Botanical Shower Buddy

I've been growing this rhipsalis plant for nearly a year, and it's been a true friend in the shower.  It listens to my singing (braying) and doesn't judge me, and I've enjoyed watching it grow.

In this Instructable, you'll learn how to accomplish the same and have a fun potted plant for your shower, mirror, or window.

Step 1: Materials

You're going to need:

• Suction cup shower caddy with drainage holes (I got mine at Target)
• Damp sphagnum moss (or soil)
• Fertilizer (I'm using a slow-release conventional one)
• Cuttings or potted plant

When choosing your plant, you want an indoor plant that enjoys high humidity such as Christmas cactus, rhipsalis and other epiphytic plants, and you want to avoid plants that grow fast and large - try to stick with the slower growing ones that stay small for a while.  I'd also recommend trailing plants so the caddy is eventually covered and disappears for a beautiful effect.  However, you may alternatively decide to go with a rhizomatous plant like rabbit's foot fern.

I'm using sphagnum moss because I have some from potting up carnivorous plants that naturally grow in wetlands alongside sphagnum, and I'm further using it because it's lightweight and doesn't release tons of debris when watered.  I have considered using natural wool or synthetic yarn as an alternative to sphagnum but haven't tested the idea.

Step 2: Prep Plants

If you're using sphagnum moss and cuttings, wrap a bit of moss around each cutting.

If you're using sphagnum moss and a potted plant, knock off as much soil as you possibly can.

If you're using soil and a potted plant, you will likely need to knock off a bit of soil to fit the plant inside the caddy.

Step 3: Prep Caddy

Add some sphagnum moss to the bottom of the caddy.

If you're using soil, you might want to do this (or something similar) as well to prevent soil from washing into the shower/tub.

Step 4: Plant and Fertilize

Insert the plants and build moss/soil around to secure them in place.

Apply fertilizer.

Install the caddy where you want it and enjoy!

Comments

[Zombiebites]

Great idea! Would love to try this :)

[ktomasov]

So would water lillies work?

[iMartijn]

Silly question perhaps, but don't they need light?

[AngryRedhead]

Obviously this only really works in bathrooms with a window, sky light, solatube, glass block wall, etc., but you can still stick 'em in other rooms with a window such as a kitchen. :)

[MyMenagerie]

I took a prefab shelving kit and adjusted the legs to fit into my kitchen window. The plants love it and so do I. I even have a hook at both sides and the center of the cabinetry surrounding the light for hanging light-weight plants. Sorry the picture is not very clear, the camera didn't care a lot for the sunlight coming in the window. :)

[MyMenagerie]

P. S. The bottom shelf is my herb garden.

[AngryRedhead]

I love the idea of having shelves of potted herbs in the kitchen window. So smart!

[MyMenagerie]

Thank you. During the warm months, my shelf is a little sparse. I try to put most of the plants outside unless the weather is too hot for them. Then I bring them in for the winter.

[sunshiine]

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

sunshiine

[AngryRedhead]

Thanks! It makes showering more cheerful. :)

[pices]

Could I do a lepanthopis astrophora orchid?

[AngryRedhead]

Honestly, I don't really grow orchids, but looking at it in Google images, it looks like a strong candidate based on the cultivation I'm seeing. However, I'd recommend doing a little more research and going from there.

Or just risk it if you don't mind potentially losing a plant in the name of science!

[MyMenagerie]

If it starts too look as if an orchid is a bad choice, you can always rescue the orchid and move it to a more conventional pot. Best wishes!

[wgarrett1]

I totally did! I didn't have one of those suction cup caddies, and didn't feel like buying one, so I took some wire I had, made a basket, lined it with burlap, filled it with moss, and pinched some cuttings from work.

[MyMenagerie]

Love that basket! It looks so easy to make and will hold a little bit more weight before coming down. Great Idea!

[AngryRedhead]

Good job!

[MyMenagerie]

This is a fantastic idea! I love plants and wish I had a window in my bathroom so I could enjoy more plants.

Is there a plant that doesn't require sunlight? Probably not, just wishful thinking. :)

[AngryRedhead]

Artificial plants! :P

But you can still do this on a window or any place you can use a suction cup. :)

[MyMenagerie]

That is so true! If I use the "washable" kind, they will even be easy to clean. Thanks!

[mduncan8]

I have a cat any suggestions for a low light, none poisonous plant