Fake, or artificial plants, can be seen in all sorts of places – the mall, airports, restaurants, hotel lobbies, cafés, and more.
You may not even realize they are fake until you take a closer look and smell or touch the plastic or silky leaves.
These realistic artificial plants look authentic and beautiful but they are expensive.
Fake plants are so expensive because they are made of high-quality materials and designed and hand-assembled to look realistic. Manufacturers must make a profit after using modern technology, and labor, while evaluating the frequency of sales to make business revenue. The value of convenience, lower overall costs, longevity, and durability of artificial plants make them worth the investment.
Topics
1. Overall Cost: Using And Caring For Fake Plants
Fake plants are not only used in businesses, but in homes, for crafting, and event decor as well.
They can provide a centerpiece as well as a variety of types of plants that offer the ambiance you are looking for in your home decor needs.
While buying artificial plants may seem expensive up front, the overall cost of caring for real plants can be more.
Here is an example of two plants found online with free delivery:
However, we cannot stop pricing simply with the order of a tree. The fake plant is ready to be put in place, but the live plant needs more care.
It needs to be repotted with more soil, placed in a spot with proper sunlight, and given fertilization and pruning over time.
Examples of costs for additional live plant care of a ficus could be as follows:
| Live Plant Care Item | Cost Example | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 20-quart pot | $69 | The pot your live plant comes in is disposable plastic, and will need repotting into a sturdy pot that can accommodate the size of a 3-foot plant. Pots are also expensive with a large variety of costs. |
| 16 quarts of indoor potting soil | $9 | You can use the soil that came with your live plant, but you will need more to fill the pot as you transfer it. |
| Fertilizer | $11 | Every plant has different fertilizer needs. The ficus plant needs one that is specially formulated for it. When you run out, you will need to replenish your fertilizer supply, spending more money. |
| Pruning shears | $13 | Shears help you to keep the ficus in your desired shape. They also help you remove dead leaves and branches. |
Note: These prices may vary depending upon market conditions, and serve as an example only.
| Total Cost Of Fake Ficus Plant | Total Cost Of Live Ficus Plant |
|---|---|
| $123 | $182 |
There were cheaper fake plants of this size available online, but a more expensive one was chosen to illustrate that even if you choose a high-quality more expensive fake plant, you will still likely spend less over time.
2. Material Composition And Size
While there are a variety of fake plants available, the higher quality and realistic-looking ones tend to be more expensive due to the material used.
Many artificial plants are made with high-quality plastics and fabrics, such as silk or polyester.
Other materials are used to form the stems and soil as well as the pot to hold the plant, which may include wood, metal, porcelain, and more.
Fake plants may also have UV-light protection built into or sprayed onto the materials.
Some artificial plants with blooms may have a wick or oils built into the plant to create an aroma.
These materials cost money to use to create the plant.
Additionally, the larger the size of the plant, the more materials it uses, raising the overall cost.
3. Manufacturing And Handcrafting
Machines and modern technology make the parts of a fake plant in mass production. However, the final assembly is done by hand.
Assembling plants to look realistic is an art and a science.
Artificial plants will have veins in the leaves, textured stems or trunks, subtle curls of petals, and other fine details that make the plant look real as if it was picked from nature.
The labor needed to design the plants, operate machines, and then assemble the plant by hand requires paid labor.
4. Convenience
Fake plants do not need water, sunlight, or pesticides, and generally only need light dusting. They do not need repotting, plant food, or pruning.
Fake plants will not die while you are away on vacation. They are safe to have around pets and small children.
With artificial plants, you do not have to worry about where they are placed. They can be indoors or outdoors.
The climate will not matter, so you can have versatile kinds of plants.
For example, you can enjoy plants that grow in the rainforest all year round, mixed in with native annuals. You can have artificial hanging plants and vines as well.
Artificial plants offer quick decor for weddings and banquets, needing no care or worry about drooping or falling leaves during the event.
In businesses, fake plants offer low maintenance and less labor to care for them. They can also be easily rearranged to change the decor quickly.
The convenience of having artificial plants as decor without the hassle of caring for them can be worth the investment.
5. Longevity And Durability
Fake plants made of high-quality materials with UV protection will last a long time indoors.
You can enjoy fake annual flowers and plants year-to-year, without having to replant. With periodic dusting, your fake plants could last indefinitely.
However, if you keep a fake plant outside, it will show signs of wear and tear from exposure to various weather elements.
Plants made out of sturdier materials such as plastic will last longer than those made of silk because this material can withstand wind and rain better.
6. Profit Loss Consideration
Considering that fake plants can last a very long time, people buy less of them over time due to their durability.
For artificial plant manufacturers to stay in business and make profits, they may have higher sale prices to reflect lower amounts of sales.
Conclusion
Artificial plants are expensive to account for the materials used to make them look realistic.
Additionally, manufacturers must make a profit after factoring in costs for handcrafted labor, specialized machines, and the rates of sales.
People may invest more money upfront in fake plants due to their convenience, longevity, and durability.