Conservatory shelving and racking has to fit quite a specific niche. Not only is it to be used in a fairly tough environment that may be warm and damp all year round, it also has to do a very particular job. An orchid has a very different set of needs to a stack of books or a box of old clothes. Keeping your plants on the right storage racks will help them grow and stay healthy.

Dealing with the first criteria to begin with, storage racks used in a warm, damp conservatory should be durable. Warm, slightly damp spaces are ideal for mould and mildew and both of these can be serious problems in a greenhouse or conservatory. Untreated chipboard and wooden racks should be avoided because they are vulnerable and may not last long. Either choose metal racks or sealed and painted solid wood. Chrome coated metal is an ideal, rustproof and easy to clean solution.

Storage racking for plants must also be strong enough to support your collection even when all the pots have just been watered. This can double the weight, so be generous when estimating the necessary strength of each shelf.

Open grill-style racking will allow water to drain though the pots and make sure any overspill doesn’t hang around in puddles like it would on a solid surface. It will also let more sunlight reach the plants on the middle shelves and provide better ventilation to reduce pest build up. Place materials like potting mix and compost bags on the lowest shelf, and make sure the racks are not top heavy so stability is maintained.