I plan on laying off for a while too, I would just love some creative ideas on how to give the plants I currently have the best care possible

That's easier said than done..When you dare to look at a thread that shows you all kinds of beautiful flowering succulents, colored leaves, unusual shapes, many of us wish we could have one of each. In fact many of us say" there is room for one more".

If you are one of them that has decided to put an end to new acquisitions, then I suggest you don't look here..

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/4893928/october-2017-blooms?n=88

In my instance, if I can find a way to make or utilize more sunny window space I will in order to get some of the rare finds that I can not buy at the stores or beautiful cactus or succulents I never knew existed...I can thank this forum for that.

I am in the process of building thin plexi glass shelves that will fit right in my windows like book shelves that will allow me more room for the succulents I want that others have. In fact, many flower at different times of the year that makes this hobby for me very exciting! The more the merrier..

I also know many that just can't go into a big box store of a nursery without spending time near the plants as a priority for fun or for therapy..

Many come home with a plant when they did not intend to and then have to become creative to find yet another sunny spot for that special plant..

Creativity allows me to enjoy more of the finer things, and succulents that require sunny places is one of them.

Then don't forget that cost effective lights that did not once exist that opens up a whole new world of possibilities!

The only thing I could possibly HATE about having so many is a pest problem, but that is something I no longer fear with the right products!

MIke

Mike, Mike, MIKE. Get out of my head and quit following me around!

Tyler

I have had to stagger the plants in front of the window, according to height. Then I rotate them if we have a bright day, so everybody shares as equal as possible. No new plants in my future. I am pretty content with what i have.

South Bow window

Good thread idea Mike! I am looking forward to seeing what folks' post here.

Tyler, I don't understand your comment but I am sure it was said in humor?

Chris, I am looking forward to seeing your set up or pics!! I know you have many succulents, so where do you store yours for the winter? is your sill crowed or are many under lights instead? Thanks my friend.

Debra, wow! It is a blessing to have a south facing bay window...I see how you have tiered your plants from tallest to shortest to the front and lower light level ones towards the back. Nice job

Laurie, I know what you mean. All my shorted ones go in the front. I also put the ones that like to stay very dry or hot in the front so watering is not such a problem.

My particular plants that I like are Jades, huge flowering small cactus and unique coloring Aloes...I am trying to get a liking for other strange plants around here. I have friend that comes here that has a small succulent that he only has to water once a year if that and his breath alone if enough for moisture..lol

Mike, most definitely in humor to be sure.

I always wander through the nursery of the big box stores just to see what they have just in case even though I KNOW I don't need any more plants.

Also, reading threads or pursuing websites to see the different colors, shapes, etc of plants out there that seem unique or different to me or just not part of my collection...yet!

...and my rationale is always room for one more!

...AND because of those things right there,, I'm constantly having to juggle, shift and rearrange things to find a spot.

Its as if you were following me around and in my head...or maybe it's just a common syndrome that I "suffer" from.

Tyler

Tyler, you know, two great and sick minds think alike.Hal That is exactly what I do every time I go to any store with a section of plants, even the local market basket..I am always on the prowl for something I have never seen, never thought I wanted, or something that someone has posted here but that I have never seen on E-bay or locally..Thank God we have each other to trade with or we'd all be screwed in the 'rare' succulent category...You are too funny and made my day. should see what all the jade lovers do here. Many think they found something rare if differently colored or shaped, and post in the hopes they found one that no one else has, or that is extremely rare... lol

Best wishes from the other side of the country..It's pouring here with local flooding although tempos are extremely warm for this time of the year. I would call it tropical downpours with thunder mixed in...Many of my plants are still outside..

Iv'e come up with a plan for window shelving..Going to the local glass cutting company and going to get 30 inch long by 4 inch wide glass shelves and going to make them a foot above each other..Should look really nice! One plant per inch apart instead of all crammed up on the bottom window sill..lol

Mike

Can't wait to see it.

