The Best Realistic Faux Greenery Stems and Branches

Decorate your home with the best realistic faux greenery stems!

I'm a real plant lover and prefer to decorate and display living plants throughout my home.   They bring a sense of life and freshness to a room that you just can't replicate with faux plants.  

As much as I would love to ditch all my faux plants, there are certain situations and areas throughout my home where it just makes sense to go faux.  It doesn't hurt that there is really great realistic faux leaf stems available. 

Today, I'm sharing some of my favorite realistic faux greenery stems that I love and display throughout my own home. 

WHY CHOOSE FAUX PLANTS OVER REAL ONES?

Faux plants are maintenance-free and can be displayed where it's very difficult for real plants to thrive.  You don't have to worry about over or under-watering, lighting, fungus gnats, or soil conditions.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING FAUX PLANTS AND STEMS?

Stick with high-quality faux plants with natural textures that look and feel real.  The colors should represent the natural colors and characteristics of the real-life version.  Avoid shiny leaves and unrealistic features that can drastically reduce the quality.

CAN YOU MIX REAL AND FAUX PLANTS? 

You can absolutely mix real and faux plants together.  Personally, I feel high-quality faux plants are more likely to pass for the real deal when they are intermingled.  Mixing faux and real plants also allows you to extend your plant variety when conditions aren't ideal. 

I have a mix of real and faux plants in my living room.   Can you guess which ones are fake? 

FAUX PLANTS: Fiddle leaf tree and ferns on top of the cubby.  

REAL PLANTS: Ficus Moclame, Tree Philodendron, Silver Bay Aglaonema, and Pothos.

WHAT ARE THE BEST REALISTIC FAUX GREENERY STEMS?

1. FAUX WISTERIA STEM

I stumbled upon these faux Wisteria stems last year on Etsy and they quickly became a favorite.  I have two faux Wisteria stems and typically keep them in a found wood jug or wicker-wrapped demijohn. 

2. FAUX FERN STEMS

Ferns are one of my favorite types of plants, unfortunately, they're also high maintenance and I am never able to keep them alive.  Luckily, Hobby Lobby has a great selection of affordable fern stems.

3. FAUX EUCALYPTUS STEM

The faux Eucalyptus stems from Amazon are my go-to stem, especially for spring.  They're easy to manipulate, hold their shape well, and are affordable.  

4. FAUX GREEN LEAF STEM

You can't go wrong with these $4.99 green leaf stems!  They come in two sizes and are great for displaying in bottles and vases. 

5. HANGING BEAN LEAF 

The hanging bean leaf succulent stem is my favorite stem to add to vignettes or a small pot or planter.  They have natural and realistic coloring and drape and lay nicely.

6. Faux Gingko BRANCH 

This faux Gingko stem is a bit of a splurge, but how gorgeous are they? 

Have I convinced you that faux plants and stems can be just as beautiful as live ones? 

SHOP MY FAVORITE GREENERY STEMS 

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Thrift Store Upcycle: Spice Rack Turned Propagation Station

Learn how to turn a dated wood spice rack into a stylish vintage-inspired propagation station! 

Let's make another thrift store upcycle! 

My mom found a pair of matching spice racks a few months ago at a local thrift store.  She bought them thinking my daughter could hang them in her room to organize and display nail polish.   

The idea was good, but unfortunately, they ended up being too small for my daughter's rapidly growing collection of nail polish. 

I didn't want the dated spice racks to go to waste, so I decided to turn one into a propagation station with vintage-inspired glass bottles. 

SUPPLIES NEEDED TO TURN A SPICE RACK INTO A PROPAGATION STATION

- Wood spice rack

- Scrap wood ( I used 1/4" x 1 3/8" lattice wood)

- Pliers or screwdriver (depending on how the spice rack is constructed)

- Rubber mallet

- Wood glue

- Miter saw (could use a miter box and saw)

- Drill and small drill bit 

- Small nails or screws

- Sander with 150-grit sandpaper 

- Simple Green

- Paper towels

- Paint (I used Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore)

- Paintbrush 

- Glass spice jars or similar jars

- Vintage-inspired poison labels

- Mod podge 

HOW TO TURN A SPICE RACK INTO A PROPAGATION STATION

STEP ONE: FIND A DATED SPICE RACK

Search your local thrift stores, yard sales, and flea markets for an old wood spice rack.  It doesn't have to look pretty since I'll be sharing how to remove and replace dated wood features. 

