How
to have a plant display where live plants cannot be
used
No
matter how hard we try, there are some situations where
live plants simply cannot be used. These may be
locations where access is too difficult for maintenance
or where the environmental conditions are just not suitable
for the display style that you want to achieve.
When
this happens, replica or preserved plants may be the
solution.
Replica
or preserved?
What do we mean
by these terms? Interior landscapers mean different
things when they talk about "replica" plants
and "preserved" plants. Fundamentally,
they are both plant-shaped objects that are not living.
You may also come across terms such as "fabricated
trees", "artificial plants" and "silk
plants".
Replica
plants
Replica plants are plant-shaped
objects made from a wide range of materials. The
best ones are difficult to tell from the real thing, although
there are some that are so clearly artificial it is hard
to deduce the reason for their existence.
Replica
displays are often made with polyester foliage (usually
made inherently fire retardant) and wooden stems and
trunks. Frequently, the trunks are natural, having
been cut from a real tree.
Replica
plants are often made to order, so it is possible to
have a completely bespoke display.
Replica plants are
sometimes specified because it is thought that they
provide a cheaper alternative to real plants in areas
where live plants could be used. However, there
are some factors that should be considered, such as
cost (which may be significantly higher than a real
plant), maintenance (they need cleaning) and durability
(the colour in the foliage can fade under bright lights
or in direct sunlight.)
Preserved
plants
 Preserved
plants are another way of using non-living objects to
create an interior landscape. Preserved plants
are made from real plants that have been treated with
chemical preservatives to keep them looking fresh and
vital. Palms are popular subjects for preservation
(the trees in this picture are all preserved Washingtonia
palms).
With
large trees, only the foliage is made from preserved
material. The trunks are often fabricated from
rigid pipes covered by bark from real trees of the appropriate
type. The craftsmanship involved in the manufacture
of such displays is very high and they are can often
only be distinguished from live plants by an expert.
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A
few words about "silk" floral displays
Floral
displays made from artificial materials are
very popular in many countries. The artistry
involved in their creation rivals that of the
best florists and the quality of the materials
available to make such displays is now of a
very high order. The picture on the left
is a good example of a contemporary "silk"
floral display from the UK.
"Silk"
floral displays are made from a wide variety
of fabrics (including real silk), plastics and
paper.
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Examples
of modern "silk" floral displays from
Belgium |
This article
concludes module 3. If you would like to test
your knowledge with a short quiz, please click on the
link below. You will also be able to print out
a certificate to show that you have completed this module
of CPD training to add to your personal training record.
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