| If you are planning to beautify your home or offices | | | | materials (such as real tree trunks, branches and bark) |
| using plants, then artificial plants are the best choice, | | | | have artificial leaf stems inserted into the wood. They |
| they require low maintenance and have largely | | | | are usually not recommended for outdoor use. Climatic |
| improved in design over the past decades. | | | | elements as well as other outdoor factors easily |
| Today's artificial plants, trees and flowers are very | | | | affect them (they are organic after all!). Even indoors, |
| realistic looking and even have 'real-touch' feel and | | | | attention needs to be paid as humidity can cause |
| 'imperfections'. There are now a large amount of | | | | mould if left unattended. Real trunks and branches are |
| artificial plant designs available, that 20 years ago | | | | mostly inflexible - you cannot bend or adjust to shape. |
| would have been impossible to manufacture, such as - | | | | 3. Synthetic trunks/branches |
| 'real-touch' orchids, ivies and hanging plants, kurrajongs | | | | Most artificial tree trunks and branches are |
| palms, bonsais, Yucca trees and much more. In recent | | | | constructed from PU and/or PVC which allow them |
| years, due to advance technology in the manufacturing | | | | much more flexibility and long term durability. PU trunks |
| process, the quality and colour of artificial flora has | | | | may use PVC tubing inside to hold the shape and for |
| become an innovative and creative process. Always | | | | stability, or steel wiring so they can be easily bended. |
| evolving and technically challenging, as designers come | | | | Branches have steel wiring inside which also makes |
| up with more complex ideas to replicate the natural | | | | them easy to bend and shape. PU and PVC trunks |
| stunning beauty of flowers and plants. | | | | are becoming the more popular choice because of the |
| If you are looking for artificial plants, you might want to | | | | authentic look and feel and overall lower maintenance. |
| consider the following: | | | | These materials are also recommended for outdoor |
| 1. Artificial foliages are made from a wide array of | | | | use as they are not easily damaged or subject to |
| textile fabrics, the most common being polyester | | | | inclement weather. |
| because of the lower cost. Chiefly though, polyester | | | | Finally, whether your artificials are inside or outside, be |
| fiber has a greater life span and reacts positively to | | | | sure to dust the leaves once a month, and/or use a |
| the fabric dye used for leaf colour. It is well suited for | | | | Silk Floral Spray cleaner. The polymers used in modern |
| the heat process applied in the molding of leaf shape | | | | artificials will lose moisture over a period of years, and |
| as well as the glues and wires used to stabilize and | | | | the conditioners in Silk Floral Spray cleaners will help |
| hold the shape. The polyester foliage can also be latex | | | | keep the leaves supple. There are several on the |
| coated, which enhances the 'real-touch' effect. | | | | market. They are inexpensive and will help keep your |
| 2. Real trunks/branches: | | | | lovely silks in top condition. |
| Artificial trees partly constructed from organic | | | | |