Before buying faux greenery, most people want to know how long it will last. We don't put a number of years on it, because nobody can honestly predict that for an individual plant: it depends on where the plant sits, how much sun reaches it and how it is handled. What we can tell you is what wears artificial plants out, how to slow it down, and what Leaf covers.
What Leaf covers
Our products carry a one-year warranty. On top of that, plants in our UV outdoor range are guaranteed against fading for one year. If something goes wrong with a plant within that time, get in touch with us.
Sunlight is the main cause of wear
Ultraviolet light gradually breaks down the colour in leaf material, so direct sun is the biggest factor in how a plant ages. Keep standard indoor plants out of direct sun, including sun through glass in conservatories and south-facing windows. For sunny or outdoor positions, choose UV-stabilised designs, which are made for that exposure. Our guide to stopping artificial plants fading in sunlight covers placement in more detail.
Dust and handling
Dust dulls foliage, and plants in busy spots get knocked and bent. A regular dust and an occasional reshape keep a plant looking its best; see how to clean artificial plants. Next to a walkway, a slimmer shape or a trunked tree takes less wear than a wide, bushy plant.
Damp and outdoor weather
In steamy bathrooms, lift and air pots occasionally so water does not collect in the base. Outdoors, secure plants against wind and keep wooden trunks out of standing water.
Build quality
Wired stems can be reshaped if they get bent, and securely fixed leaves cope better with handling and cleaning. When you compare plants, look at how the leaves attach and whether the stems are wired, not only at how the plant looks in a photo.
Storing seasonal pieces
Store wreaths, garlands and seasonal stems flat in a box, somewhere dry, so they are not crushed between uses.
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