FAQs about artificial plants by Pacific Silkscapes

Since the early days of silk plants, technology has grown leaps and bounds in plant production. Often, molds made from natural plants are the starting point for creating today’s realistic-looking plants.  These new artificial plants are in style.

Another reason fake plants tend to look so real is that today’s most popular plants seem to actually look fake. Take succulents, for example. The real ones even look like they are made of plastic.  Therefore, to find the best artificial plants, look for ones inspired by plants that actually look fake themselves.

Some of our favorite plants to emulate are aloe, fiddle leaf figs, air plants, snake plants, banana trees, and birds of paradise. To help you choose the best options, pull up photos of the real plant to compare the look.

1. Know what foliage I want.  Check out this blog.  Use larger leaves for a contemporary look.
2. Measure the height of the room and determine how high a tree you want.
3. Determine the width you need.
4. Based on the decor, what style of planter do you want?
5. Do you want an airy tree or a fuller tree?
6. What colors would you like for your planter based on your decor?
7. Are you looking to set a theme?  Check out this article.

Decorative planters must be able to securely retain the silk trees without tipping over.  A larger planter works well as a foundation for the plant.

Smaller decorative planters look crowded and can detract from the realistic appearance of your silk plant.  Trees that are planted in a planter that is too small can become unstable.
Using an oversized decorative planter is never a bad idea as it looks much more proportionate and convincing of it is a real plant.  Oversized planters provide a secure base for the silk plant or tree which will allow you to enjoy its beauty for years.

General guidelines for common plants and trees are shown below:
TREE/PLANT LENGTH (feet) PLANTER DIAMETER (inches)
3 to 4 feet use 12 inches
4 to 5 feet use 13 to 14 inches
6 to 7 feet use 15 to 16 inches
8 to 10 feet use 16 to 20 inches
10 to 12 feet use 24 inches

If you need further assistance, Pacific Silkscapes will be glad to answer any questions you may have.

1. Pacific Silkscapes has been creating artificial plants, custom artificial trees, and stunning flower arrangements for over 25 years.
2. If you live in the Sacramento region (including El Dorado Hills and Roseville), Pacific Silkscapes offers free in-home consulting.  So, If you just purchased a new home, or are considering a brand new look to your present home, call for a free in-home consultation from one of our experienced floral designers.
3. If for any reason, an artificial tree does not work well with your decor, we will alter the tree or replace it with another tree.  Your satisfaction is our priority so that you can purchase worry-free.
4. We can provide a free consultation, and review photos of the area that requires plants and trees. And we partner with your interior designer/decorator on selecting the best tree and planter for your decor.
5. Our staff ensures the highest quality product that will look great and be built to last.  And, we custom paint planters to match the color scheme of the home using professional paint equipment.

• Artificial plants are non-toxic
• Artificial plants look realistic
• New technology artificial plants look realistic
• Artificial plants are more durable
• High-quality faux plants have built-in wires for the desired shaping
• Realistic plants are cost-effective
• Artificial plants can be quick and easy to move and place
• Replica plants have immediate decoration effects

• Yes, you can definitely use artificial plants and trees outside.  Not all fake plants and trees, however, are suitable for outdoor use. The material used to make outdoor artificial plants and trees is UV resistant to nature.  When exposed to direct sunshine, this substance keeps the foliage from losing its color.
• Pacific Silkscapes carries these outdoor products.  UV-infused artificial plants are made with a special Poly-Blend® material that has UV protection built right into the material of the plants, flowers, or trees.
• Poly-Blend® trees are, by far, the most durable and will last you the longest time without fading or becoming brittle from harsh UV rays.  Expect 5 – 10 years* of use in some of the harshest climates.
• Pacific Silkscapes can also apply UV-resistant spray to make them fade-resistant.  Our UV-treated plants get sprayed with a UV coating before leaving our warehouse. This treatment lasts 1.5 years or more* depending on the intensity of direct sunlight.

NOTE: PolyBlend® is a registered trademark of Autograph Foliages.

In this FAQ about artificial plants, we give our recommendation on how to clean artificial plants.  Artificial plants and silk leaves are cleaned with a mild detergent diluted 2 to 1 with water after dusting using a standard feather duster. For larger floral arrangements wipe down the arrangement flower by flower and then rinse it carefully using plain water. This process will restore the original look of the design.  Design Masters’ aerosol silk flower cleaner is a preferred cleaner that we use at Pacific Silkscapes.  Check out Pacific Silkscapes BLOG for more information.

No, today’s artificial flowers use new manufacturing technology. Today’s technology uses polyurethane foam instead of plastic or silk to offer a more natural look and feel, which sometimes can be mistaken as a real flower. During the manufacturing process, a mixture of polyether and polyurethane compose a lightweight foam.  This is poured into the molds to form the artificial flowers’ components.
 
Various colors are injected directly into the foam. The colors are additionally sprayed onto the surfaces and heated to cure the desired colors permanently.
 
Over a decade, this new methodology has been adopted by various manufacturers to create a wide range of flower designs. Today, polyurethane flowers are referred to as “real touch”, “soft touch” and “natural stem” flowers.
Visit Pacific Silkscapes to see the quality of today’s newest silk flowers.

For over 30 years, Pacific Silkscapes has been serving interior designers. We have experience in knowing what the demand for different trees is.  Our most popular artificial tree has been the artificial fiddle leaf fig tree.  Fiddle Leaf fig trees are very popular in all venues. These include residential properties, model homes, sales offices, and hospitality suites.  In 2022, olive trees are also making a comeback.

The amount of time outdoor products last depends on different factors such as how much sunlight your plants are exposed to and which products you choose.

Take a look at our outdoor Polyblend® Line.  “Our Polyblend®is a secret proprietary formulation of UV Inhibitors and UV Screeners to absorb the sunlight and protect the resin. Southern regions of the U.S. such as Florida, Texas, and Arizona with the most intense exposure to direct UV rays year-round can expect up to 5 years of color consistency without any brittleness or cracking to the leaves.  Solid steel or stiff wireframing provides additional support in other harsh weathering conditions including rain, wind, or snow.”  (From Autograph Foliage website)

Also, refer to our blog post “How long do outdoor silk plants last?”  Take a look at our 
blog page here.

“Artificial plants do not have as large a carbon footprint as you might assume. How is this possible? The key difference between the two is that artificial plants do not require the ongoing maintenance that their real counterparts do. Watering, fertilizing, soil replacement, and plant replacement – all these activities bring with them additional carbon emissions. And fortunately, artificial plants don’t require any of them!” In addition, China manufactures artificial foliage with recycled materials whenever possible.

In addition, at Pacific Silkscapes, we recycle everything we could. We use real natural trunks for our trees and minimize the use of oil-based foam by mixing the material with recycled cardboard.

For more information on the sustainability of artificial plants, refer to this BLOG from Designer Plants in Australia.