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Faux Plant Converts + A Round-Up of Our Favorites!

coffee table | marble coasters | planter + plant | entryway light

We think that nothing completes a room better than some fresh greens, and for that reason, Scott and I find ourselves at our local nursery at least a few times a month, if not once a week! Mostly we like to browse, but every now and then, we’ll pick up a small plant to tuck into our endless supply of planters (handmade planters are our weakness at craft shows). And without fail, those teeny plants wither away, turn brown and cave in on themselves – no matter how much we sing to them, feed them with fertilizer or water (or under water) them!

So, I did a test. I purchased a handful of faux plants, and I waited to see if Scott would notice. Anytime I suggested faux plants in the past, he’d say, never!, but my guilt of seeing our carefully selected plants tossed into the trash got the best of me. That’s not to say we’re done with the real deal (to which we’d both say, never!), but I wondered, how long would it take for Scott to think, hey, now? A few nights after I ‘planted’ my faux greens, a friend came over for dinner, and she said, where’d you get these succulents? They look so healthy!

I laughed, Scott was on to me, and I texted her the link to this Etsy shop.

planter + plant | knit pouf | velvet pillows | X pillow | large floor planter | floor lamp

Of course, faux plants are nothing new, and even some of our favorite big box stores are carrying very realistic versions! I think the trick is that I potted my fakes with real dirt, which helps:

I used to have an aversion to faux plants, too. Like, don’t office lobbies use fake plants? And they’re kind of fabric-y and beg for all the dust? (Right?) But modern faux plants are so much better than faux plants of yore; the donkey tail in our bathroom even has the softest ‘fuzz’ detail, a dead ringer for the real deal! Every month or so, I’ll give our fauxs a warm water rinse, lest we ever fall into the dusty-plant trap.

marble shelf | tooth planter + plant | whale brush | mirror | art

We have a few larger real plants at Tree House (a mammoth ZZ and a hearty snake plant, two of our all time favorite house plants!), but we’re thinking of picking up a few more faux plants to pepper onto shelves, in the bathroom and on our dresser. We think it’ll take the worry out of leaving behind real plants for an extended period of time, while also giving us the greenery we love! (I’m even thinking of purchasing a few taller stems to have on hand as ‘back ups’ for when I can’t grab fresh flowers at the store. So handy, yeah?) I’ve been poking around for months to find the best of the best, based on my in-person experience, seeing them in store and reading stellar reviews, and I’ve rounded up those favorites here:

Faux Plants to Love

1. button fern, $8 | 2. fiddle leaf fig branch, $39 | 3. magnolia, $30 | 4. crassula, $14 | 5. green petal leaf, $35 | 6. monstera, $15 | 7. eucalyptus, $5 | 8. fern (set of 3), $12

9. palm leaf branch, $24 | 10. lamb’s ear, $3 | 11. olive stem, $15 | 12. donkey tail, $18 | 13. silver dollar eucalyptus, $14 | 14. sword fern, $24 | 15. monstera bush, $8 | 16. gray aeonium, $7

Numbers 3, 5, 7 and 11 have been sitting in my virtual shopping cart for far too long! Which are your favorites?

We’re officially on the FPT (Faux Plant Train, anyone?), and yes, Scott, too! The first floor of our home can feel gloomy unless it’s a bright and sunny day, due to the overhang on our front porch. This has been the best solution, and we’re no longer cringing as we toss another crispy or soggy plant. Are you a faux plant convert?

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  • Megan6.22.18 - 6:58 AM

    I love plants, but also kill everything! Could you repost the link to the plant in the first image (the plant in the spotted potter)? It appears to be a link to your transaction page or something, and doesn’t get me to the item.ReplyCancel

  • Perrin6.22.18 - 8:01 AM

    How did you get that grout-less look on the subway tile? Is it just a very white grout?ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.22.18 - 8:02 AM

      It’s a light gray grout, and we didn’t use spacers!ReplyCancel

  • Kathy6.22.18 - 9:14 AM

    My bf is really into hydroponics, so lately, I’ve been keeping my house plants in coconut coir. With a thick layer of clay pellets to help with drainage, it’s been working really well! That being said, IKEA and Target have been my faves to get fake plants! IKEA is super cheap for both real and fake plants, and I can never go without a few of them sneaking their way into my cart.ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.22.18 - 9:29 AM

      Ooh, that’s so interesting, I honestly had to look that up! I’d be curious to try that ourselves, especially for smaller plants.ReplyCancel

      • Kathy6.22.18 - 11:37 AM

        I can give you quick breakdown, if you want to send an email or something? I think it would be good for you guys because the coir is inert and therefore no bugs will take up residence in there. It honestly just sounds more daunting than it actually is, and my bf actually grows his own salad greens with this method!ReplyCancel

  • Kelli6.22.18 - 9:45 AM

    I’m absolutely a faux plant fan, so thank you for the Etsy link! I have some naughty cats at home who looooove to snack on leafy greens (despite having access to their own catnip plant) and I have lost several succulents to their chompers. Only the real cacti seem to survive, but having faux plants allows me some variety that the cats won’t destroy.ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.22.18 - 10:27 AM