Tyler

I keep saying no more than something is offered up for free or it will be thrown out,I can't resist it. I just brought home a 7 foot bird of paradise which will not please the wife.

Debra and woodnative, you’re making me reconsider getting more plants! I have a grow light over the desk, it’s just so sunny that I haven’t turned it on yet. I seem to be attracted to anything variegated so I’m very excited about the cutting you sent me Mike!

Casual. will you e-mail again so as to make sure I sent you the package instead of another member!!! Please...I get confused when I get the e-mail but not by the name of the web member here...UGh

All done!

Oh good..lol. It was you that I sent everything to! Can't wait until you get your package))))

Me either! Hopefully it doesn’t freeze!

This cooler weather is likely better for sending plants - not really cold enough to freeze, but at least they are not stuck in stuffy box for days. Positive thinking, haha...

Hey Mike. Interested to see how your shelf project turns out. I am also working on a similar project. You are using plexiglass, right? That is what I am using as well, but I discovered that a plexiglass shelf ~30 inches long (and about 3/16th inch thick) is a bit too bendy for a shelf anchored only at the two sides. I'm not sure how thick the plexiglass is that you're using, but we are remedying the problem with a 3/4 inch (square) wooden dowel running along the bottom of the plexiglass to brace it. Just wanted to give you a heads up.

Mesembs, I decided to go with cut polished off glass 1/4 inch think...I will cut them all 34 inches long by 4 inches wide so that those that don't like hot afternoon sun can sit to the far end of the shelves and set up small side brackets to rest them on. I think the inside of my newer windows is a bit to thin to hold anything that would support the shelf's in between the Windows..In fact the space of the wood is only 1/2 inch wide from edge of the molding to window..I will create something and I can't wait. Heading to the glass company tomorrow..Only 10 dollars per cut shelf..I will only need a couple. Probably use to support small brackets instead...

Setting the shelves like that just looks so neat and classy and allows all the plants to have air circulation and sunlight...

I try not to buy more plants unless it's really unique, interesting colors or cool variegation or a jade I don't have.

Metal shower caddies work well to use vertical space. Southern large bay window...

Below pic, I painted a wood board that's the length of bay window and it's supported by a concrete block on each end (there is a heating vent underneath).

Small bay window... also south facing. I can't use all window space, got to have some walking paths and nap areas :)

Mike, can't wait to see your window project! Sounds great.

-Nancy

I made mine with tempered glass. I have more windows to fill, so I'm going to see how regular plate glass works out as the tempered was very expensive.

2.5 windows down, 2.5 more to go... then I start working out how to get more plants in all the large west-facing windows :D I'm really liking the curtain rod idea. I bought a bunch of jute at the thrift shop to make macrame hangers.

kd

Most of you are so neat! and very nice shelves...windows I can use for plants are bit too wide and there is no spot to put center support, so I am using just regular shelves. Doesn't look as nice as kd's or some others - but works for plants. I still feel they are not getting enough light since there are trees there, and until all leaves drop (most are now), there is never enough light IMO :) So majority of my plants are away from windows, under supplemental lights...

Definitely. I made 2 frames just the right size in front of my two bedroom windows.

There are still spaces as now I am shuffling my other plants in and out of garage. Majorities are still outside at daytime. Trying to extend the growing season as long as possible.

a more presentable plant stand in dinner room

and even places not that close to a window and not directly in front of a window

Once the plants all come in, I think some will end up at the small window in the basement.

I promised myself NOT getting supplemental light,as I know very well my number of pots will grow exponentially. That's my last defense line.

-rockdale

Rockdale. now we are talking!! I LOVE that almost white tooth philo you have there...))

I can take cuttings from my Brugs tomorrow now that the downpours have finally let up but I will wait until Monday morning so that they get fresh to you!! Nice job on making room there. Beautiful plants too. Will the Bengal plant do good in that spot? Are those Phals I see? I have lot's of them all fragrant!

Rina, you are so right. I agree.)))

