FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

NightRaider wrote: ↑Sat Jun 18, 2022 5:39 am I just use wire shelving, but I haven't found one yet that perfectly fits the 1020 trays I like to use. Ebay has (or at least had when I got mine) several listings around $45-50 that fit 4 trays, but you have to clip the tray corners off to fit the poles in the corners. If you have the space though, $70 will get you a 36"x18" rack from Target that fits 12 1020 trays (4 shelves @ 3 trays each, plus a top shelf for storage), or $80 for a 48" rack that fits 16 trays. Only issue I've had with these is being only 18" deep means you have a couple inches of overhang to deal with when using the trays, but obviously that won't matter if you aren't using 1020 trays like I am.

Sundews69 wrote: ↑Sat Jun 18, 2022 2:36 pm What trays would work for the $70 Target option? Thanks for all this advice!

DragonsEye wrote: You might be better off with a more piecemeal approach. I have a 2-tiered lighted plant stand my dad made me years ago that accommodated 4 two-bulb shoplights (two on the top tier, and two on the bottom tier). I have quite a variety of plants on it (pings, dews, utrics, a nep, and a few non-cps ... in some years even a number of orchids)-- especially over the winter. As you're well aware, these plants have very different lighting needs and a huge array of heights. While having one or two large trays would make watering much easier, that would prevent me from accommodating their light needs. So I have found it better to use a variety of small trays ... most of which were containers from ground meat or veggies like mushrooms. The trays can be raised or lowered by sitting them on top of different sized empty pots or other objects.

NightRaider wrote: ↑Sat Jun 18, 2022 3:11 pmI get what you're saying but I disagree, I haven't had any issues with that at all. Most carnivores have a pretty sizable overlap in ranges of acceptable lighting (besides neps, D. adelae/prolifera/schizandra, etc) and with 4 fully-adjustable shelves you can easily set some to different heights for those plants that need it. For example, on another rack I have one shelf that's set slightly farther away for pings compared to my drosera/utricularia shelves, and if I had any indoor neps I could do the same for them. You can even use tall pots to squeeze a little extra lighting strength on plants that especially need it, which I'm doing with a few vfts until I can make space for them outside. And with the 36" shelf and 2 yescoms like I'm using, you could even slide the light panels over more towards one end to give a gradient along a single shelf.

NightRaider wrote: ↑Sat Jun 18, 2022 2:49 pm Don't know of any that would fit perfectly or I'd be using them

NightRaider wrote:Don't know of any that would fit perfectly or I'd be using them, but the bit of overhang with standard 1020s hasn't been that big of a deal for me. Worst case, you could use 1010 trays and have a ~7" strip running the length of each shelf for individually-potted stuff like neps or w/e. If you haven't used 1020s before, they're nice because they're specifically made to fit 32x2.5" pots, 18x3.5", etc, and you can get inserts or plug/prop trays of various cell density and depth to fit them for germinating seedlings.

DragonsEye wrote:

Sundews69 wrote: ↑Sat Jun 18, 2022 2:36 pm What trays would work for the $70 Target option? Thanks for all this advice!

You might be better off with a more piecemeal approach. I have a 2-tiered lighted plant stand my dad made me years ago that accommodated 4 two-bulb shoplights (two on the top tier, and two on the bottom tier). I have quite a variety of plants on it (pings, dews, utrics, a nep, and a few non-cps ... in some years even a number of orchids)-- especially over the winter. As you're well aware, these plants have very different lighting needs and a huge array of heights. While having one or two large trays would make watering much easier, that would prevent me from accommodating their light needs. So I have found it better to use a variety of small trays ... most of which were containers from ground meat or veggies like mushrooms. The trays can be raised or lowered by sitting them on top of different sized empty pots or other objects.

Sundews69 wrote: ↑Sat Jun 18, 2022 5:13 pm .. I want to get some more neps, but because they're more picky about humidity, I'm just gonna keep them in a tank.

Sundews69 wrote: ↑Sat Jun 18, 2022 5:13 pmI don't think building something will be the best approach for me. It would definitely save me some money which I love, but I have a feeling that is the type of thing I want to do but never happens.

NightRaider wrote: ↑Sat Jun 18, 2022 5:31 pm I can take a couple pictures later if you want to see it before you drop the money on anything.

specialkayme wrote:I don't believe it would be a budget option, but here's what I do. I took a garage 5 shelf adjustable shelving system (much like this https://www.homedepot.com/p/Muscle-Rack ... /305553565 or https://www.lowes.com/pd/Project-Source ... 1002864606 although my actual unit was discontinued a few years ago I believe). I divided it into three sections. Hard boards go on the bottom and the top, like normal shelves. The middle three sections just have the exterior parts that make up the shelves, without the support area in the middle.

The top section is closed up with plywood, painted black on the outside and white on the inside. The light is in that area.

The middle and bottom sections have plywood on the back wall and one of the sides, painted white on the inside. The other side has plexiglass. The front has two plexiglass pieces that slide within an aluminum track that was jb welded in place.

In the middle is placed a piece of white metal shelving (https://www.lowes.com/pd/ClosetMaid-8-f ... lf/1090933) cut to size.

A few magnetic hooks are on the inside for individual plants.

This allows:
1) Four 10x10 trays to go on the wire rack closest to the light.
2) Four 10x20 trays to go on the bottom board furthest from the light, or three 10x20 trays and a humidifier.
3) The space can maintain a higher humidity by "closing up" (doesn't fully seal).
4) The most light loving plants can go in the 10x10 trays.
5) The bigger plants, that still enjoy a good amount of light, can go in the brighter part of the 10x20 trays.
6) The plants that prefer a little bit of shade can go in the 10x20 trays, under the wire shelving.
7) Plants that are a little more particular about their lighting can be put on magnetic hooks and moved up and down.

PXL_20220521_213423130.jpg

Not the best photo, but it'll give you a good idea.

thepitchergrower wrote: ↑Sun Jun 19, 2022 3:25 am How many plants are you planning to use it for (and how much space do they take up?)