Plants Above Cabinets - The Complete Small Space Gardening Guide

Tucked away in the often unused space above kitchen cabinets lies an opportunity to add life and vibrancy to your home. With the right plants and displays, this small area can become a charming miniature garden that enhances your decor and purifies the air while convenient herbs spice up your cooking. Follow this guide to learn how to maximize this hidden spot for delightful greenery.

Transforming the vacant area above your cabinets into a flourishing tiny garden is easier than you think. Certain plants thrive in the low light and limited space, so with a little creativity, you can bring striking natural beauty into the heart of your home.

Benefits of Plants Above Cabinets

Before we get into the specifics of assembling your kitchen cabinet garden, let's look at why this project is so worthwhile.

Greenery brings life to indoor spaces, and when positioned above eye level, draws your gaze upward for a unique perspective. The many advantages of plants up high include:

Purify Indoor Air

Certain houseplants are natural air purifiers, removing toxins like benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from the air. Some top choices are snake plants, aloe vera, spider plants, English ivy, and Chrysanthemums.

Positioned right in the kitchen, these unassuming plants filter out pollutants from cooking fumes and cleaning products to improve air quality.

Add Greenery

Bringing touch of nature indoors instantly livens up the vibe. The fresh colors and textures of plants contrast beautifully with cabinetry and countertops.

Seeing greenery reduces stress and brings a sense of harmony. Placing plants up high makes use of dead space to maximize your plant content.

Decor and Visual Appeal

Strategically placed plants enhance the aesthetic of any kitchen. Cascading vines, colorful leaves, and varied textures create visual interest.

The colors and shapes draw the eyes up to appreciate the view from a new perspective. Plants breathe life into a previously dull area.

Convenience

Herbs like basil, thyme, oregano, and mint do well in this location for easy access when cooking. Clip sprigs as needed for fresh flavor.

Greenery also provides the perfect excuse to raise those wall cabinets up higher so you aren’t hunched over countertops.

Choosing the Right Plants

Not all plants thrive up high in the low light above cabinets. Do your homework to select varieties suited for these growing conditions.

Consider these factors when compiling your wish list of potential plants:

Low Light Tolerant

Indirect sunlight and shaded areas mean plants need to tolerate low light. Snake plants, pothos, philodendrons, and Chinese evergreens adapt well.

Slow growing succulents like aloe and haworthia withstand low light. Peace lilies and ZZ plants also do fine.

Cascading and Trailing Plants

For visual appeal, look for plants with long, flowing stems and leaves that will hang attractively. Philodendrons, spider plants, pathos, and string of pearls are great choices.

The graceful draping foliage creates the soothing sense of a living curtain above your cabinets.

Air Purifying Varieties

As you compile your wish list, note which plants excel at removing toxins from indoor air. Top air purifiers are snake plants, aloe vera, spider plants, English ivy, Chrysanthemums, and Boston ferns.

Prioritize these varieties for maximal air cleansing benefits right where you cook and eat.

Culinary Herbs

For everyday use, plant herbs like mint, thyme, basil, oregano, sage, and rosemary. Having them at your fingertips makes cooking so much easier.

Try mini versions of larger herb plants or keep them small with frequent pruning. Fertilize regularly for optimal flavor.

Displaying Plants Above Cabinets

Now for the fun part - getting creative with how to show off your greenery up high. Take advantage of the hidden space with these displaying ideas:

Hanging in Macrame or Pots

Embrace the bohemian vibe with macrame hangers suspended from cabinet undersides or ceiling hooks. These woven cotton hangers provide excellent drainage and airflow.

For a modern look, hang trailing plants like philodendrons in colorful or patterned pots fitted with hooks or hanging hardware.

Mounted Shelves

Sturdy wooden shelves mounted above the cabinets display multiple plant pots lined up for a bold statement.

Opt for floating shelves or wall-mounted brackets. Just be sure they are properly secured and able to support the weight when pots are wet.

Wire Racks and Brackets

Multi-level stainless steel wire racks work beautifully to stagger plant heights. Racks mount right into cabinet frames with adjustable shelves.

Individual metal brackets also hang down to display a row of potted plants in a clean, industrial style.

Caring for Plants in This Location

Situated up high, your plants are out of reach, so care requires some occasional extra effort. Follow these tips:

Watering

Check soil moisture frequently by feeling with your finger; water whenever the top inch becomes dry. Consider cupcake liners to monitor soil.

For hard to reach spots, use a watering can with a long spout. Water until it drains from the bottom to prevent salts from building up.

Pruning and Training

Trim back wayward trailing stems to keep growth tidy and full. Turn or rotate plants periodically for even shaping.

Remove yellow leaves promptly. Thin overcrowded indoor herbs to stimulate new growth.

Cleaning

Use a feather duster on a tall stick to easily dust leaves and remove debris without climbing up.

Take plants down occasionally to thoroughly wash leaves and refresh the soil.

Lighting

Monitor for signs of insufficient light like leggy growth. Supplement with grow lights as needed during darker winter months.

Consider light colored cabinetry to reflect more ambient light up to the plants.

Tips and Tricks for Success

Follow these pointers to get the most out of your kitchen cabinet garden:

Matching Pots

Plant coordinating pots together for a cohesive look rather than a hodgepodge. Repetition creates a soothing sense of rhythm.

Alternatively, vary heights and colors for contrast. Just be consistent within groupings.

Raising Up Cabinets

Consider installing taller wall cabinets just to create more vertical planting space. This also makes counters more ergonomic.

Standard cabinet height is commonly 30-36 inches. Bump up specialty plant cabinets to 48 inches or more.

Drawing the Eye Upward

Cascade smaller pots on upper shelves graduating downward to larger statement pieces that grab attention.

Place targeted lighting on upper cabinets to illuminate your mini gardens at night.

Easy Removal and Cleaning

Incorporate tracks or hidden compartments to slide planters out of the way for access to cabinets.

Try removable hanging hooks that detach so you can take plants down for periodic deep cleaning.

With some planning, it's simple to convert overlooked space above kitchen cabinets into a charming indoor oasis. Strategically selected plants will thrive up high while improving air quality and infusing your cooking space with natural serenity.

Get creative with displaying your greenery to maximize use of vertical real estate. Caring for your elevated garden will become a rewarding act of nurturing beauty in your home.