Bunkfree, WOW. Looks so neat and how in the world did you make that? It's so fit and perfect. Good job and nice plants. I wish I had the wood space to do that so I will have to use mini side supports and then place shelves on these..I hope it looks good.

Nancy, holy cow! I had no idea you area looked like that and you have yourself quite the selection of plants there. I hope to visit some day or you me..Love them all. I also love the window space...Can you take a close up of those Tub things you are talking about and how do you make them stand like that without leaning over? Great idea.

I think the thing I love a lot about succulents is that they can stay so small and yet be so attractive and most can fit in places where big plants can not.

rockdale

Good luck with that decision - anything to stop you from getting more, lol.

I just stick them in any place available - these few trays are in only temporary spot; in still unheated breezeway (temps right now drop to about 40-45* F overnight). Hope it is very temporary, room needs lots of work - as you can see, there is plastic over windows that need to be replaced, and space is waiting for contractor.... No supplemental lights (yet, lol) - plants have been just brought in day ago and supposed to go to different locations...

Mike, haaaaa there is more too!

Luckily these shower caddys stand on their own, I bought the ones that either have little feet or flat bottomed. I got them at TJMaxx over the last couple years or so. I do pray the cats don't smash into them & knock everything over, once in a while they rough houses too much. I would not suggest putting your most delicate plants in them... or you could figure out hardware. (I don't want to drill into the windows)

For now, I have these daytime pics...

Past year or so pics....

Rina, they look pretty organized in those trays. I was using similar to those black trays, but they were square instead, anyways when I thought it was time to water them, luckily I picked up the pot to find the bottom was still wet. I then switched the tray of plants to the mesh like bottom (kind of like your blue trays). Just trying to avoid rot. I hope your trays work better than the ones I had.

-Nancy

Mike, I think it is big enough to make a cutting, it is not Philo though, the picture is too dark to tell. it is a Syngonium podophyllum. If you like white variegated Philo I have one called Philodendron domesticum 'Jose Buono' (instead of posting picture here, I can send a picture to your email, this is a succulents forum after all :), will talk to you more in the email). The Sansevieria bantel's sensation should be ok there I think. Although this is the first year I put it there. It used to be a Sansevieria black gold at the same spot, it works fine even it did not go outside in summer. I gifted it to my friend after a couple years. So I think the Bentel will be fine as it will spend summer outside.

And yes, that is a phal, my first one. We will see if it likes me. LOL. There are fragrant Phals too? Please do not let me know. :)

Rina, Wow you have that many pots just for Jade only? I used to have a lot of jades too, first gifted the same ones to friends, keep only one plant for each variety, then gifted the "normal" green crassula ovata, then Crassula Ovata 'Crosby Compact' because it never gets the kind of color I see on internet. Then Crassula ovata 'Hobbit' - because there is a more colorful version "red horn tree" - hope I will find it some day. Now I still have 'undulatifolia', 'Blue Hale', 'Tricolor', 'Hummels Sunset' and 'Akai' left. Hard to decide which one is the next to gift out when space becomes an issue again. :)

Nancy, I employ the same philosophy here too, try not to grow or get plants unless ......,well look at all the Jades you are "hoarding", not sure how successful you are regarding "I try not to buy more plants unless it's really unique, interesting colors or cool variegation or a jade I don't have." - I know they are all unique :)

-Rockdale

Nancy

I use these to carry them, and while in temporary location. But some were in those (or similar) holders all the time while outdoors, without any other tray below. Otherwise, they will stay wet longer at the bottom. I have few square pond baskets/pots and like them, they are perforated on sides and bottoms. But hold max 4 plants only. I also picked up few that Beth found and they are really good and sturdy, I will try to find photo of them.

Rockdale

I do have many jades - too many really. But most are leftovers - someone asked me to grow quite a few for them on couple of occasions. They wanted them all of similar size (as similar as possible!) so whatever was too small or too big or extra - I was left with (there are more besides what is in that photo...!) I am promising to get rid of them except for few (that finally bloomed) and have been gifting them right & left. I gave 3 to a lady I met in a store today. She just texted me that few of her friends want some and could she come & get them - so hopefully, there will be few less. I would like to have all the 'fancy' ones. I do have some - like undulatifolia, Lemon and lime, Hobbit, Gollum, few small leaved ones that stay quite dark and maybe are Crosby's compact...but not Solana or Denethor or Akai...