STEP TWO: REMOVE UNWANTED DETAILS

The spice rack I was updating had a heart cut out in the top that I definitely wanted to remove.  There was absolutely nothing wrong with the spice rack, it just wasn't my style.   

Depending on how your spice rack is constructed will determine how you deconstruct and remove unwanted details.  My spice rack was constructed using staples, so I used pliers and a rubber mallet to easily remove the decorative wood heart.

STEP THREE: MEASURE AND CUT NEW WOOD

Once I had the top piece of wood removed, I grabbed a scrap piece of 1/4" x 1 3/8" lattice wood to use as a replacement.   I measured, marked, and cut the new piece of wood using a miter saw. 

STEP FOUR: ATTACH NEW WOOD 

Apply wood glue to where you need to attach the new piece of wood.   Hold the wood in place or clamp for a few minutes then reinforce with a nail or small screw.  Use a drill and a small drill bit to start a pilot hole if you aren't using a nail gun. 

STEP FIVE: SAND

Give the entire spice rack a good sanding with medium grit sandpaper (I used 150 grit) then wipe clean. 

I wanted a softer look, so I smoothed out the corners and some curvy details in my spice rack.  

STEP SIX: PAINT

Paint your updated spice rack whatever color compliments your style and home.  I gave mine two coats of Iron Ore in satin.  Is there even another option? 

STEP SEVEN:  ADD "VINTAGE" LABELS TO SPICE JARS

I happened to have a bunch of old glass spice jars in the garage, but any glass jars that fit in the spice rack will work.  You can leave the jars as is, or add apothecary/poison/pharmacy labels for a cool vintage-inspired look.

TIP: Look in the bagged section at thrift stores for affordable collections of jars.  

A few years ago, I bought a digital sheet of medical pharmacy labels to use for a Halloween project.  I printed them on thick paper in black and white then attached them to the bottles using Mod Podge. 

I filled the bottles with water,  snipped off a few sections from my Pothos plants to add to each bottle then carefully placed them back on the rack.  

Turning this dated spice rack into a propagation station was a super easy project that I was able to complete in one afternoon.   It's also an affordable (and stylish!) solution to leaving random glasses filled with growing plants sitting around on my counter. 

     

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House Plant Tour And Plant Care Tips

Decorating with house plants.  Take a home tour of 12+ different house plants and learn easy plant care tips.

I love cooler temps, changing leaves and all the activities that come with fall, but I'm having difficulty getting into the fall decorating mood.  Can anyone else relate?

I may add a collection of pumpkins outside and a few dried botanicals inside, but I'm seriously thinking of skipping straight to Halloween.  

So before I get too deep into Halloween decorating, I thought I would share a little house plant tour and simple plant care tips for beginners.  I'm still very new to being a plant mama, but I have learned a few things since adding various plants to my home. 

It's taken a bit of trial and error and moving plants around to find what makes them grow and thrive the best, but I'm happy to say, I haven't killed a house plant yet. 

1. ZZ PLANT

Scientific name: Zamioculcas zamiifolia

If you're looking for an easy-to-care-for, low-maintenance house plant then a ZZ plant is the plant for you!  They can tolerate low light and thrive on infrequent watering.   It's important not to overwater a ZZ plant and allow the soil to dry out between waterings.   

2. SNAKE PLANT 

Scientific name: Sansevieria Laurentii

I have multiple different Snake plants in my home and love how low-maintenance they are.  Just like ZZ plants, they tolerate low light (they do prefer indirect light),  are forgiving to neglect and are perfect for beginners.   There are over 70 varieties of snake plants, so if you love this style of plant then there are plenty of variations to choose from.  

The snake plant can grow anywhere from 6" to 12' tall, making it an ideal plant for adding height.  I like to use mine as decor on tables and in baskets next to a chair or piece of furniture. 

3. POTHOS 

Scientific name: Epipremnum aureum

I'm sure everyone already knows about Pothos.  They're probably the most common and hardiest house plant, they tolerate low light and are very forgiving to infrequent watering.  Their roots can grow in soil or water and they are the easiest plant to propagate.  

4. Fiddle Leaf Fig

Scientific name: Ficus lyrata

I was always so intimidated by Fiddle Leaf Figs that for so long I opted to buy faux fiddles over the real deal.   Eventually,  I picked up a $20 tree from Home Depot and I was hooked.  I've had my Fiddle Leaf for a few years, and somehow, I've managed to keep it alive.  It's still in the original grow pot, I water it once a week and give it a lot of sunlight. 

