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Plants always add a certain something to the interiors of a place. And if you don't have the patience (or a green thumb!) for the real stuff, there are always faux plants. But as with everything, there are advantages and disadvantages with these too, says Sachin Singh, director, Flower Basket, Bhopal.
1. The popular assumption is that artificial plants have that bogus, synthetic look, but quite the opposite is true. With a little care, the right artificial plant in the right place, will look quite sophisticated and elegant!
2. The first thing going for artificial plants is that they'll always remain verdant and will not get affected by climatic or seasonal changes.
3. Insects and other organisms that get attracted to the real stuff are obviously ruled out here.
4. You won't have to rack your brains about keeping them hydrated when you're planning a holiday.
5. Though the problem of dust allergies remains, undesired reactions to plant pollen and such don't arise.
1. Don't expect any sort of energy or positivity that is subliminally associated with real plants.
2. If kept near doors or windows, they will get dusty easily, and a dusty plant can look tacky indeed.
3. Artificial flowering plants won't imbue the ambience with fragrance.
4. There's no question of growth, so consequently their form remains static – which may put you off after a while.
5. You need to clean them with detergent every now and then for a natural look.