Guides
Real or artificial: what survives an exposed porch
On a sheltered balcony almost anything works. On an exposed porch, the list of plants that survive a full year is short, and faux greenery often wins on effort rather than on looks.
What the weather actually does
UV light bleaches dye, wind frays fabric leaves, and a hard frost splits the pot before it kills the plant. A faux bundle with a UV finish answers the first two, but the pot still has to be frost-proof or brought inside.
If the spot faces west and takes the afternoon sun, expect any dyed stem to fade eventually. Rotating two sets keeps one looking fresh while the other rests indoors.
Where real plants still win
In a bright, sheltered corner a real plant will always look better than a fake one, and it will cost less than replacing faded stems every second year. Faux greenery earns its place where light is poor, where watering is impossible, or where the spot is too exposed for anything to establish.
A mixed approach works too: a real shrub in the ground, faux stems in the pot beside it that can be swapped out when the season turns.