Dream Come True: My New, Big, Lush Plant—No Green Thumb or Upkeep Required

What's one thing that your house or decor is missing?  For me, the answer is plants. You see, I lack a green thumb.

Last year, I tried to grow herbs on my kitchen window sill. Apparently, I over-watered. A couple years before that, a co-worker gifted me with her pretty desk plant when she landed a new job but couldn't take the plant home since it was not safe for cats. I had no cats at the time, but the plant didn't live very long in my apartment. There was also that time I had a fuzzy little succulent. I don't remember what happened to it. The only plant I ever managed to keep alive for a good length of time was a lovely orchid, but it succumbed to the cold when I made the move from apartment to our house last spring.

What lovely plants! Too bad they'd die in my abode. :(

When scrolling through Instagram or Pinterest, I turn green with envy at the sight of rooms with beautiful plants just hanging out all lush and healthy-like. I'm jealous of bloggers with their noble looking snake plants and lovely fiddle leafs. Don't even get me started on the Instagramers with pretty ferns hanging in front of their bay windows.

I've tried time and time again to be like those Instagramers, bloggers, and Pinners. And I've left a wake of wilted, shriveled, and just plain sad plants.

So why haven't I opted for fake plants? Well, I've used the occasional sprigs and branches from craft shops and home decor stores because those are cheap and can get thrown out when they start to fall apart, which inevitably happens. But a nice big plant? I guess I've been biased against them thinking they'll look cheap or fake.

ThermaLeaf® rose to the challenge and proved me wrong.

They're the leader in the manufacturing of fire retardant artificial plants and trees exclusively for commercial projects and the wholesale trade. And their huge, high quality variety of silk plants, trees, topiaries, hedges, and boxwood products look real and beautiful. They let me pick one out to review and I couldn't wait to find out if it'd look as real and beautiful in person.

I flirted with the idea of a ficus or olive tree, but I really liked the shape and color of the schefflera. The schefflera tree just called out to me from the computer screen—with its gorgeous green color and lush leafiness.

Its color is vibrant—and my Rhett Butler seems to approve.

It arrived super fast and very well packaged. I needlessly worried a tad about how it might be squashed in the packaging, but as soon as I cut the protective plastic away, it bloomed into shape and required only a little fluffing. My first impression: Wow, high quality! The plant itself has a nice weight to it, so I don't have to worry about myself or the cats knocking it over. The leaves aren't thin or flimsy. They're full and thick with just a bit of a thirst-quenched sheen to them—neither too shiny nor too dull. The size is great. It's big enough to make a "Look at my beautiful plant!" statement, but small enough that it could work literally anywhere in my house.

I found the perfect spot for my schefflera!

I then proceeded to move my new, pretty plant from room to room. Ultimately, I decided it would be best suited to my recently made-over office. Since I work from home, it's where I spend most of my time. Even during non-work hours, I'll usually be in my office writing, blogging, or reading. It's my haven and I think the plant will be enjoyed to its fullest in here with me. The best part? No constant upkeep and no worries about my cats eating something toxic.

Go ahead—take a look at all the artificial flowers, plants, trees, topiaries, and palms ThermaLeaf® offers online, including custom artificial trees and fake fall trees. 

Are you a fellow blogger interested in reviewing a fake plant, too? Let me know—I may be able to hook you up. :)



Disclaimer: ThermaLeaf® provided me with this free, artificial plant in exchange for my unbiased , truthful review.