Artificial plants are the joint replacements for natural plants in many homes and offices because of their low cost, debris-free advantage, and little maintenance effort.
They come in handy in giving you the same effect as their organic counterparts.
However, they can improve the appearance and support your interior design. Their toxicity could be a question of doubt before using them.
Artificial plants are not toxic. They are 100 percent plastic and do not release harmful environmental chemicals. As a result, they do not cause allergic reactions to people with plant allergies, and they do not poison children and pests who unintentionally chew on them.
Are Artificial Plants Toxic?
Artificial plants are not toxic and do not contain natural hazardous chemicals like some natural plants.
Most artificial plant manufacturing companies ensure that the plants are non-toxic to human health.
These companies set a standard to ensure safety because most of their products are for decorating traditional family homes.
However, artificial plants are environmentally toxic because they contribute to pollution.
Plastic is the primary material for producing artificial plants, and incorrect disposal of these plastic plants can be hazardous.
In addition, they release toxic chemicals into the soil as they decompose. The chemicals slowly pass through the soil’s pores into underground water, making it poisonous.
Additionally, indiscriminately burning artificial open plants can release toxic chemicals into the atmosphere.
Inhaling toxic chemicals over time affects the health causing severe illnesses such as cancer and eventually leading to death.
Indiscriminate disposal of plastic in water bodies also causes harm to aquatic life.
Is It Ok to Keep Artificial Plants at Home?
It is OK to keep artificial plants at home. Artificial plants do not produce any hazardous chemicals into the atmosphere and maintain their appearance for a long time.
It helps to improve the appearance of your home without causing any harm to your health. There are many other benefits to keeping artificial plants at home.
They include;
#1. Plant Allergies
Artificial plants are OK for people that love having plants in their house but experience plant allergies.
They can keep artificial plants without having to battle their allergies. There are many colors and designs to choose from to suit their preferences.
#2. Best for Dark Rooms
Natural plants need sunlight to undergo photosynthesis and sustain themselves. Therefore, it would be best to put them in rooms with adequate light to maintain them.
However, artificial plants do not need sunlight to sustain them.
Therefore, if you like to keep the interior of your home dark, artificial plants are OK to keep without worrying about their lifespan. Also, they are suitable for corners in your home that do not get sunlight.
#3. Effort and Time Saving
Artificial plants are the best for you if you are busy or have no knowledge about plant grooming. You do not need to bother regularly watering, trimming, and taking care of your plants.
You only need to wipe the artificial plants clean with a soft cloth. You can also clean them in your leisure time.
#4. Inexpensive
Artificial plants are inexpensive to acquire and maintain, unlike organic plants. You do not have to spend money on fertilizer and other plant-sustaining chemicals.
Also, artificial plants are easy to acquire in any interior decoration items store. You can have them for a long time, and they won’t wear or fade.
#5. Keeping Your Home Clean
Artificial plants do not shed leaves or flower petals that would litter the floor. Therefore, it is OK to keep artificial plants in your home if you like to keep the floors clean and dirt free.
Also, they do not attract pests and insects that could damage your properties or transmit a disease to you. Artificial plants only attract dust that you can effortlessly clean.
#6. Children and Pets Safety
If your pets like chewing on plants and worry about their safety, artificial plants are the best for you.
They do not contain any poisonous chemicals that could harm your pets. They are safe, and your pet would pass them out usually if they swallowed any part of them.
Likewise, they do not cause any harm to children if they chew on them. It would be best if you were only worried about choking when a child swallows an artificial plant and consult a doctor.
Why Shouldn’t You Use Fake Plants?
It would be best not to use fake plants for any part of your home because they do not give any health benefits.
Apart from adding color and beauty to your interiors, fake plants do not help the ecosystem balance and maintenance.
They only accumulate dust that you have to constantly clean. There are many reasons why you shouldn’t keep fake plants in your homes and commercial environments; these include:
#1. Oxygen Production
Fake plants do not help in maintaining the oxygen level in the environment.
