Using Silk Plants and Trees Outdoors

Editor: lindassilkfloral

Using silk plants and trees outdoors requires the right positioning, environmental conditions and care to avoid damage from exposure.

Quite often a potential customer will email us to ask us if they can put an artificial tree or plant outside. What they are really asking is ‘will my silk tree last forever in the rain, cold, and sun?’

The short answer is NO.

However, the whole story isn’t quite that simple. There are silk plants and trees that are made especially for outdoor use, but they are usually very expensive, have to be custom ordered, and are rarely available online or anywhere else at retail unless you have a commercial account.

That’s not to say that artificials can never be used outside. We have several on our back porch and some have been there for years. What should be avoided is prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, and areas that will cause the plant or tree to constantly be wet.

Direct sunlight exposes the leaves to UV rays, which over time can damage and discolor them If you have a special tree or plant that you would like to use outdoors on occasion, be sure to take a few precautions. Wipe the leaves down with Armorall to help reduce damage from the sun. A word of caution: this is not permanent protection. Exposure to strong direct sunlight over a long period will still cause damage.

Most artificial plants and trees have inner wire molded into the stems and leaves, and many have steel tubing inside the trunks for added stiffness. A little rain occasionally won’t damage most artificials, but care should be taken to make sure the container drains properly.

Finally, whether your artificials are inside or outside, be sure dust the leaves a couple of times per year, and use a Silk Floral Spray cleaner. The polymers used in modern artificials will lose moisture over a period of years, and the conditioners in Silk Floral Spray cleaners will help keep the leaves supple. There are several on the market. They are inexpensive and will help keep your lovely silks in top condition.

Categories: Decorating