How do I make shelf liners with a lip for my plants?
by
Jody
+9
I bought a wire shelving unit last year with big wheels to hold my house plants. During good weather they live outside. My shelving unit is 30” x 60” and fits nicely in front of my South facing front storm door. No UV blocking there so they tend to be happier there. I have wood floors. Had as anyone made or found shelf liners with a lip or know how to make a lip so I can water them faster and easier? I know about the cheap round plastic ones but if I’m not careful they crack and leak. I found the cut plastic trays at dollar tree but they don’t fit as well as I’d like. Any other suggestions? I’d like to be able to move plants around as they grow so I can keep them from growing in one direction. You know, without having to rearrange everything. Thanks plant people. I’m a newby at this.
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Perhaps some plastic boot trays might work. The trays are normally used to set wet/snowy boots on so you don't have water all over.
I found rubber mats with lip for setting snowy/muddy boots on at Walmart. I forget what I paid but I am sure it was between $5 and $10 for one. I got 2 for my winter indoor plant watering so it does not leak on the shelving or floor. Look in the home dept. where rubber floor mats are sold. I set the mat on the shelf, then put the plants on it. Perfect!
you can buy those plastic boot trays at the dollar store .I bought mine for my plants at dollar tree .I just bought 4 more there this past week for under my pets food dish's .I use them for my plant stand also
I’ve also purchased rectangular plastic planter “bottoms” at my greenhouse, intended to sit under window box type planters. It’s the same plastic as the planters, (white, grey, skies green, terra-cotta) with about 1-2” depth & available in different widths & lengths to accommodate different sizes & numbers of plant pots. I’ve also found items at thrift stores that worked well. Some party plan company once sold a type of plastic tray that could be used for OVENWARE. Came in a tan color & was a hard plastic. I got the 14” square ones two different times for under $2!!! I put glass gems across the bottoms to set plants on & let extra water run into the platters for humidity without keeping roots wet. Have also used old brass items, that I spray painted flat black setting clay pots inside. Old soup tureens or dishes, & such can hold smaller pots inside & catch overflow also, HTH.
I thank all of you for taking the time to help. The boot tray turned out to be three best suggestion but I was beginning to think I had the weirdest size shelves.
For anyone trying to keep your house plants happy the lighting becomes a major issue. I found out 2 years ago those really nice replacement windows provide insulation and block a heck of s lot of the uv light the plants need. Then I have one of those brick ranch houses designed in the early 60’s. The window ledges are extremely narrow, there is very little affordable that allows you to grow your plants neat lights.
Two years ago I found out from my replacement window people that there is a law requiring the uv block. He noted I didn’t get my storm door replaced then and there’s a good possibility it’s just plain glass. A good thing for my plants. I searched and found a rolling set of wire shelves. 30” wide, 12” deep, 5’ wide then its on wheels. Every morning I open my south facing front door, roll the shelves in front to see outside, move plants around, turn the shelves, etc. It spent the summer on the front porch allowing me to use it as a place to start seedlings, small plants, and the wheels allowed me to move the unit as s whole. It made my life a lot easier.
This year I have a few new plants, old ones, new furniture, low humidity if I want to be warm. Wanting to start some plants and grow some herbs. I needed to have the trays fit the shelves, be about an inch deep and allow me maximum space fit moving things around.
I found boot boot trays on bed bath and beyond website, almost exactly the correct dimensions. Since it’s close to Christmas, they thought it was a terrific idea and s great marketing idea, I got 5 for $6 each. Free shipping and 20% off entire order, not just one item.
Thry arrived 3 days later and are perfect. Think the trays we used for lunch as kids. Shallow side and a little lip. I took the shrub trimmers, trimmed the lip in the corners leaving the sides. Perfect. Was expecting to use that new rubbery stuff I see advertised to reinforce the corners. Didn’t have to.
Got a small bag of gravel- bigger than fish gravel, and made a layer all over each tray. Reading other plant peoples’ suggestions, I can now water without worrying about my floors and furniture. Answering the glass and light issue was a big help. I’m looking forward to trying to grow all kinds of things now I would never have thought about before. Also a lot less work now. If I over or under water it’s ok.
Happy 2019. I’ll be the crazy woman with herbs and lettuce growing in her front door along with the house plants. Thanks for all your help and support.
So glad Jody that you found what worked for you! Happy Holidays!