Rina those look positively CHOCOLATELY!

Tyler

Rina:

do you have a picture of your lemon and lime? From what I read (on this forum) it is same as 'akai'.? I also saw it once in store and to me looks like 'akai' too. But, if you like an 'akai' jade, I have a small one that I can send to you. Let me know

rockdale

End of my living room...

added this stand (think it's really for kitchen stuff) from Ikea so now I have room for more...

Still room to add hanging plants or maybe shelves. I've learned never to say that I'm not getting any more plants :-)

Here's another spot for plants in a different room. Slider faces south, but is somewhat blocked by another part of the house so I put in a supplemental led light.

And here's my greenhouse

still room for more inside!

sld

Plenty of room indoors and even more in the GH! I like al the fat plants by the sliders. Is there a heater? - is it needed for them? (or rather for ppl that share house with plants? Hope I am not too nosy :)

Rina, there's a heating mat under the plants that's set to the low 70's; get's kind of cool in that room at night, and I find the Adeniums, Dorstenia lavrani and gigas, and the pachypodium like the warmth. That tall metal thing to the right is a fan that can be pointed at the treadmill that's there, but not in the photo.

I used to have the greenhouse filled with Clivia, but got tired of having them take up so much room and only being interesting when they flowered (mostly in end of Jan. into March), so most of them have been given away, and now I get to find interesting cool growing, sun loving plants. Such a chore!

We live a little over an hour's drive from Logee's. Think I'll be heading there soon :-) First time I went there was circa 1977, so about 40 years ago... time flies!

Thank you for answer sld...I would like to get few fat plants in the future. So far I have only 2 small Adeniums. Maybe next year :) How can you stay away from plant store for so long! I am sure you'll be coming home with few goodies. You need to fill up your GH.

Oh, 40 years ago was just the first time I went to Logee's; I've been there many, many times since! Their greenhouses are truly a special place to visit, especially on a cold, sunny winter day.

A lot of my fat plants (mostly Euphorbias and Pachypodiums) I got from Out of Africa, the Adeniums are from seed from Orient Adenium, a couple of grafted plants from Orient Adenium, and a couple of grafted plants from Logee's.

For making room on the windowsill, the key is ... more levels of windowsill! My windows were able to accommodate simple glass shelves from IKEA, but google will give you a LOT of good ideas for adding more shelving to your windowspace while still letting in some light. I'm currently on lockdown: no more plants until I make more space!

rockdale

Thank you, that is very nice of you. In order not to hijack this one, I started a - new thread - with photos of my plants.

stupidlazydog(5b/6a)

Like your setup, and some cool plants there. Very neat and your house looks very bright. Do you have closer picture of the two jades on the last photo? What are they? Sorry just love to see different jade photos. :) I have been to Logees once, most of my fragrant plants were from there although some were dead after a couple years (because of me) , very nice place.

Daniel is so right..I finally finished mine and boy does it feel good to spread them out and have them all get all the sign they need..I hope you all like it and the plants)))

After installing the glass, I put a shelf unit together to sit behind it and to put my bigger less sun plants on that and those that could get more sun there too. I put the cuttings in the very front...Thanks for looking Hope many get ideas from this..

Oh my, I didn't notice how much and how many ideas many have here since ,y last post yesterday!

Rina, you could never hijack mine, in fact I would of love to have seen many of your plants here! I shall have to take a peek at yours..The Solena and Denthor I have one and waiting on the other. I will share with you once I get the other Rina)) If you posted your jades I will for sure go look. You know me and my Jades..What about Maruba? Do you have one of those? Looks to me you are nuts about Jades too!! I love it and your cat fits right in with all the color. Beautiful. What's that very red plant? beautiful..

