by Stacey Torres

Created on: December 09, 2009   Last Updated: December 10, 2009

Silk flowers and plants have been used in commercial and residential landscaping for several years. Gone are the days of sad, cheap-looking silk plants with frayed edges that fade in the sun within hours. The artificial blooms of today are lush, elegant, realistic, and anything but inexpensive. Artfully used in potted arrangements, hanging baskets, and elaborate landscaping designs, they often fool the keenest eye. Looks of pleasant surprise are commonplace once the hand touches the petal or the nose attempts a discreet sniff, verifying that, yes they are, in fact, fake.

Today, you can even purchase silk topiary, boxwood hedges, life-like azalea plants, rose bushes, and ornamental grasses.Today's faux gardener is not just limited to off-colored sunflowers and wisteria.

A talented floral artist or landscaper can arrange silk blooms in the ground or within pots and urns so skillfully, they look as if they are naturally growing. These are not usually your typical dollar store bouquet of mixed-season blooms in gaudy and pretentious colors, i.e., bunches of awkward looking bright red poinsettias sticking out of the snow in a front yard. To get the look of a prized hothouse specimen, you're going to pay the price. Beautiful silk flowers and greenery are now made with ultraviolet (UV) blocking chemicals, making them more resistant to fading.

Realistic artificial flowers can set you back financially quite a bit, often much more than the fresh varieties. The benefit of this, however, is there will be little to no maintenance involved, including replacing an occasional wind-blown stem here and there. And, unlike live flowers and plants, silk flowers pose little or no threat to those of us with allergies or are sensitive to some scents. Bees may be temporarily attracted to the color, but once they get a whiff of nothing, they will soon move on. So, unless you plan to resell these garden center impostors at the end of the summer, it would be wise to take good care of them and preserve them for the next season. This is not so difficult, and is well worth the extra effort.

If you choose bright blooms, such as red geraniums, zinnias, etc., be sure not to "plant" them in bright sunlight; they are sure to fade quickly, regardless of the quality. They will do much better in the muted shade of a porch in a hanging basket or in urns where they only get indirect sunlight.

Outdoor silk flowers will often get dusty and grimy from day-to-day traffic, pollution, and various weather conditions. To remove dust, simply place them in a paper grocery bag with a cup of corn meal and a few shakes of table salt.  Close the bag tightly and shake vigorously for a few seconds. The corn meal and salt will loosen the dust and give them a fresh look.

However, if there have been heavy storms or the dogs and cats have been digging in the vicinity, a bath is in order. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of gentle dishwashing liquid in a spray bottle with some warm water. Handling your flowers individually, gently mist the blooms one by one, followed by a cool shower with your garden hose (not full blast, please). You can either let them air dry on a towel or in a hanging basket - again, never in direct sunlight.

These simple steps will help you to preserve your silk plants for long-term use. Remember to store them carefully in boxes in a cool, dark space during winter months, and always keep them current with what is normally blooming in your zone. And last but not least, when washing and dusting your plants, try to do this at night when your neighbors are not looking, or your secret will be out.

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