Caring for your artificial plants

Taking care of artificial plants and silk flowers doesn't have to cost a lot of money or take hours of time from your busy schedule.

Buying an artificial plant cleaner can become costly, and your plants may still be covered with dirt and film.

Cleaning the plants one leaf at a time, with a sponge, can take hours out of your day.

After you purchase your plants, here are a few things you need to know about their care.

Whether it's an artificial tree, a silk plant or silk flowers, test to make sure your plant can handle some tap water. To do this, remove one leaf from an inconspicuous portion of your artificial plant and rinse it with some tap water and shake it out. After a few minutes, check the leaf to see how shiny it is.

Next, take the plant outside and dust it with a feather duster. This removes most of the dust and lets you prime the plant for cleaning.

You will want to check to see if the filler around your plant isn't some kind of paper such as newspaper. You may need to replace this material with Spanish moss.

If you plant is in a brass or copper like pot, find something to protect it, as brass, copper or the like will get water stains and tarnish fairly easily.

Once you have taken these steps, place your silk plant or tree on a cemented area like a patio or a driveway and is near a water hose. If you have a spray nozzle on your hose, you're in good shape, if not, just make sure that you spray

the water at your artificial plant rather than dousing it. Spray your plant thoroughly with the hose, and when you're done, shake the artificial tree or plant lightly to get most of the water off.

After you are finished with spraying and shaking out your silk plant or your silk tree, allow it to dry in the sun for a few hours. Do this every three to six months. In between this deep cleaning, use a good feather duster to keep your artificial plants looking fresh and new.

- Information courtesy KinkadeStudios.com