I Ordered 8 Faux Plants Online — Here Are My Honest Reviews
I never considered myself a green thumb, but I was convinced I could at least learn to keep a plant or two alive. Ever since reading and writing more about plants while at Hunker, I've definitely become more interested in them, too.
But the fact of the matter is that I worry about my pet eating them; I'm not a natural plant person; and my new space doesn't get enough sunlight for a little green companion. So instead, I got curious about faux plants.
To see what might be out there, I ordered a few finds from different retailers to see what they look like IRL. Note: Some of the plants below were sent by the brands, but that doesn't affect my review.
1. The Sill Faux Watermelon Peperomia, $65
The Sill
This faux gem is actually similar to a real plant I've owned in the past so it's a good place to start in terms of comparing them. The marbled pattern on the "leaves" is really nice and the material of the "leaves" feels pretty sturdy. The planter also impressed me — it's high-quality enough that I'd actually use it for a regular plant, too.
Overall grade: A
2. Cost Plus World Market Faux Calathea Elliptica in Cement Pot, $14.99
Cost Plus World Market
These faux leaves felt a little thinner to me but the color is a nice bright shade of green. The pot is actually super light which could be good if you move around often or could be a con if you want something with a little more weight to it. (For contrast, it's easy for me to pick this one up with one hand versus The Sill's faux plant above, which is wider and heavier).
Overall grade: B
3. Woodword Artificial Potted Plant, Evergreen Leaf, $25
Amazon Home
I definitely appreciated the variations of green in this plant, which has a nice bit of movement with leaves in different clusters. The pebble base, however, is all glued on as one piece which might be useful for moving but gave it a less natural look overall.
Grade: B
4. Pottery Barn Faux Potted Pothos Houseplant, $14.50
Pottery Barn
This is probably the most lightweight and smallest pick. It's more convincing from afar, but is a nice hue of green. A tiny bit of the "soil" came loose after I unpacked it, but otherwise it was in good condition. Definitely best for just a subtle touch on a coffee table or even near your keys by the entryway.
Grade: B+
5. Nearly Natural 23-inch Boston Fern with Wicker Basket, $43.99
Amazon Home
This faux find would probably look best on top of a bookshelf or another tall piece of furniture. It definitely feels the most paper-like out of all the picks. The biggest downside was that the filling at the bottom moved a little during shipping so it was easy for me to see the white styrofoam peeking out. But if you need to fill a space with some green, in an area where no one will look too closely, this can do the trick.
Overall grade: B-
6. The Sill Faux Pilea Peperomioides, $75
The Sill
Again, the leaves and planter of this find are the biggest pros. The dark green color does look slightly more faux (if only because it makes the plant look super healthy). It's good for a coffee table or desk to add some greenery.
Grade: A-
7. Nearly Natural 24-inch Golden Dieffenbachia Silk Plant, $55.88
Amazon Home
This base looks even more traditional even person, which was not really my style but could work for some interiors. The leaves are nice and full, too. As someone with a small apartment I haven't quite figured out where I want to put it. But if you have a space you can't seem to fill, this find can definitely help. Again, the base of the plant (near the "roots") is styrofoam, so just keep that in mind.
Grade: B
8. CB2 Faux Potted Monstera Plant (29-inch), $69.95
CB2
This is a true statement piece because of its height and type (since the monstera is ever-trendy). The "leaves" are large and have those distinct holes in them. They feel really sleek, too. One con is that the "root" makes this plant a little heavier on one side than the other. It also looks a lot more spread out in the product photo versus IRL.
Grade: A-