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Wednesday, Mar. 2, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Better fake than deadLifelike plants offer real possibilities for difficult spacesBy Stacy Downs Not too long ago, a good fake was hard to find. But now, a whole forest of artificial houseplants commands close inspection. Their leaves and petals feature realistic patterning, subtle color variation and dimension that were lacking in the past. I catch myself touching artificial plants because they are so real looking, says Kim Noe of Kansas City, Kan., whose fake 6-foot Areca palm in her living room at first fooled her friends. Improvements in artificial plants and busy schedules are the reasons more people are faking it. Noe grew up preferring real plants. But as an adult she has never mastered the right balance of watering and sunlight to prevent leaves from becoming dry and yellow. And, frankly, she doesnt want to take the time to figure out the maintenance because shes already swamped with work. To her, a fake houseplant is better than a dead one. I want my plants to look pretty and healthy all the time, she says. Other factors are playing a part in this fake revolution, including: Allergy concerns. Houseplants contain mold in the soil, which could aggravate allergies, says Scott Frankel , an Overland Park, Kan., allergist. Also, water on plant leaves and in container saucers collects bacteria that produce endotoxins, increasing the risk of asthma attacks. To avoid problems, Frankel says, people should not keep real or fake plants (they collect dust) in bedrooms. New home design. Houses and lofts are being built with high ceilings and giant windows, so people are having tall custom trees built to fit the big scale. Andrea Neumans Overland Park house features extra-large windows tinted to limit sunlight. She bought a natural-looking fake ficus for the family room and a faux palm for the dining room because real ones would not grow in those rooms. These will last forever, she says. The rise of second homes. People dont want to worry about watering plants and spraying them for bugs at their faraway lake houses. Realistic artificial plants start at $30 at stores such as Target and Wal-Mart. Larger houseplants, such as ficuses, usually cost more than $200, says Sue Reinertson, who custom builds trees for National Equipment Co. in Kansas City. For huge artificial plants, such as a 10-foot palm, plan to spend at least $400. A live comparable plant costs about $1,200, says Bryan Messmer, whose family owns Stay Green Silk Plants in Lenexa and Bills Greenhouse, a real plant business in Kansas City, Kan. The reason for the large price gap comes from shipping real plants: They cannot be packaged in pieces as fake ones can. Realistic-looking artificial plants are made from plastics and polyesters, not real silk like they were way back when. These days, silk is still used as a generic term for an artificial plant. Currently the hottest selling artificial houseplants are thin vertical bamboos and tropical trees with massive fan-like leaves, says Annie Wang, customer service manager of Allstate Floral & Craft, an artificial plant importer and wholesaler based in California. Artificial plants now have slight streaks of brown on their leaves to look more authentic. Faux cactuses look so real that people avoid their spikes. Realistic fake soil made from resin fills the pots. When it comes to fake florals, pre-made arrangements are much more popular than single stems because they eliminate guesswork. Amaryllis, gerbera daisies, hydrangeas, roses and tulips are the top sellers, says Doreta Boyd, a saleswoman for Aldik Artificial Flower Co., another California-based importer and manufacturer. Adding to the real-yet-fake illusion are clear vases filled with acrylic material that resembles water. And fakes are getting better all the time. Artificial plants with a natural-touch texture are emerging. Also, fragrance is being added to fake florals and Christmas trees so they smell real. Customers are becoming more comfortable mixing live and artificial plants in a room, and even the same pot, Messmer says. He potted artificial Podocarpus topiaries with real impatiens in containers under his deck near the pool. But the telltale sign of even the best-looking fake is a dusty leaf, says Mark Sudermann, interior designer at Madden-McFarland in Leawood. The pot that holds the plant can be just as important as the upkeep and the plant itself. Sudermann emphasizes that people use good-quality containers and top dressings of bark or rocks instead of a mass of moss because they create a more natural look. Even though the plants are artificial, they still add a lot of life to a room, he says. Customized tree considerations Plan: Take along photographs and measurements to help designers create a tree that meets your needs. Price: The more realistic and taller the tree, the higher the price. Its not unusual to pay more than $400 per tree. Placement: Think about furniture. If the tree goes behind a chair, branches and leaves should not interfere with sitting areas. Volume: Thick, full plants look best with traditional interiors. For modern decor, think lean and sparse. Shape: Some want a tree to dramatically sway a certain way so it looks cool from their spot on the sofa or from outdoors if it is in front of a window. Scale: Trees and tall plants should not touch the ceiling and should not be level with the furnishings. Style: Choose containers and top dressings that complement colors and furnishings. A porcelain pot filled with bark fits in with traditional interiors. An iron urn filled with black rocks looks stylish in modern rooms. Sources: Sue Reinertson, National Equipment Co.; Bryan Messmer, Stay Green Silk Plants; Mark Sudermann, Madden-McFarland Interiors. Care instructions To clean, place a drop cloth around large artificial plants; take smaller ones outside. With a rag, feather duster or a 1-inch-wide soft-bristle paint brush, dust off leaves. (This part can be skipped if theres just a moderate amount of dirt on the plant.) Spray artificial foliage cleaner (found at craft stores), or a mixture of dish soap and water, onto leaves. Air dry. Source: Ranchview Floral and Interiors
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