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Original poster

artificial plants and flowers in the home - yay or nay?

31 replies

SunSea · 27/03/2019 17:33

I love plants and flowers in my house but I keep killing them as I'm quite neglectful.

I have seen some nice artificial ones however I just can't get over the nursing or funeral home association surrounding them.

The quality has improved over the years however I can't shake off my upbringing of them being tacky.

What is the general consensus these days?

OP posts:
minisoksmakehardwork · 27/03/2019 17:43

Well you wouldn't have to clean up dropped leaves or remember to keep the water fresh etc. You could have several 'varieties' in and rotate. Quick vacuum over will keep dust at bay...

But personally I just prefer fresh cut flowers.

Processedpea · 27/03/2019 17:44

no just buy plants that can survive without much care, yuccas are good for this. and anything spiky Grin

Original poster
SunSea · 27/03/2019 17:51

My yucca is the only plant that has lasted! Smile

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Home improvement
boxlikeamarchhare · 27/03/2019 17:57

I have got some really nice ones but you have to splurge and be choosy imo otherwise you might fall into naff territory.

I have bought lovely fake flowers from Oka and John Lewis plus a local independent shop who will search for what I want.

Whynham · 27/03/2019 18:09

Fake ones just get dusty

marvellousnightforamooncup · 27/03/2019 18:13

Some people find fakes tacky but I don't care. I've got 3 vases of them. I've also got lots of house plants.

Soontobe60 · 27/03/2019 18:14

I have a lovely jar of dusky pink and cream silk peonies in an antique looking glass jar. They actually look bloody good for fakes! In spring I replace them with real daffs or tulips, in summer with other real flowers but they come out again in autumn. A quick blast with a cold hairdryer sorts out the dust.

boxlikeamarchhare · 27/03/2019 19:14

I use a hairdryer too Soontobe60. I went into a shop today (for something entirely different) selling shiny fake flowers, polyester satin type things they were truly horrible.

KatharinaRosalie · 27/03/2019 21:00

Try IKEA orchids. 5-6 quid and they last for ever, not like cut flowers. I don't have green fingers (I recently killed a cactus) so won't even try to get them to flower again, just replace.

Original poster
SunSea · 27/03/2019 21:02

I have seen a few online but will have a look in some shops and decide then.

The hairdryer is a good idea!

OP posts:
boxlikeamarchhare · 27/03/2019 21:03

I can't keep orchids alive Katherine and really don't like them/have patience when they look like a twig for a few months! I bought a very realistic fake orchid for £40, which lives in our shower room. It has saved me a fortune!!

KatharinaRosalie · 27/03/2019 21:04

box I don't even try. Just buy a new one.

anniehm · 27/03/2019 21:06

I have fake cacti in the bathroom but not downstairs

boxlikeamarchhare · 27/03/2019 21:07

That made me laugh Kathrina! I have bought orchid food, orchid spray, orchid compost etc., etc., in the past ... the £40 fake probably saved me money.

Babyfoal · 27/03/2019 22:05

I have loads of silk flowers in the house. Matalan and t k maxx do good ones

SosigDog · 27/03/2019 22:09

Depends. If you’re in your 60s then you were around in the era when fake flowers were acceptable so you probably still think they’re ok. If you’re under 40 then they’re tacky as hell and you wouldn’t be seen dead with them.

Palominoo · 27/03/2019 23:47

www.peony.co.uk

Julie Bates is one of the loveliest people you could ever meet. You should buy her flowers on thst basis alone!

boxlikeamarchhare · 28/03/2019 06:36

Those are beautiful Palaminoo.

SosigDog, nice fake flowers today bear no resemblance to a) cheap ones or b) those from my childhood.

SomethingNastyInTheBallPool · 28/03/2019 07:07

I used to be very sniffy about fake flowers but now have some beautiful ones from OKA (£££) and Habitat (less £££) — they’re a world away from the stiff plastic jobs with globs is glue “dew” that you used to see on cafe tables. I think the loose ones that you put in a normal vase look much nicer than the ones that come in a vase, sitting in plastic “water”.

Bluntness100 · 28/03/2019 07:11

Yes, it's fine they need to be good ones though, I've got some lovely ones from bloom uk, but they were very expensive. The cheap ones simply don't work and look tacky.

So I think the answer is yes, if you get some very good ones.

Nanasueathome · 28/03/2019 07:21

I have flowers and plants from Peony
They do sell them on QVC but their workshop and outlet is fairly close to me so I usually buy from there

Hobbz · 28/03/2019 07:43

I've got a few fake plants now and I've just started with fake flowers - I agree you have to be really picky and prepared to pay £££. I've found nice ones in Cox & Cox, OKA, John Lewis (but you have to be picky in those places too). Last purchase was from Amaranthine Blooms and I'm really pleased with it.

IStillMissBlockbuster · 28/03/2019 07:47

I’m under 40 and don’t think they’re tacky at all. The old style ones are fair enough, they look rubbish but I’ve got a small fake fern and it looks real and I love it. A lot of the new grassy or fern looking fakes are so good that you really have to touch them to tell if they’re real or not.

Deathraystare · 28/03/2019 07:48

I got some lovely fakes from Peony (via QVC). They even have a frangrance you can spray on them ! (Hi Nana I see you do too! I now want to get some fakey brightly coloured ones - the fabric type you can get anywhere just to cheet up a room. I am not the sort of person to buy fresh flowers and don't want to attract flying beasties.

Deathraystare · 28/03/2019 07:51

I have fake roses and an orchid. They do look good.