Plants in front of windows

[Rae36]

Has anyone done anything like this before? We've got a sun room sort of extension at the back of our house, big windows all round, and we've got dozens of small cacti and succulents. I was wondering about doing something like this. We don't need the light but I'm just not sure. Would they look weird or a bit too busy?

Personally I think it looks a bit like a green house but we all have different tastes.

I think it’s the sort of thing that looks beautiful on Pinterest/ Instagram but would be concerned it might not work very well in the average home. I would be concerned about it looking too busy or blocking out light from the windows. Also I think unless the rest of the room was relatively paired down then it could make the room look cluttered. If you have nice views then it will block those

I think it's a lovely idea.But will you be able to open the windows?

But that’s just my personal view... if you love it then you should go for it. Life is too short to worry about conforming to other people’s tastes!

Probably depends on the actual windows/room. It looks nice in the picture so it's clearly possible. I wouldn't want it in my own home but I don't have anywhere it wouldn't look silly!

I had something similar to the picture but in a narrower window. It was a pain to clean; the sunlight showed off the dust between the pots beautifully...

I think it is the sort of thing that looks beautiful immediately after it is done but a few weeks later when the plants have grown or are sprouting a weird bit and one is turning brown and crispy for no obvious reason, plus they all need dusting, it won't be so lovely.

Dusting that is going to be a nightmare.....also a spider home too

Yes think it probably looks much nicer in that photo with the golden light shining through the beautiful healthy and green plants than it would be in real life. And I hadn't thought about dusting.
I'll have a rethink.

Has anyone got any genius ideas? I've got about 20 smallish plants that are sitting on those scabby brown plastic trays and saucers, maybe I need nicer trays or something, nicer pots. But they are so expensive when you need so many. Maybe I should just ditch all the plants and have beautiful clear windowsills.

I have a friend who has done this in her kitchen diner. Just on one fairly small window though, and there are large windows at the end of the kitchen and further along the wall from the plant-filled one. It does look good - I like it.

Charity shops can be good for inexpensive and unusual plant pots.

I really like this look, unfortunately I need all the light I can get from my windows as my house is fairly dark, can you hang the plants instead?

I love it and have seen it done, but all the plants were in matching pots, of different sizes, which is what pulled it all together IMO

I think it’s the sort of thing that looks beautiful on Pinterest/ Instagram but would be concerned it might not work very well in the average home.

Amen, will the window need to be open? will it block light or view? will dusting be a pain, will you need to lift them down to water?

How good are you with plants in general? If they are dying it will be a very different effect!

I think it's lovely but only if you have the right kind of room for it. It would need to be a very sparse room I think or it would all look cluttered. I also think it would be great in a pantry or utility room but I'd have herbs instead of houseplants. Maybe a chilli plant too.

I'm having some shelving put up in an alcove in my living room that the sun shines on to. The majority of my houseplants will go on there.

It would be a great way to screen off for a bit more privacy! I think you’d need to be concientious about turning the plants round every couple days, and choose robust ones that won’t mind frazzling sun then cold nights (cacti maybe?).

I once tried hanging pots at different levels in front of a porch window which was nice, until I’d saved enough for blinds.

I love plants and have loads of houseplants but personally, I think that picture is horrible.

I want more light, not less!
It looks too cluttered to me and as the plants grow they will start to block the window.
Definitely not for me!

Just came back to this.
You could try it out by putting bricks either end so if you don’t like it you won’t damage the window casings. I would chose a colour for the plant pots and scour the charity shops for different pots with that colour. Not always sold colour but a shade of it somewhere. DD has deep blues and it looks great. I am plant sitting at the moment. Need to re pot three as they have grown out of them. I killed one last year so being more careful and have moved them from summerhouse to kitchen in September. Please post a picture if you do it.😀

Plant theatre, I couldn't think of the right words for a Google search. Thanks @Butterer

I really like this and was thinking of something similar in my extension but on a side wall next to bifold doors ?

Do you think this would work ?

One thing to bear in mind is that many houseplants do not appreciate being placed in direct, intense, sunlight. It’s less of an issue for succulents and cacti, which are used to sun, but many of the foliage plants for sale in the UK are from the understory of tropical rainforests, so adapted for darker conditions, not bright sunshine. So choose carefully!

@tortillachipsanddips how much sunshine is your wall getting? That may well be a better position for your plants than right in front of the window.

One thing to bear in mind is that many houseplants do not appreciate being placed in direct, intense, sunlight. It’s less of an issue for succulents and cacti, which are used to sun, but many of the foliage plants for sale in the UK are from the understory of tropical rainforests, so adapted for darker conditions, not bright sunshine.

This. Discovered this in lockdown after buying loads for conservatory.