DIY: Low Commitment Plant Wall

If you know me, I’m a big plant girl. Like, a BIG plant girl. There is nothing more that I wanted more than a plant wall for my apartment with the problem being exactly that: apartment living. More specifically, as a post grad and merely renting at the moment, I had to find a -low commitment- solution that didn’t wreck the security deposit (aka no holes in the wall) but was somehow still mounted to the wall (??????) Other major considerations included irrigation, cost, aesthetic, and size. Luckily, I was able to achieve all of my heart’s desires with no sacrifice in any avenue. Here’s how I achieved my dream plant wall that I will continue to grow on.

The Goods

It would be nice to think that I could build this (and it’s totally possible!) but for this project, I headed to IKEA with a vague idea of what I was shooting for. The mainframe I got was a ladder called satsumas. You’ll notice that this product comes with its own plant pots which I was not crazy about. The twist comes from these svartpeppar plant boxes. I got four (didn’t make sense to me to hang on the last rung). It may be a snug fit, but they do go into the ladder rungs! Another option includes buying a solid plant box that you can plant directly into. However, I liked how the black wire was thin enough to look clean/less bulky/closer to the idea of a plant wall since my plants are not drippy enough to cover the vessel they are in. You don’t have to seek these specific products; simply buy or build a ladder and hang appropriately sized plant boxes from it. It’s completely customizable and it is so possible to create a towering version of this.

I’m obsessed with how this came out while remaining deconstructable. I can water each plant according to need instead of creating one general irrigation system. To keep it even lower commitment, I utilize plant bulbs in the needier plants and occasionally water the pothos. The ladder itself is heavy enough to remain securely planted (heh) to the wall, especially with the additional weight of all the plants. Even with a roomba knocking into the sides, the ladder didn’t budge. If a plant isn’t looking so hot, I can switch it out with ease. With this vertical structure, you can see how my pothos has been growing drippier by the day. I’ve already been making pothos cuttings to fill out this frame but couldn’t wait to share this great hack with you all. Happy planting!