Purple: I'm not sure where bedtime lives, but when I lived in Grand Forks, ND, I had a philodendron (1 year in a dorm, 2 years in a college apartment), and I never had aerial roots (sounds pretty cool, would make cuttings easier, right? though I suppose it would get annoying over time..) The air was extremely dry on account of having the heat on all the time (outside air during winter those years was around 20 F to -40 F, usually around -10 or 0. I am wondering if that had something to do with it not making those roots? Over those years it grew from a "bush" in a 10" shallow pot, to about 4-5' of many vines dangling off the edge of the bookshelf. I miss that plant! As for this indoor vine project, I agree with what Purple says... several types of plants would make it most interesting, I think. The following links contain some examples of mixed-species "green walls" (I thought they were similar enough to your lattice). Not all of those ideas will work with having one big pot at the bottom of the lattice, but maybe they'll give you some inspiration :) http://plantsonwalls.blogspot.com/ http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/plant-walls-for-the-home-by-ja-63408 http://www.greendiary.com/greenwoks-self-sufficing-modular-plant-wall.html Just do a search on "plant wall" for some more fun ideas. Hope you post more pictures once you've picked & planted your plants :-) - Siobhan

Your trough sits on south facing window sill outside of the window? If it is going to frequently get wet and then freeze, if it was made too porous, it will crack. If you make it so that it holds water (by sealing it up) you are asking for trouble if it will then fill with water and freeze. By its nature, cement is "cracky" and cracks are not a fatal thing with troughs. You can fix the cracks in your existing trough by using Goop or some other acrylic. That will normally work; Goop will hold a trough that has broken into pieces together. Don't think that the felt feet would have anything to do with the problem; nor the temperature fluctuations. Granted, it is scorching hot in that NM sun, but that shouldn't do it. Sounds like it either had a weak spot like Billie Ann said or it kept soaking up water and then freezing, which it would have to do quite a bit to crack. How thin were the walls? Had it frozen a few times before it cracked?

I have a slope about 11ft deep by 5ft high. I'm planning on terracing the area into 2 levels. 5.5ft wide and 2 ft high. So 3 walls 2 levels. My plan is to use pressure treated wood. 4x4 as posts every 4ft and 2x8 boards behind them. I live in Southern california so don't get a ton of rain. The ground is full of large rocks. My quesion is do I need deadmans or other extra enforcement? Or should I be OK with the cemented posts every 4 ft? Also any advice on stairs would be appreciated. Thanks in advance

i dont understand the first pic to your last pic... it doesnt look at all the same situation .. anyway.. after much soul searching.. i found wisdom in 2 beers.. lol ... i would get a large tallish decorative pot for the floor.. rather huge.. i would weight it with stone or bricks .. and then invert an empty pot... and then find another pot to go on top of it .. in which i would plant .... and keep in mind.. small plants start in small pots .. so i would also find 3 pots that go in the media pot ... btw.. never forget.. the most important hing in the pot is a high quality media ... its the water management system the plants need ... you may not be able to repot this thing easily in the far future ... i would put 3 or 4 pathos cuttings in each lets say 8 inch pot.. and then 3 of those inside the larger media filled pot ... all pots.. except the decorative pot have drainage ... the pretty pot is our water retention pot until you learn how to water properly so as to not create such ... then i would train the pathos over to the rail.. and let is go where ever it wants ... you might need those two beers.. to understand what those words mean.. or any other adult beverage.. lol ... unless someone can mock it up for you .... what says you .. ken ps: in effect.. i am telling you to get out of the box you set yourself in by trying to hang wet media on a railing ... imo.. thats where you lose all options ... get out of the box!!!! .. pps: and small pots with multiple plants will need repotting often ...