How to Use Outdoor Artificial Plants

Tired of trying to remember to water and care for your outdoor plants? Outdoor artificial plants may be the answer, read how you can use them the right way. This post has been sponsored by Nearly Natural. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love plants but I seem to struggle to keep them alive. I either forget to water them or Oklahoma weather does them in. It basically is either drought and extremely hot or flooding most of the time around here. And then there are the freezes that seem to come out of nowhere.

Another issue that has made it hard for me to keep potted plants lately is fire ants. They have moved north from Texas and are really enjoying Oklahoma these days.

Fire ants seem to love to live in potted plants and the surprise of hundreds of fire ants coming out of a pot when you go to water it is not the best.

I had basically given up on having potted plants and then I saw the selection of outdoor artificial plants offered by Nearly Natural. They had a huge selection and they look amazing. I knew I had to give it a try.

Even if you don’t have fire ants and can keep potted plants alive, the mostly carefree benefits of outdoor artificial plants are numerous.

Use the Right Artificial Plants

You need to make sure any artificial plant you plan to use outside is UV resistant and designed to be used outdoors. Sticking just any artificial plant outside will lead to fading pretty quickly in some cases. A faded plant will no longer look real.

You will pay more for higher quality artificial plants but it really is key to having realistic plants. And with ones being used outside this can be even more important since they will be exposed to the elements and need to be able to handle it without starting to look bad.

I really like Nearly Natural artificial plants because they look very realistic and they are also very good quality. I’ve had a Nearly Natural wreath for over a year and it still looks brand new.

Take Care of Your Artificial Plants

A big benefit to artificial plants is you don’t need to water them, there is no need to fertilize, no bug issues to deal with, and overall they are very low maintenance. However, you do still need to do some things to keep them in good shape.

Dust and dirt can build up on your plants making them lose their luster and that can be a dead giveaway that a plant is fake. And since good quality artificial plants are an investment you don’t want to neglect them. A quick cleaning occasionally can help make sure your plants last and look their best.

A handheld vacuum with a brush attachment can get a lot of dust and dirt off and then a slightly damp microfiber cloth can usually handle the rest. A small amount of furniture polish on a microfiber cloth rubbed on the leaves can also help restore shine if needed.

Be Sure to Style Correctly

Don’t go overboard when using artificial plants. Using them sparingly with real plants as well can help make sure it’s a seamless and beautiful look.

If you can also stick the plants in different planters to help the plants fit with your personal style. If you are using a pot that leaves too much space just use stones to fill in the space that usually would be filled with soil. I placed the __ in a blue pot I already had that was a perfect size. It fits my porch far better than using the black pot it came in.

Don’t forget to also fluff and adjust your plants. Especially if you order the plants or they come in a box they will likely be a bit flat. Just like an artificial Christmas tree needs its branches fluffed and adjusted, you want to do the same with your plants. Just be gentle and take it slowly until the plant looks just right.

Plants Used in This Post

If you’d like to get the plants I used in the photos in this post you can find them at Nearly Natural. These are the ones shown.

Check out the full selection of outdoor artificial plants at Nearly Natural. They have a large selection, you are sure to find something you love.