!! Good day!

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Posted by hplotrsw Fri Aug 1, 2008 10:35pm PDT

i dont mind the fake ones and i do understand that some people just dont have good luck with plants but i for one love plants, i have about 100 all told, and not a single one is fake! :)

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Posted by Lynnor Sat Aug 2, 2008 12:05am PDT

I must also admit that I may have two or three, only because I needed to fill an empty spot and hadn't gotten to the nursery yet. Personaly I think they are a mess, you always have to clean them, they have no sent and after a while they look like they went through world war 3. I do have a view color spots here and there outside just to fool a few on lookers, such as silk pansies around the bottom of my real grape vine and under the painted bird house. There's nothing like REAL Color, oxygen and the pleasure in seeing them grow-grow and grow!

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Posted by M@R!@ Sat Aug 2, 2008 4:02am PDT

There are people in my neighborhood who put nasty cheap plastic plants in their FRONT YARDS... *shudders*

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Posted by isabel Sat Aug 2, 2008 4:50pm PDT

i hace only true, living plants, that get plenty of tlc- i am always sad when one fades away . living plants also require cleaning of their follage.

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Posted by sunshines Sun Aug 3, 2008 3:30pm PDT

absolutely! why not? have about 10real inside all real outside,bare spots ,fill in thtas where the fakes come in.most fake ones ive seen dont look fake so wats the big dea

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Posted by Rosei Mon Aug 4, 2008 7:09am PDT

I do. I have silk orchids and roses at home, because my apartment is terribly hot and a real plant or flower couldn´t survive inside. Besides that, my husband and I have a crazy work schedule and no time for real plants care.

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Posted by Sweet T Mon Aug 4, 2008 11:29am PDT

I'm open to the idea, but rarely find fake plants that don't look cheap. I also don't want to dust my flowers! I've got a bunch of real plants at home and on my deck, and they make me happy. I do think the picture with this article is a pretty cool fake plant...it's not trying too hard to look real, so it looks unique and fun!

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