Plants, Lights, and Humidity: More of All

We plant enthusiasts know the struggle: there’s always room for one more plant… or so we tell ourselves. Yet somehow, there’s never enough actual space. While my collection of gesneriads hasn’t grown significantly since the July Gesneriad Society Convention, the space they require definitely has, thanks to their thriving growth.

For a while now, my light stands have been woefully overcrowded. I had a small bookshelf with 3-foot LED lights acting as a temporary fix, but it was clear I needed an upgrade. Last month, I finally ordered the materials for a second stand with 4-foot LEDs and it’s now all set up and ready for action.

Awaiting the plants

The first plants to move onto the new stand were those previously under the 3-foot LEDs. These had been receiving a bit less light, so I’ll be keeping a close eye on how they adjust. There are also some plants on my older stands that will to move to the new setup where I can lower the lights to be closer to the plants. An existing two-shelf enclosure is used for the taller growing plants, and a few desiring more distance from the light source. Over the coming weeks, I’m sure there will be plenty of rearranging of plants as I fine-tune their placement. 

Space! For now

To help the plants thrive, I’ve enclosed all my light stands in plastic covers. This setup, which I first tried in late September, has noticeably increased the humidity, much to the plants’ delight. I also use gravel trays with water underneath to maintain humidity levels. Occasionally, I have to unzip the covers to release excess moisture — otherwise, it feels like it might start raining in there!

Even plants that are typically grown in terrariums, like Sinningia pusilla, S. musicola, and Nautilocalyx pemphidius, are thriving in this open-but-humid environment. It’s a promising sign that setup is working well.

The new shelves are heavy-duty, stable, and now on wheels, which makes moving them much easier. The weight of the gravel-filled trays make the stands impossible to move otherwise. Adding wheels to my other 4-foot stand is next on the to-do list.

"Wall of Plants"

I think I’ve finally hit capacity — or at least, that’s what I’m telling myself. My basement “Wall of Plants” is becoming a lush, green haven, and I’m not sure there’s much more space I can claim without taking over completely. Besides, as the collection grows, so does the time needed for care, and I may have reached my limit.

For now, I’ll sit back, admire the flourishing jungle, and try to resist the urge to add just one more plant… but who am I kidding? It’s only a matter of time.