Meet The CA Woman Who Watered A Fake Plant For 2 Years

CALIFORNIA — For two years, Caelie Wilkes cared dutifully for her potted succulent — washing its leaves, giving it lots of sunlight and making sure it stayed well-watered.

"I was so proud of this plant," the Mendocino County resident wrote on Facebook. "It was full, beautiful coloring, just an over all perfect plant."

Then, about a week ago, Wilkes decided to give the succulent an upgrade and transfer it to a new vase. She pulled it from its original container, only to realize something startling.

The plant was fake.

Her beloved plant was actually a plastic replica, sitting on a bed of styrofoam with sand glued to the top.

"I feel like these last two years have been a lie," Wilkes lamented in a Facebook post which has since gone viral, with more than 12,000 likes.

Wilkes, a proud parent of plants real and fake, told Patch she doesn't plan to get rid of this one. She's even repotted it in the new vase.

"I figured, I loved it for two years," she wrote in a message. "Why stop now."