Many just use windowsills though eventually many folks outgrow that space. (Pun unintended but apropos. heh ) By and large, my plants, whether AVs or other, occupy a lighted plantstand and a shelving unit located in front of my sliding glass doors.

I was going to do that, but I was concerned about the temp this time of year being too cold.

HI Travis, Hi all, it has been cold here north of Buffalo. We were at about-13 F yesterday, but my AVs on the windowsill do not look any worse for the wear. The windows in the living room and the basement below the living room have been replaced several years ago. The rest of the windows are going to be replace this year. The Provincial (state) government is giving a rebate on the replacement of windows. To tell the truth, the windows, I believe, are original to the house built in about 1958.

Travis, growing AVs on windowsills is not that bad. Of course, it gets hot in the summer and at times very cold in the winter. They weem to tolerate that.

Just saying.

Yolanda

Yolanda, I'm sure you're right they would probably be fine most of the year. However, the past couple weeks it hasn't crept much above zero even for a high. Those conditions might make me nervous. We just got new windows this past fall so that should help too.

Travis

Hi All, hi Travis, as I said above, the temperature here was the equivalent of -13 -F last week. Now it is about 30 F. The AVs are happier. They are not blossoming, but I guess they are taking a break and will blossom as soon as we get more sunshine. Now that the cold snap is over we are getting snow. As my father always said, when it snows, the temperature is higher, expect when it is absolute 0, when everything is frozen solid. Yes, he would talk like that.

Yolanda

Travis, glad to see you here.

As far as shelving goes, it would appear that nearly all of us started off by placing plants in windows around our house. Soon after, smaller homemade or ornamental shelving started to appear to allow for a few more plants around those precious, light giving windows. Then it happens. The insatiable desire for just a FEW more plants requires rethinking the whole plant shelving/lighting thing.

My journey started with the purchase of (one) rolling rack with five shelves in it. Within its confines I mounted my various lighting efforts. After dozens of variations, I was left with my current configuration, the rolling shelves with cfl lighting.

The rolling shelves that I bought off the internet are very heavy duty, have heavy duty castors and are about $80. The wheels roll very smoothly across the floor making cleaning and repositioning a breeze. The possible variations for lighting are endless. I went with cfl but there are plenty of arguments for all the other lighting systems as well.

Good luck with your journey.

I found some wire shelves that they had on sale at Lowe's. I'm going to give them a try. I've got plenty more plants I can fill them with!

Jeff, Travis, you must have large homes. We have lived in our 1200 sq, ft home since 1981, and no one is moving. More selves would make it so that we could not move around in the space. Yes there is a basement, but it has necessary things - like a furnace, water heater, washer/dryer, etc. I AM NOT considering adding shelving.

Just saying.

Yolanda

They are very nice! Would like one for myself though I can see how my leaping cats would soon want to make it their own.

Yep, I understand the space thing. The "Peter Principle" suggests we should recognize our limitations and then learn how to enjoy ourselves within those parameters. I think I have pushed my living conditions to the end. No more room for plant shelving!

Im definitely enjoying myself but I don't think I have accepted the parameters as they are currently described just yet!

Violet, That is what I am afraid of. He doesn't leap that much anymore, but he hadn't bothered my other plants either and he started that this year. Now , the violets won't hurt him (unlike the others), but he sure wouldn't help their looks!

Jeff - I think you getting closer to purchasing the property with a lanai. AVs - inside - but so many gorgeous gesneriads you can park there... and no need for extra light.,, Achimenes alone is worth the trouble.

And then we will come see you - Rosie and I and the rest of the crowd from winter states... We can have a lanai repotting party...

I'll go,,,I'll go!!! You bet! Irina I don't mind doin' the drivin'!!!!! And I drive a TRUCK! lol Rosie

@ Sherry: I have those window shelves. They are in a south window with a wide overhang outside. I started out growing AV's there, but soon found that my streps liked it much better there than the AV's. That is not a problem of the shelving itself, but more of the amount of light in that window and the winter temps there. The streps were much more comfortable with brighter light and cooler temperatures. And I just bought a set for my son and daughter-in-law's Christmas gift. They moved into a new house in the autumn and their houseplants are STILL being babysat in my windows. My gift was sort of a self preservation thing, I admit. ;-) That said, they have cats and one in particular is a real explorer...but I bought the set with only 2 shelves so they would be higher from the floor and hopefully the clear material will make it harder for the cat to see it as a jump landing zone. We shall see!

