While having houseplants definitely adds beauty to your home, they are also a big responsibility. It is imperative to remember to water them but not over-water them and make sure they get ample sunlight without burning them in the sun. To many people, this just sounds like too much work and although they add beauty, they are not always worth the hassle.
If you want to take on the responsibility of having live plants in your house then do it; but for those of you with perhaps a “brown thumb,”, here are some suggestions to add some green without adding more responsibility.
Fake, or plastic, plants look much more realistic than in the past. In fact, it is often hard to tell whether a plant is live or artificial. Artificial plants can add real beauty to your home without adding more responsibility to your life. The only problem associated with artificial plants is the initial expense in acquiring them and these plants can carry hefty price tags.
If the initial expense is not an issue for you, you can purchase artificial plants at many department stores or craft stores. You can choose from artificial trees, individual stems or small plants in baskets. However, if the cost is an issue, you can still find beautiful artificial plants without spending money a lot of money.
The first place to begin your search is your local second hand store. Many people donate these items when they purchase newer ones or switch to live plants. You can often pick these up for a fraction of the cost to buy them new and they look just as good. If your local second hand store doesn’t have any artificial plants, start checking rummage sales and flea markets or anywhere else you can think of where people may be selling used items they no longer need or want.
After trying all of these resources, if you are still having little luck, try joining your local Freecycle group and placing a wanted notice. People are always looking to help each other out in these groups and may just have some artificial plants sitting in storage somewhere or updating their decor. You can also check online free classifieds or classifieds in your local newspaper for giveaways or items for sale.
Once you find the plants you are looking for, make sure you clean them before placing them in your house. You can hose the plants down outside and let them dry before bringing them into the house (this will be the only time you have to water your artificial plants!). Once you have them in your home, they will be virtually maintenance free-no watering or remembering to place them in the sun. Just dust them once in a while and enjoy the beauty added with the greenery in your home.