Rockdale, you have ben to Logees?? I love that place. I am getting your package ready along with Rob's for the beginning of next week). Rockdale I love that plant. Yes, let's talk ))

Stupidlazydga, I'll bet you spend most of your days in that little place of warmth and sun!! I would for sure and what a perfect spot for lots of succulents a coffee on a sunny cold day! Is that an Orange tree you have there and Hoya? Many plants of which I love and I am growing. In fact, several different rare Hoya and about 35 citrus trees....Nice

Well looking up further, wow!! Looks like you have plenty of room for succulents and many others, more room than my loan Home Depot..Great job and very nice.

Rockdale, I'll take a photo of my jades tomorrow.

Mikerno, I love those glass shelves. You have quite a collection... 35 citrus trees, wow! The larger citrus you see in the photo of the inside of my greenhouse is a Shiranui mandarin. I also have a smaller Shiranui, a small New Zealand lemonade, and a red finger lime. The variegated plant in my greenhouse, on right in the last photo (is this the one you thought might be a hoya?) is a variegated Stephanotis. I do have a hoya I grew from a cutting of my mother's hoya; you can see it on the right in the photo of my Ikea stand. I think it's a variegated Hoya carnosa.

Mike

I just re-read your last post: I do not have Solana or Maruba or Denethor!!! Would love any of them. If you ever have extra cutting of any, pls. remember me...:) I don't think I have any you need but if you think I do, just say so and they are yours. Or some other plants you may like...

Nice shelves! I like glass too, they don't 'cramp-up' space...I remember seeing your other plants besides succulents in the past. I have some tropical, but can't keep lemon alive, haha...few olives, figs, loquat, ficus Benjamina, bouganvelia and some others - and there is always problem with space for winter!

BTW, very red plant and the cat are Nancy's; hope she will notice your questions and answers.

Rockdale, here's a close up of my jades.

back row: 2 Red Horn Trees, variegated Hummel's Sunset

middle row: variegated jade from home depot, another home depot jade - looks just like the Red Horn Trees, but colors up a little differently. The Red Horn Trees get shades of red and some yellow in their leaves, the Home Depot one gets some red, but no yellow. Right now they're all just green.

front row: Gollum on left and variegated Gollum on right

sld

Very nice plants!

The Red Horn Tree look-alike could be Hobbit? Look at this thread - toward end of it, I posted photo of my Hobbit. Leaves can get bit darker and also may have red rims and tips, and the leaves are more robust overall. Maybe that's what your plant is. I think I bought those in HD too but not sure...this is how they look when purchased in 2016:

stupidlazydog(5b/6a), Thanks for going through the trouble to take the picture for us, you variegated hummel's sunset is quite a specimen, really impressive. The variegated gollum is good size too. Re clivia, I have two clivia in one pot, it is a very easy plant, at least for me, winter I just put it in my basement, then move it outside when weather warmer up and it flowers every year. I have 2 citrus, one is Citrus Fortunella obovata "Fukushu" (yes it is from Logees) and another is Citrus Limon 'Eureka Variegated Pink', smell very good when they are flowering.

Mike, you really make that window work hard for you, don't you. So creative, and you are really dedicated to your plants, all your plants in your pictures look so vigorous. With the short grow season and long gray winter in New England, It is very hard to get such result - kudos to you. I see a yellowish Thanksgiving cactus, is that a new variety? or just the light angle? I want to send you the syngonium podophyllum cutting before we get too cold. Please check your email and let me know what else I should put into the package.

Love all the pictures and set ups in this thread.

-rockdale

Beautiful Settings, I wish that I could do similar but our house sits E to W , with North in the front & surrounded by mature trees.

Stupidlazydog, great set up you have there..Do you use lights at all or just teh window light? They look beautiful..)

Rockdale, thank you..I appreciate the comments..You should have yourself quite a few beautiful colors soon. If you need help to root them let me know, but I think you have that under control..Can't wait to see them potted up buddy!