TIP:  Fiddle Leaf Figs love direct sunlight and do best when placed in front of a window.  Mine is placed about 6 feet from a north-facing window and it's been doing great.  Wipe leaves with a damp cloth to remove dust and allow leaves to receive optimal sunlight. 

 

5. Kangaroo Fern

Scientific name: Microsorum pustulatum

The Kangaroo fern is probably my favorite fern and the only one I've been able to keep happy and healthy.   Ferns are a little more high maintenance and require more attention and watering.  Watering your fern once a week and misting regularly should keep it happy. 

TIP:  Kangaroo Ferns can tolerate low lighting, but will be very slow growing (like mine).   Place fern near a north-facing window (avoid the hot sun of a south-facing window) to encourage faster and fuller growth.

Kangaroo Fern / Faux Succulent / ZZ Plant

 

6. String of Bananas

Scientific name: Senecio rowleyanus

I was very hesitant to buy a String of Bananas, plant but I  was determined to replace some of my favorite faux trailing plants with real plants.

I keep my plant by my kitchen sink where it gets a lot of north-facing sunlight.  I water it about once every two weeks and it seems to be very happy with a lot of new growth. 

TIP:  For optimal growth, choose well-draining soil, lots of light (6+.hours) and allow the soil to completely dry out between waterings. 

TIP:  Wood risers are perfect for adding height for trailing plants and for helping smaller plants seem larger/taller.  

7. White Nerve Plant 

Scientific name: Fittonia

I have two white nerve plants in my house and although they're easy to care for, they definitely require a bit more attention.  Their leaves will shrivel and dry up if they're getting too much sun and if they're lacking water they will wilt and droop.  Luckily, they bounce back to life pretty quick with a healthy dose of water. 

8.  Heart Leaf Philodendron (Sweetheart plant) 

Scientific name: Philodendron hederaceum

My little heart leaf philodendron has been a great addition to layer and pair with other larger house plants.  It's a slow grower,  does well in low light areas and is very low maintenance. 

9. Audry Ficus 

Scientific name: Ficus benghalensis

I wanted an Audry Ficus for a long time and finally thought I found a place for one in my new vintage modern office.  Unfortunately, it wasn't very happy there, so I moved it to my kitchen where it gets tons of indirect north-facing sunlight.  It's even starting to sprout some new leaves!  

10. Ficus Moclame

Scientific name: Ficus microcarpa

I had high hopes of having a Ficus Moclame in my office, but just like the Audry Ficus, it wasn't happy.  Its leaves were dropping and turning yellow, so I moved it out to my entry table where it receives a lot of south-facing indirect sunlight.  

TIP:  Ficus Moclame plants don't like change, so It's common for them to drop leaves after you bring them home or move them within your house.  If this happens, give your plant plenty of sunlight, keep it away from cold drafts and avoid moving it within your home once it's happy. 

TIP:  Stake and secure leaning branches with a wood skewer and brown foral tape. 

11. Chinese Money Plant 

Scientific name: Pilea peperomioides

This Chinese Money plant was one of my first plants and a definite favorite.   It prefers bright indirect light, weekly watering and if it's happy will spout lots of baby plants, which are super easy to propagate. 

TIP: Chinese Money Plants are prone to becoming leggy, which is usually a result of the plant not receiving adequate light.  If this happens, you can encourage new growth by moving your plant to an area with lots of bright indirect light.  

12. TREE Philodendron

Scientific name: Philodendron bipinnatifidum 

I bought a Tree Philodendron for my bedroom and even though it prefers part shade and indirect sunlight, it was not happy in my north-facing dark room.  It was pretty dead when I moved it outside this spring and within a few weeks, it bounced back and has been thriving on the back deck.   I'll move it back inside once the weather drops and hopefully, it will be just as happy in my living room.

TIP: Too much direct sun will cause yellow sunburn leaves.  Be careful not to keep them in full sun and place them in an area that offers them time in the shade. 

13.  Silver BAY Aglaonema

Scientific name: Aglaonema nitidum 

I have two Silver Bay plants and both are thriving in moderate lighting conditions.   They're a fantastic plant option for low lighting conditions, only require once a week watering and their silver variegated leaves make a fun addition to a space. 

TIP:  If leaves on your Silver Bay plant are turning yellow then chances are you're overwatering your plant.  Cut back on watering and allow the soil to be dry to the touch before watering. 

I still have a lot to learn and as I mentioned, keeping my plants happy and healthy has been a lot of trial and error.  

Watching my plants thrive and grow has created such a sense of accomplishment though and I encourage those with the blackest thumbs to give a few house plants a try. 

House Plants that are great for beginners

     

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