3 Great Items to Repurpose and Reuse for Indoor Plants

The other day while shifting around plants on the bay window, wondering what to do with the plants that did not like sun bathing, it occurred to me that maybe it was time to update the décor and expand the plant space.

I remembered some stored shelves which I had used for general bric-á-brac in my former basement.

Canadian Tire Shelf

What a great opportunity to put one of the units to good use.  At first I thought that its utilitarian design might distract from the beauty of the plants, but the plants were getting out of hand and a more structured approach was needed. Enter the:

Canadian Tire Shelf – Resin Recycled Content
Certified 5 shelf Resin Rack  36in x 14in x 72in
Tested for life in Canada

Now this shelf unit is not in the Ikea, under the glass range, but is a Great White North, strong and true, Canadian Tire style.  Yeah! Big Up Canada, or whatever the cool thing to say is these days. Once assembled it was perfect.  It is sturdy, practical and versatile.

The black 5 shelf resin rack is made of recycled content.  This is great for plants as the ventilated shelves prevent mildew and mold from watering and humidity.  This will also prevent rust or stains.

This style lends itself to the placement of lights and humidifiers, which can be hung from the ventilation holes.  Small plants that require more humidity can be placed under plastic bell jars on the unit if necessary.

Each of the five shelves can stand alone.  I divided mine into a unit of 4 shelves and 1 single unit, for convenience and the height of my window.  So you have flexibility, and can make it work for your requirements.

Rubber Boot Tray/Plant Tray

Sometimes you come across an item which is just perfect for a purpose other than the one for which it was made.  In Canada we need really reliable boot trays because after a really good dump we come into the house like wet beavers.

While this tray is definitely good for the soggy boots, and is made from recycled materials, it makes a perfect plant tray.  It has high side walls to keep dirt and moisture contained. Bring on the plant misting and soil mishaps.

Ecotrend – Recycled Rubber innovations

Recycled Rubber Boot Tray 17″x 35″ (43cm x 89cm)

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This tray is sturdy and compact.  Grouping plants together on this tray will help retain the humidity for those plants which require it.

Brown Glass Vitamin bottle

The last item is really a boost for propagating cuttings. Wash and sterilize old brown glass vitamin bottles thoroughly to start the cutting roots in water. Roots tend to grow more quickly as the brown bottle mimics the dark soil. I use the glass bottles and not the plastic.

Now you have 3 great sustainable ideas to try. Each one is cost efficient and adds value to your plant family.

What have you found to reuse and repurpose in the caring for plants world? Let us know in the comments below.