5 Things About Having a Plant Room These Pros Wish They'd Known Sooner
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Plant rooms are rooms filled to the brim with plants and they can be pretty spectacular—it’s a beautiful, jungle oasis inside your very own home. But, while plant rooms are pretty, they can also cause some problems, which is why we spoke to some plant pros about the things they wish they’d known sooner about having a plant room.
In theory, a plant room should take some planning to get set up, but sometimes people can get ahead of themselves because they’re just so excited to have one. So if you’re thinking about creating a plant room of your own, these are some things to consider.
Marina Castanos is a plant content creator on Instagram and TikTok.
Agatha Isabel is a plant content creator on Instagram and will soon be releasing a book about plants.
millennialplanter / Instagram
Plants Grow
A lot of people don’t realize that some plants can get really, really big so if you want to see those plants get healthier and grow, you’re going to need the space for it.
“When it comes to my plant room, my biggest mistake was underestimating the sizes of my plants,” Castanos says. “When I first set up my plant room, I had a few big plants but in recent months I've really started concentrating on maturing some of my plants (growing them up moss poles and wooden planks) and it's taking up a lot of room.”
Make sure you plan ahead. If you know you have plants that can grow really wide, like a monstera, account for that and leave room for it to grow. “I've rearranged a few times and I'm still not really happy with the layout. But it's a little too late for a major revamp since I have all my grow racks and bamboo stands set in place,” Castanos says.
You Need a Lot of Plant Supplies
“When you consider all the things you need for plants; extra pots, soil, soil amendments, random tools, etc., it all gets cluttered, super fast,” Castanos says. “This is probably my most shameful secret, but at the moment, I just throw everything into the closet that's in my plant room. It's an absolute disaster and I have to take so many things out to find a simple pot.”
To avoid this, designate an area in your room for your supplies. Think about installing a workbench where you can repot plants and store all of your tools. You can also consider installing some shelving so you keep everything neat and within sight.
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Waterproofing Is Key
“This seems like a no-brainer but you will realize over time that there are things labeled "waterproof" that are really just water resistant at best,” Isabel says. “You'll learn nothing is truly waterproof, from your "water resistant" flooring to random screws, nuts and bolts, and even planters that end up growing algae. It's part of the fun but to avoid rotting, make sure you have substantial airflow (even if your humidity is super high).”
There are a few things you can do to create that airflow. You can have a ceiling fan to help circulate the air. If that’s not possible, a standing fan will work just fine. You can also open a window every once in a while. If you choose to do that, make sure you don’t leave it open for too long or else your humidity levels will change. Another thing you can do is towel off any excess water from surfaces including shelving, table tops, and even flooring.
agathatisabel / Instagram
You’ll End Up With a Ton of Plants
“If you're investing in a plant room, you're possibly investing in a lot of grow lights, humidifiers, etc. to match the natural habitat of tropical places to get your plants growing. As a result, your plans will mature and grow faster,” Isabel says. “Plants in my plant room grew three times as fast as other plants in my home and I constantly had to propagate them to make sure they didn't get too awkwardly shaped or leggy.”
If you find yourself with a ton of extra plants and just nowhere to put them, you could always give the propagated plants as a gift or host a plant swap with your friends.
Pest Protection May Be the Most Important Thing
With so many plants in one place, it's very likely that pests will spread from plant to plant much easier. "I spray all my plants at least 2x a month with a 1/4 alcohol, 1/4 peroxide, 2/4 water mix as a proactive approach," Isabel says.
This is a great way to avoid pests. Make sure you’re spraying the entire plant, including underneath as this is a commonly missed spot. “You will get pests, it's inevitable, but how you plan proactively will minimize the frustration and plant destruction,” Isabel says.