      That’s such a good argument for faux plants as well! We’re so lucky that our cats have never cared about plants (the dogs could care less about anything other than their comfy bed), but faux is a great option in your case.ReplyCancel

  • Charla6.22.18 - 10:24 AM

    Yes! I’m a recent convert, too. Our bathroom is so dark that faux plants are the only way we can have greenery in there, and it has freshened up the room so much. I second the Target recommendation — they have been killing it lately with their faux plant options.ReplyCancel

  • gary6.22.18 - 5:09 PM

    The beauty of real plants is in the air cleaning qualities. Replacing them with plastic seems like such an environmental bummer on every level.ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.25.18 - 7:36 AM

      We’ll never stop nursing our real plants that thrive in our home, but it’s equally a bummer to see plants wither away and get tossed. A nice mix of both is key, but we know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea!ReplyCancel

  • Lauren6.22.18 - 11:23 PM

    I’m a total fake plant lover. I dont even want to know how much money I’ve wasted on real ones. A mix with real ones totally sells the look. Sitting amongst all my dead plant babies was really becoming a bummer HA! Thanks for the great sources!ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.25.18 - 7:35 AM

      Yes! A nice mix of real and faux is the way to go, we agree!ReplyCancel

  • Melissa6.23.18 - 1:54 AM

    Ok, so adding the dirt is brilliant! I always just made sure that the pot was deep enough that you couldn’t see there was no dirt. I am definitely doing this!ReplyCancel

  • Katie6.23.18 - 6:14 AM

    So excited about this list!! I’m terrible at keeping plants alive! Here’s one you could add if you’re looking for something big – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AQ8DHOC/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_HSIlBb81T0JW1 With a little strategic fluffing it looks like the real deal!ReplyCancel

  • Vanessa6.23.18 - 6:40 PM

    I am with Gary on this one. I want whatever extra oxygen and moisture that I can get in the Winter in MI. I try to stay away from plastic. I am guessing that the reason so many plants die, especially succulents, is because they aren’t able to deal with so much interior darkness. They may be popular, but they aren’t right for most of us.ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.25.18 - 7:34 AM

      Agree, it’s important to be mindful of your lighting when bringing a plant home!ReplyCancel

  • Jennifer Irvin6.24.18 - 7:16 AM

    I picked up a few tiny fake succulents at the dollar store and made a terrarium out of them. Looks great!ReplyCancel

  • Cindy6.24.18 - 10:58 PM

    Can you speak to the recycle-ability of faux plants? That’s always been a primary deterrent for us. Even if a real plant’s life is short-lived, it will decompose in our compost bin within a month.ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.25.18 - 7:32 AM

      This is a good point, and one to consider when purchasing faux plants! Likely, some plants wouldn’t be recyclable, but it’s worth checking into as you make a purchase. If purchasing from Etsy, a quick question to the seller would be worth it!ReplyCancel

  • Paige Flamm6.25.18 - 9:39 AM

    We love fake plants in our home! They add life to the home without the risk of killing them or kids destroying them!

    Paige
    http://thehappyflammily.comReplyCancel

  • AlisonG6.26.18 - 9:42 AM

    I am afraid fake is it in my house. I have a cat that eats real ones, heck she chews on fake stuff too, but at least it won’t hurt her. You are fortunate to have cats that don’t eat plants. Thanks a ton for this post and the link. I quickly went and ordered two of the plant on your coffee table. I found two copper containers and got the dirt. They arrive in the mail today. I am sure I will be back to refer to this post again. Thank you!ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.26.18 - 10:48 AM

      That sounds like a pretty combo!ReplyCancel

      • AlisonG6.28.18 - 6:13 PM

        Thank you. The plants came and they look great. They are smaller than expected, so I will put them both in one pot and order more. Thanks again.ReplyCancel

  • Tracy6.30.18 - 7:03 PM

    Hi Kim,

    How many donkey tails did you use in the planter in your bathroom? I’m obsessed! And like you, I love my houseplants but even my green thumb can’t keep plants alive in certain places in my house.ReplyCancel

  • Michelle Henrickson12.7.18 - 9:38 PM

    Thank you for sharing these links!!! I LOVE plants. Real plants. Our former home had light for days and I had the most beautiful fiddle fig tree. We had it for three years and it was over six feet tall!!! I had to give it away when we moved to our current house, which we love but it’s beneath a tree canopy. So, other than my tried and true sansevieria (snake plant) from Sprout:), I’ve had to slowly realign my thinking on faux plants. You’re so right…..we need the green in our homes!!! I have made some faux purchases and I’ve been very pleased. I have to ask. Do you all have the exact monstera you linked on Etsy?? It looks like you could possibly in your living room. As always, thanks for such fabulous suggestions!!!ReplyCancel

    • Kim12.8.18 - 11:08 AM

      So sad to have to give up your fiddle leaf, especially if it was thriving! I’ve seen one of them, and it looks so real! We had real monstera at one point, but swapped it out for a hope philodendron (which we love SO much!).ReplyCancel

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