Gertie, if you can keep live plants growing in their tanks, then hats off to you!
I'm an avid gardener, and I can grow houseplants like there's no tomorrow, but every time I put plants in Toadie's tank, they shrivel up and die within a few weeks. I guess I just don't have the "vivarium touch"!
But the mix of real and fake can work very well. Go for it!