Sadly I have a black thumb when it comes to caring for anything real and have to rely on fresh cut flowers or good quality fake greenery. However for those of you that are green thumbs designing with greenery can help bring the outdoors in and evoke calmness in our interior spaces. The color alone adds a sense of serenity to a space.

Although most of us would prefer real greenery over imitation, there are several things to consider when deciding between real or artificial plants.

Real Plants:

Live plants help clean the air and add to a healthy environment.  They can also add fragrance.  There are however, three things to bear in mind before going live.

1.  Live plants can attract insects to the indoors

2.  Live plants can cause water damage to floors and surfaces if containers leak or crack 

3.  Certain live plants can be toxic to family pets and to small children

Place plants on surfaces that will not be ruined if the water leaks out or overflows. Choose quality containers and check them periodically for cracks and leaks. You may want to consider using decorative plates under your containers to catch extra water.

Artificial Plants:

Try to select artificial plants that look as close to the real thing as possible such as these orchids (pictured above) by Torre & Tagus. Purchase the best you can afford.  

Stay away from artificial plants that are variegated, meaning they have a white line running through the leaves.  These plants never look natural or high quality.  Variegated leaves are almost always a clear sign that plants are not the real thing. And please do not expose to sunlight or they will turn blue!

Do keep in mind also that artificial plants will attract dust, so they require frequent maintenance.

Whether you choose real or artificial plants, go for quality and let their healing and calming qualities be an important part of your overall interior design.