Good to hear from you Anne! And that is one gorgeous pix! WOW,,,I never thought about those as a gift! hmmmm wonder if they would be suitable for my very, very tall old farmhouse windows??? Would they hang low enough? May have to look into it! Rosie

Anne, Thank you! That is a very pretty set up. My window faces due east. I do have mini blinds and it has molding, but not a sill. I am going to contact the company and see what they say I should do. I know I have been reading that they have brackets also. I want a mix of violets, Thanksgiving cactus, and succulents. I hope that the cat will leave it alone if I put him a tower in the other window.

I had bought a purple NOID Optimara to replace one I had long ago. (post last year). It did great and then we got a puppy. By then I had lots of starts and I moved everything to the little greenhouse I have. Things were still going good all summer. They were blooming like crazy (even the babies) and something decided to eat them and just chew leaves off. I think it was a squirrel or chipmunk. So I moved them inside. They don't get enough light and are just existing! The greenhouse won't stay warm enough in winter for violets.

Rosie, they have lots of pictures on the website.

"And then we will come see you - Rosie and I and the rest of the crowd from winter states... We can have a lanai repotting party..."

And we know the types of potting parties Rosie throws .... heh heh

I KNEW you would comment on the type of party I would have. And you are probably right!!!! I think we will call it a "lanai potting and topdress party!" Rosie

Only top of the dress is mandatory... I do not think Jeff will escape unscathed....probably will need some help for the severe psychological trauma...

Ohhh, too much fun!!! Rosie

I cannot stop laughing,,,,

My sides are just about splitting! Rosie

Rosie1949(4a to 5b/SE Mi)

"I KNEW you would comment on the type of party I would have. And you are probably right!!!! I think we will call it a "lanai potting and topdress party!" Rosie"

Surely "topdress" is a typo on Rosie's part. (Now if only emoji's were possible, I have a "bouncing eyebrows" emoji that would be perfect here .....)

Paul,,,,I have to hide behind something don't I?!! Rosie haha

Topdressing is legit - it is covering the surface of soil with some material - gravel, sphagnum moss, or just fresh soil to cover a distracting rusty old perlite and what not.

What Rosie had in mind... some mischief I am sure... may be we can all be in the buff - but wearing dark glasses?

Topdress means "cover on top"! I absolutely NEED my surface covered up! No more and certainly no less. lol Mischief??? Me?????? Oh and dark glasses are out. Can't see to do micro surgery! Rosie

PS. No buff,,,,I don't want to blind anyone's eyesite forever !

irina_co(z5 CO)

"Topdressing is legit - it is covering the surface of soil with some material - gravel, sphagnum moss, or just fresh soil to cover a distracting rusty old perlite and what not."

That I know, Irina, m'dear. Just was referencing the other thread wherein I mentioned I had misread Rosie's "topdress" as "topless". :-D

Oh Paul,,,I KNOW what Irina meant! hahahahahahahahahah Rosie

I think we all have dirty minds... nice to have such an understanding crowd. If Rosie thinks we need to topdress ourselves - I think we can come up with some ideas. I do not think that wet sphagnum moss is that pleasant ,,, but it depends on the pot use I guess...

Lady GaGa wore a dress made out of meat. I guess peat moss wouldn't be that bad.

(OT but yuk,,,,don't need to get into a big discussion!!!!) Jeff,,,,Are you serious? Real meat???? Ridiculous! And they call ME crazy!!! haha Rosie

Strange, yes. Look it up.

I wish somebody would have let the dogs loose!

I'm not sure my violets are old enough to be on this thread!

meat dress

LMAO this sure took an interesting turn! You guys crack me up!

Nah, no meat... can you imagine the fly and maggots fest??? Not in my closet!

I am with Irina!!!!!! Not in my house anywhere!!!! Oh goodness,,,enough of this! We got too far away from PG-13!!!! Somebody quick!!! post a pretty pix of a violet!!!! Any violet!!! PLEEEEEEEAAAAAASSSSSSEEEEE!!!!!! Rosie

Ohhh thank you Irina! That is beautiful!!! I have never seen that one before. Is it really that red??? Those leaves have some nice defininition. Rosie

PS, Heart is back to sinus rhythm!

It is more intense under the fluorescents,,,