Is it live or is it plastic?
Is it live or is it plastic?
I make it a point to water office plants. So, when a nice big red poinsettia sat ignored on a co-worker’s desk, I faithfully pour a cup of water into it every third day – until the owner informed me it was an artificial poinsettia and would I please stop flooding her desk.
This is life with the holiday fakes. Even a garden writer can’t tell the difference between what’s real and what’s not.
Some people call them permanent botanicals. Others say silk, plastic, or artificial. Whatever the name – or the material – they are everywhere this time of year, filling our homes, fooling the eye, feeling surprisingly real – even giving off subtle fragrances.
Those who swear a fake tree will never cross their doorway have given up the fight and are embracing artificial wreaths and swags, holiday flowers that live forever, and, yes, trees that never shed a needle.
How could this be?
What folks have discovered is that anything you can do with fresh flowers and greens you can do better – and longer – with artificial. It is as simple as a twig wreath on the front door made from silk and dried materials or as expensive as a fake 9-foot Christmas pine that goes on forever.
My favorite is to combine silk flowers with natural pods and cones, and holiday greenery. The results are amazing. They last as long as I can stand to look at them, and when I unwrap them again next year they’ll still look good.
The faux invasion has gained steadily in the past 10 years. Fakes are a multi-million dollar business, an offshoot of the floral industry with dedicated practitioners among florists, crafts people and do-it-yourselfers. An estimated 85 percent of fake trees and the bulk of artificial flowers are imported from China. Faux trees are made from metals and plastics, typically PVC. Artificial flowers are made from silk, satin, linen and similar materials. All silk flowers are artificial, but not all artificial flowers are silk.
Not all fakes are created equal. What you buy – how much you are willing to pay per stem – depends on how you intend to use them There are floral look-alikes authentic enough to grace the fanciest dinner table as well as inexpensive $1 bouquets created primarily to endure on cemetery plots.
Holiday decorators have two ways to bring home the fakes: Buy an arrangement totally created by a florist or craft shop. Or, create your own using the vast assortment of materials available at craft stores such as Michael’s. If your imagination needs some help, consult one of the many Christmas crafts books and holiday magazines.
For example, spruce up your entryway by placing pots of artificial poinsettias on the steps leading to the front door. Bank more pots of artificial flowers and small fake trees alongside the doorway. Add a real poinsettia or two if you wish. Keep in mind that real poinsettias cannot endure standing out in winter’s rain and frost. The pretends will last forever.
Be safe. If you are decorating the mantel, use artificial swags rather than live greenery, which is a fire hazard. When buying artificial, look for labels that say “Fire resistant.” Never use real greenery with candles or other open flames.
A Reader Wants to Know: I bought a living fir tree in a 5-gallon container. I understand it should be indoors for only a short time. How long is too long, and what do I do with it afterwards?
Joan Says: A living tree can become a nice family tradition, by bringing it back in year after year until it outgrows the space. First off, our homes are too warm to keep a living tree indoors for any length of time. One week is more than enough. Decorate it with the tiniest lights you can find, and use lightweight ornaments. Treat it like a houseplant. Water every third day or so, when the soil feels dry.
After the holidays, put the tree outdoors in a protected place and water it regularly. It needs more water than occasional rainfall. You can transplant the tree into a large container such as a half-barrel, or you can plant it directly into the garden. Remember these trees get big over a period of time, so choose a spot that can accommodate a big, full fir tree. If you choose to plant it in a container, pick one with wheels so it can be moved easily. Eventually the tree will grow taller than your living room ceiling, and then you’ll have to plant it outdoors.
