Lori, did you check out ebay? I bought a couple off ebay a couple of years back....

I use commercial baker's racks in my greenhouse, but if you're looking for something "pretty" for inside the house, I'd be looking at decorative baker's racks. Of course, the problem is that with most home windows, the windows start a foot or two (or more) above the floor, so with shelving units, you waste the bottom couple of shelves. (My GH windows are floor to ceiling, so I get to use all my shelves out there...) I hang a lot of mine in the house off my curtain rods - I buy decorative "s" hooks at Lowe's for this purpose. If you do this, though, make sure you have really sturdy curtain rods screwed into wood because it can be a lot of weight.

It's a challenge we all face. Before I got my GH, I put shelves in front of my windows using those metal strips you put vertically on the woodwork, then you get the metal things that the shelf rests on (that "click" into the metal strip), and you can buy all kinds fo different shelves to go on those, from plain to fancy, even make your own and paint or stain to match your woodwork. This works pretty slick, but of course you can only do it if you own your own home. I don't think landlords would appreciate all the holes you'd be leaving behind!

Denise in Omaha

Ah yes, landlords. sigh If I didn't have a landlord, I would be doing exactly as Denise (and good old MS - see link below) recommend. My new apartment has the most perfect deep windows for this, but I fear I'd get my tail kicked!

I am still trying not to succumb to metal shelves, but only because my plants are so scattered all about. If all my plants were in a nice sunroom, I'd fill the whole thing up with shelves just like Mike's. I have some Ikea thingys that I like using that I'll photograph for you when I get home.

Here is a link that might be useful: Glass Shelves

GG,

I love those shelves. What I love about glass shelves is that as the sun gets high in the sky, the sun will shine down through them, adding a little more light than they would get if they were wood shelves.

Denise in Omaha

Wow, what a cool idea, I love those glass shelves too. And I never thought of bakers shelves either. Thanks for all the great ideas, keep them coming, Lori

Oh, I love that glass shelves idea. I am going to copy that in my sun porch for this winter.

Here are the IKEA thingys I was talking about in my post above. They are intended to expand cupboard space, but I find they're handy for shelving units or, as I have them here on top of a rustic bench next to the window.

Closer view, so you can identify them on location.

Sorry, the light died just as I got home and had time to take the picture, so the images are a little fuzzy.

Also, here are some other nice ideas I've come across:

[Vintage bakers racks or library shelves, possibly enameled [(https://www.houzz.com/photos/country-industrial-kitchen-eclectic-kitchen-atlanta-phvw-vp~38953)

Something like this would be easy for a carpenter to recreate

I've been thinking about varied height groups of these...

And, we have some incredibly cool looking antique ladders in the basement of one of the family properties. I was thinking about shortening and refinishing one and using it to hang plants from, stabilized at an angle against a glass door.

I use a smaller version of a baker's rack that I picked up at Homegoods. I've also seen some decor-friendly units at Pier 1.

lisa

Those glass shelves are so nice, leave it to Martha Stewart. LOL
I wish my apartment was so nice and organized but, well it's crammed full of plants and the look is much more utilitarian than anything Martha would approve. I have to admit that I love those adjustable chromed wire shelves I use, best investment I ever made for holding and organizing my plants.
If you have a Solutions Store locally check there because they have a huge selection of shelves.

Mike

It's hard for even the most utilitarian object to look bad covered with beautiful exotic plants, though. I thought of those shelves when I saw this picture.

Here is a link that might be useful: [Industrial Chic Chromed Wired Shelves[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/patrick-townsend-chandelier-eclectic-home-office-phvw-vp~34264)

I love the glass shelves but unfortunately I live in a post 1992 built home and the windows are very shallow. I really need to buy an old house. I love the Ikea shelves but we don't have an Ikea around here and they are not on the website. :( I did some searching and I found some tiered plant stands that are really nice. When I have some extra money I hope to buy one.

Here is a link that might be useful: steel plant stands

This is what I use and there are many styles, heights, corner units and they come in chrome and black. These units are available in many stores as the basic four level unit but other stores carry the accessories and odd sized units. There are also wire bins that hang on the front or sides and bars that can span the length at the back and can then house wire bins or in my case I use it for hanging my mounted plants. These racks are totally adjustable and can have from two to four levels, your choice when you put it together. I hang lights from the top level and allow space for the plants to grow so I only use a max of three of the four levels. My large plants are on a rack with about six feet of space left for them to grow. There are also lockable wheels for these units so that you can move them to clean although it's not as easy as it sounds when covered with plants. Not easy to fit into the decor depending on your taste but they are very functional.

In Canada Solutions and Costco are a good source, probably also kitchen supply stores. I find that plant specific stands have low capacity or are not adjustable and over priced.

Mike

Here is a link that might be useful: chromed shelves

I have the chrome shelves that Mike has but I need to find more of the clip on spacers that you use to adjust the shelf height. I check the local Lowes and HD but could not find them sold seperately.

I posted this pic in a past thread... Here is one solution that I made for my hanging hoyas.

-David

David, I remember that picture . . . and I LOVE your solution! :)

Carolyn

David,

I went searching for the plastic clips that hold the shelves in place a few years ago, too. I find that once they've sat in the sun, they desintegrate when you go to move a shelf. I'll post the link where I got them.

Denise in Omaha

Here is a link that might be useful: Accessories for wire shelves

David-
Beautiful setup!
What kind of turtle do you have? I have a Mississippi Map and an Eastern Painted. Had to move them to a 90 gallon a couple of years ago - they finally seem to have stopped growing!
Kelly

Kelly,

I have a chicken turtle which is coming to age to be released in a nearby pond. I also have a quarter sized Southern Painted Turtle. It is cool how the Southern and the Eastern Painted Turtles boundaries overlap. I usually rotate my turtles about every 5 years or so. I do not think turtles have any problems making when let free after they start their lives in captivity. I still follow the lives of a few turtles that I have released in the past. The most interesting release was the time I found out that an Eastern Painted Turtle of mine was a female when she was immediately mounted upon release by another amorous turtle.

-David

/resurrect!!

This probably isn't worth resurrecting an old thread for, but I saw this plant unit...

...and thought: now that's the kind of thing I'd like to build someday. And then I thought: it would be nice if we kept sharing such inspirational ideas as we came across them. So, I waved my magic wand and created a zombie thread.

Here is a link that might be useful: Remodelista

Another shelving idea would be those units often used for linens ... they kind of look like an arbor with the shelves crossing the intervening space. (For that matter .... how about an arbor with shelving added into it?

GG,
I love that wall mounted stand. It would be fun figuring out what plants would look best mounted like that. I would like to picture it with dangling Hoyas and some nice plump green succulents. Maybe with some different colored pots. Or maybe even give the unit a southwest finish and add some squat vertical cacti mixed with some hanging varieties.
Thanks for keeping the ideas coming.

-David

Love the website! Cool mix of mod and retro!

David, I agree a southwestern finish would look really nice with some terra cotta pots.

So, I'm sure this topic will drift in and out of my head, but today I was noodling on it again, and thought I'd share these images I dug up:

This is like the Martha Stewart glass shelves, but it would work for windows that aren't deep.

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Source: Neat Home Net

No comment.
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Weird.

And honestly, this just infuriates me. I used to have 2 of these guys and I tossed them when I moved. Why did I never think to drill a hole in the bottom and have frogs vomiting Hoyas?
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Source: Home Design Interior

Neat, kinda like my Ikea Hoya hack that I have yet to put together. I like the yellow pots.

Mike