In the ecosystem, interactions between one or more organisms help to maintain its functions, and fake plants do not contribute to this interaction.
For example, humans exhale carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, and organic plants convert this carbon dioxide to oxygen through photosynthesis.
The process continues to produce enough oxygen in the atmosphere for humans and other oxygen-using living things.
Additionally, oxygen production by plants helps to maintain the earth’s temperature. The earth’s temperature increases when there is no means to convert carbon dioxide to oxygen.
#2. Air Quality
Organic plants help in removing toxins from the atmosphere. They purify the air and make it breathable for everyone.
Fake plants cannot keep the air clean. They are plant dummies that do not contain the essential qualities of live plants.
If you have fake plants in your homes or offices, you should look for an alternative to purifying the air.
#3. Fake Plants Are Not Eco-friendly
Fake plants are products of plastic and other synthetic materials. The manufacturing companies coat the fake plants with toxic dyes that you can’t easily recycle.
Fake plants that you dispose of take a long time to deteriorate. It could take many years. They release harmful chemicals into the surroundings as they deteriorate.
#4. Durability
Fake plants are durable and long-lasting. However, like every other thing, they also have their expiration period.
As they expire, their flower petals fade and make the dust more obvious. They begin to show signs of discoloration and do not give you the effect you desire anymore.
Exposing them to too much sunlight increases their chances of fading sooner.
#5. Scent
Fake plants do not give your natural home scents like real plants. Some artificial plants could smell like chemicals and increase the toxicity in the atmosphere.
Although the chemical odor may not be substantial, it is still harmful to inhale them constantly.
In addition, they do not have the property to release pleasant natural scents into the atmosphere.
#6. Feng Shui
Many people believe in sustaining and strengthening the natural balance on earth. Feng Shui focuses on keeping the balance between elements of wood, fire, metal, water, and earth.
Natural plants contain water, wood, and earth and help to balance the Feng Shui around you.
Fake plants do not help in improving the Feng Shui within your home. They do not bring luck and prosperity with Feng Shui to your homes.
#7. Stressful to Clean
Although fake plants do not shed leaves or petals that can litter the floors of your home, keeping them clean can be stressful and time-consuming.
There are various techniques you need to use when cleaning your fake plants. You must touch all the tight corners and remove all the specks of dust that could disfigure the plant.
Finally, it is best to keep natural plants within your home because of the benefits they add to your home and health.
Although they could be attention demanding and time-consuming, it is best to use them if you are environmentally conscious.
Here are some differences between fake and natural plants that explain why real plants are better.
| Fake Plants | Real Plants |
|---|---|
| They contribute to environmental pollution. | Help to reduce environmental pollution. |
| You can’t pick their flowers for other decorations | You can pick their flowers for decorating your vases and personal areas. |
| They do not give the satisfaction of caring for plants. | Watering and pruning your plants can be satisfying for plant lovers. |
| They become dusty and make the air feel suffocating. | You do not have to worry about them getting dusty. Natural plants purify the air around them. |
| They fade and lose their color over time. | They keep blooming and looking more beautiful over time. |
| Fake plants do not help to improve mental health and boost morale. You may begin to experience impostor’s syndrome and feel everything around you is fake. | Natural plants help to keep your mental health conscious. In addition, they boost your morale and sense of living around you. |
What Can I Use Instead of Artificial Plants?
There are many alternatives to artificial plants that you can use to achieve the same effects. Succulent plants are one of the best options; you do not need a lot of effort to maintain them.
They can survive for months with little water. They only need a lot of sunshine to survive. However, other alternatives do not require water, soil, and sunlight to survive.
They include;
- Dried sticks and stems
- Paper flowers
- Dried plants
- Crystals
- Air plants
- Plant themed artwork
Conclusion
Fake plants are ideal for interior decoration but only a few corners of your home. You should avoid using too many artificial plants around you for your health benefits.
Instead, you could use some natural plants or plant alternatives with an air purifier to improve the quality around you.