i am not a long time AV pro... but i have many years experience with house plants and have learned to use them in attractive ways to add to the beauty of a home rather than look cluttered. avs have been a little harder but i think one thing that helps is pots that are all the same color and height. heres some pictures of the two places i have violets... and to me, they dont look cluttered. but i would like to hear from experts too. :) sorry they are sideways.

Clutter is my middle name. I own it ;-)

I am becoming less tolerant of clutter in general.

My violets are becoming part of this, which means that their numbers are decreasing.

Most of my violets are in my bedroom, the lights keep the room brighter and happier along with the violets. As you probably have notice I have tiny dogs as well as tiny violets. Many of my dogs live on my bed during the day, the plant lights just seem to work for me. I don't notice having any trouble sleeping. I feel that the plants sleep when I sleep. I go to bed an hour and a half after the plant lights go out.

I have plants in our bedroom, as well. It's supposed to increase the oxygen level ...

Thanks for the nice photos, Suyoder. Back in the pre-AV day when we had green houseplants that were large and tall, they enhanced the room.

I had many AV plants in the BR until I read this theory. I read the oxygen was good, they freshen the air. So I will disregard the theory. I once had a flora cart with lights in the BR, but that was too many plants. Dixie, I noticed the cute small dogs! Since the time I was a child, there had always been cats and or dogs on or near the bed. Now that they have all passed on, we have not replaced them. I thought plants slept n the dark. But that is when they perform photosynthesis. During the day, they absorb light. During the night, they convert the light energy into sugar, which feeds them. So maybe they are "cooking" in the dark?? Anyway, whatever they are doing, the energy is subtle and peaceful.

My solution for now is to put the AVs that can be displayed in the more general areas in attractive cache pots. Sometimes I stagger the height, using taller pedestal pots. Visually, it works, and provides more space for plants to fit.

There is a huge, two-shelf recessed window in the kitchen that is very deep. It can take a lot of plants, but I don't know what, as it gets hot and sunny. It needs some other type of plant that craves the sun magnified through glass.

I go through this decluttering mode every couple of years. Our club decided to place a large order with Rob's for all members to combine. I resisted until the fourth email "reminder" and then caved. There were some that Rob's now carries that I have only read about here, so I ordered a few ....

All my violets are in my bedroom too. I also have 2 chihuahuas that live on my bed :) I think to keep from having a cluttered look it helps to have all your plants in matching pots and matching reservoirs if you use them. I like white because it looks neat and clean. I also try to keep them all in one spot except for a blooming one here and there.

Melody Rose, sounds like we are kindred spirits!

No joke!

I do have clutter issues too. What about instead of hanging a pot you could hang a whole shelf by a window? Just a large board maybe? Not that I've tried but it could work.

so i know not everyone has a woodworker for a husband... but my man built these for me yesterday and in my humble opinion, this is a beautiful way to make violets a part of the decor!

I think Feng Shui is a crock. Do whatever feels good to you. My violets love my northern window. I have one that's been blooming for 2 months now.

thanks melody! i was so pleased with the end result! we got the glass cut for $11.. and the screws and wood and paint we already had on hand! and i cant believe how quickly it made a diff in the leaves... every plant seems happier and the leaves are not stretching up as much! i told him now i need some shelves in my east window! :-P sorry the pic is sideways! crazy cell phone.

zzackey I agree

Meanwhile, I am thinking of trying bonsai pots for AV's.

Suyudor

Part of the cluttered look is the display. My houseplants are all in cache pots, beautifully displayed. The violets are expected to be beautiful but not even all those flowers can completely disguise those orange plastic pots. I am collecting cache pots. Your idea of having all the pots identical may be a simpler solution.

Speaking of pots, using all the available light spaces for Dixie Cup Horticulture..such as rooting leaves on the living room coffee table. Tacky Dixie Cup décor..the solution might be shelves and light stands in a closet.

I am about to gather up all the plants, sort by size and tuck the Dixie Cups back of beyond. Then I can dress up the remainder in nice cache pots.

Lucky, shelves and lights in the closet is a splendid idea. I have one grow light... I will probably be utilizing it when my leaf orders get here!