Have you ever heard of #plantshelfie? It is nothing more than a selfie of shelves of plants (selfie+shelf, hence the shelfie). Even if you’re not familiar with the term, you probably also see beauty in pictures of little plants arranged on the walls – there is something very pleasurable about choosing an aesthetic, selecting the plants and vases that will compose the corner and then styling it. And, of course, then take that photo to share on the networks.
If this is your case, know that you are not alone. There’s an entire hashtag dedicated to the perfect #plantshelfies on Instagram, where we see how others are using plants to spice up their decor. Some plant parents shared their secrets on how to style a great shelf. Check out:
Tip 1: Select a diverse set of plants for your shelf
Who: Dorrington Reid of @dorringtonr.
His shelves of plants are so full and lush you can barely see the shelves – just the way we like it.
Dorrington’s Tips: “I think a good place to start is by using a mixture of different types of plants. Different growth structure, different leaf shapes, colors and textures. I like to mix more common everyday plants like Brazilian philodendron, hoya carnosa and pilea peperomioides with some of my rarer and more unusual plants like crystalline anthurium, fernleaf cactus and cercestis mirabilis.”
How he maintains his plant shelf: «About once a month, I remove everything from the shelves so I can clean them, and I usually take this as an opportunity to refurbish things.» It’s important to keep your plant shelves clean as soil can get everywhere, so this is a great time to upgrade your plant shelfie as well.
Tip 2: Create balance in your plant shelving arrangement
Who: Caitlyn Kibler from @ohokaycaitlyn.
This has to be one of the most unique plant shelves ever seen. Caitlyn’s shelves frame a staircase.
Caitlyn’s tips: “It’s all about balance! I prefer to evenly space the larger and smaller plants so that a spot doesn’t feel too «heavy». Plants with longer vines are placed higher on the shelf so they can really reach their full potential and create a jungle vibe. It’s also important to take good care of your plants, making sure they have adequate light (hence the not-so-pretty trail lighting that helped so much!), watering as soon as the top two inches of soil is dry. That way, they will look prettier when you take the picture.”
lighting setup: Because of her lighting situation, she chooses to keep low-light plants on the shelf. “There are several types of pothos, also some types of maranta and creeping philodendrons. Long plants definitely look better for this situation – their leaves fill in the gaps in the shelf and create a really nice ‘plant wall’ feel.”
moving your plants: Caitlyn often moves her plants, but she said that now that spring is on the way, she doesn’t want to disturb them. “They get mixed up quite regularly, but the bigger plants (like the golden pothos loooongs) have their places set and generally stay there. I like to detangle each plant every now and then to make sure the vines don’t get too tangled over time – it can be annoying to do but it really makes a big difference in keeping them looking lush and healthy.”
Tip 3: Different sizes and shapes of plants + books make the perfect shelf
Who: Aina from @planterogplaneter.
The variety of textures and additions from the books are just perfect.
Aina’s tips: “For me, a shelfie is best if it is full of plants of different sizes, patterns and leaf shapes. The vine plants really are the key to creating that urban jungle vibe, so in my opinion, no shelfie is complete without them.
“I also love to combine my plants with books. Books are the perfect way to create some extra dimension, and they make great plant holders!”
Maintaining your shelf: She changes her shelves frequently. “It happens at least once a week, but to be honest, during the summer it can change daily. It’s a pleasure to play with them and see who looks best where. It’s kind of meditative.»
At the moment, Aina’s shelf is full of “Philodendron micans, Ceropegia woodii, Scindapsus pictus, Scindapsus treubii, Alocasia black velvet (a favorite at the moment!), Lepismium bolivianum, some cuts of Begonia maculata and Philodendron tortum”. It’s an admirable collection of textures and patterns that are important when styling the shelfie.
* Via The Spruce