Why Artificial Plants are No Longer the Poor Replica They Once Were

Once upon a time, artificial flowers and shrubs were easy to spot. Perhaps it was their unrealistic pale green colouring or their unnatural plastic sheen, but they were far from inspiring and always disappointing to see. But, those days have gone and artificial plants of all kinds now resemble the natural thing so closely that it can be hard to tell the difference.

In the modern working environment, the preference for a natural, fresh work place has become quite strong. Office plants are par for the course, and interior landscaping has become a major part of office layout and commercial building design. From corporate flowers in the office reception area to woodland scenes in shopping centres and airports, bringing the outdoors inside is now expected.

However, there are practical and economic factors that result in the artificial versions of flowers, trees and plant life being chosen over the real deal. With the quality and versatility now available, even the most elaborate corporate flower displays are artificial, with only the professionals being able to tell the difference.

Why Artificial May Be Necessary

With such a bad reputation in the past, and with consumer demand for the genuine article in practically everything, it might seem strange that the replica plant has made such a comeback. But there are some very practical and economic reasons that make it the best choice. Economic reasons can rest on the ability to buy and then simply forget about them. Compared to natural plants, which need to be tended properly, watered regularly and replaced if dead, replica options could prove to be a major money saver. These are a one off purchase, that need to be replaced only when preference dictates.

In practical terms, the fact that these plants can be moved and changed whenever desired, never need looking after and can never die, means that the minimum time necessary can be spent on them. Office managers would simply instruct the office cleaners to give the plants a dusting or a wipe of a cloth to freshen them up.

Today, there are also aesthetic reasons. Because the replica plant is so convincing, they can stand in for the real thing when conditions might not suit the living plant. For example, the quality of light in a building may not be good enough for some plants, or the temperature may not be ideal for the preferred flowers or trees.

In these cases, the replica plant can fill in, providing the design that a company wants but removing the risk that plants will not survive in unsuitable environmental conditions.

Design Techniques

The reason for the success of the new generation of replica plants is simply the quality that they boast. In fact, thanks to the precision of new design techniques, the material used and the natural tones of the colouring, the gap between real and artificial has closed considerably.

The techniques used today in detailing leaves, petals and flowers are the most accurate ever known, with computer precision a major part of producing the desired effect. The effect is further enhanced by the use of genuine wood trunks and stalks, which have been preserved, to make even the texture of the plant more convincing.

Materials

In the past, silk was considered the best material to use when making foliage for replica plants. This was much more natural looking than moulded plastic. However, they could fade in strong light and their edges could fray. Today, the most effective material used is polyester, which is more durable and can mimic the natural droop of leaves and foliage quite well. It can also be washed with ease.

Colouring

Finally, the colouring now found in artificial plants is as close to natural as possible. There is a vast range of thousands of plants that are available in replica form, and the colours mimic the natural plants themselves to perfection.

What this means is that the corporate flower displays found on boardroom tables, or on tables in hotel conference facilities, can be used without anyone ever knowing they are not real plants.

Because the colour does not fade when exposed to sunlight for a long period of time, these corporate flowers can be used over and over again, for practically every occasion. While the economic and practical uses of the artificial option may not have changed, it is the natural appearance of the newest generation that make them a much more desirable choice today.