The art of artificial flower arrangements is slowly disappearing. They’re only popular around holidays like Christmas, when poinsettia wreaths – artificial and fresh – popup in all floral shops and major retail stores.
But, outside the holiday season, fake flowers are rarely seen unless you’re in the sitting room of a doctor’s office or at your grandparents’ house.
By association, these stereotypical locations give these plastic posies a reputation of being dull, outdated and tacky.
In reality, if made properly, fake flowers can be both beautiful and, well, timeless.
They deserve to be appreciated as an art form and become popular again.
Of course, the quality of the product can vary.
The difference is who makes them. If you buy your arrangements from a craft store for under $20, then there’s a good chance they won’t be worthy of being a centerpiece on your mantle or dining room table.
That’s because the flowers made by a computerized machine in a factory are not of the same standard as the flowers that are handmade by a florist.
After all, they’re educated specialists in this trade. Floral design programs, like those of the International Career School Canada and the Canadian Institute of Floral Design, offer workshops in making and arranging artificial flowers.
Like real flowers, they can be expensive if you want something lifelike and nice, but choosing fabric over fresh does have its benefits.
The cost may be the same for an artificial bouquet and a real one, but artificial flowers are more cost efficient because they last forever. Even if you’re someone who wants a different bouquet each week, you can buy a couple different arrangements and then switch it up.
Flowers only last one or two weeks before wilting and needing to be replaced. This won’t be a problem if the flowers were fake, and would save you the trouble of buying another costly bouquet.
Artificial flowers are also hypoallergenic. With an artificial bouquet, people with allergies to pollen or with bad asthma don’t need to worry about their symptoms flaring up.
But, if it’s the smell of flowers that entices you, then you can always spray them with your favourite floral perfume. This way, it’s possible to smell the roses without sneezing on them.
Seasonal restrictions can also be avoided by choosing fabric flowers. Certain flowers may be out of season during some months, making them very hard to purchase, but the artificial version will always be in season.
Although, artificial flower arrangements should be brought back into the mainstream for practical reasons, there’s also one more reason. It’ll revive a disappearing niche of artists who make a living off of this craft.
Many floral shops don’t offer artificial flower arrangements anymore because there isn’t much demand.
Out of five local Ottawa florists, only two have arrangements in-store and one more said they could order some for customers, but they don’t have any physical samples.
And, artificial flowers can be used for other kinds of decoration than bouquets and arrangements. There’s the option to frame them alongside a favourite quote or picture, or to use them as fashion accessories.
You can even let your creativity run wild by buying individual flowers and making your own personalized artificial bouquet.
This is also possible with real flowers but there are some setbacks. For example, daffodils release enzymes that can be harmful to other flowers. As a result you have to soak them in cool water overnight before adding other fresh cut flowers.
This is another reason why artificial flowers may be the smarter choice for yourself or as a gift.
With Christmas right around the corner, poinsettias festively arranged with pinecones and spruce branches are again taking over Ottawa’s floral shops. But it’s important to remember that this winter flower isn’t the only artificial plant worth our attention.
Next time you’re in the market for floral décor, remember artificial flowers can be just as varied and beautiful as fresh flowers. You might even be helping a struggling artist by buying local.