Use A Display Shelf To Showcase Your Houseplants

Houseplants look great anywhere in the home, on a window sill

, counter or tabletop. But grouping your houseplants on a shelf gives them great decorative appeal, as the leaves, stems and other features of the plants create an interplay of texture, shape and color. Grouping your plants on a shelf has a practical purpose as well: It makes it easier for you to care for your plants when they are all in one place. A shelf also gives you the option of adding a lighting feature to provide perfect growing conditions for your plants.

Location, Location, Location

Just as with real estate, there are prime and desirable areas for your plants and others that are not so advantageous. Don't forget that plants are living things that have specific needs in order to thrive and these generally center on the proper light conditions or amount of sun or shade required, moisture requirements, temperature, humidity, air and space and nutritional needs. If you're going to group your plants together on a shelf you'll have more success if all the plants have the same light requirements; for instance, all are sun lovers or all need afternoon shade. These requirements will help you determine the best window in the house for your plant shelf.

If you want to group plants that have different needs, one approach is to hang blinds on the window and then have individual full spectrum lights that can be directed on the plants that require more sun. Another option is to build a two-tiered shelf and have the sun lovers on the top shelf where they'll receive the most sunlight and those requiring less sun can be set on a lower shelf out of the direct path of the sun.

It's also wise to consider the portability of your shelf before you start building because plants on a shelf inside an enclosed porch may be happy as can be in summer, but need to come indoors for the winter. Stackable shelves are a good feature to consider for just this reason.

Types of Shelves

There are many types of ready-made shelf or freestanding units that you can use for a plant display. Bookshelves, baker's racks, vintage shelving units, wicker or rattan shelf units and floating shelves are some possibilities. A glass shelf anchored inside a window is a great way to display plants because the shelf is virtually invisible, letting the plants be the center of attention. You can also make shelves yourself to fit beneath a window or as free standing units that can be used wherever conditions permit. Plastic shelving units are inexpensive, lightweight and easy to snap together.

Your main consideration is that the shelves are sturdy enough to support the weight of the plants, soil and pots and keep in mind that the weight will increase whenever the plants are watered. It is also advisable to use anchor bolts to attach a tall shelf to a wall to keep it from toppling over, particularly if the unit is set up on carpet which tends to be a less stable surface than hard flooring. If grow lights are used in the unit, take the time to neatly tuck cords away and make sure that electrical connections are not in danger of getting wet.

by: Alyssa Davis

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