Houseplant "Tetris"
If you grew up playing Tetris, you already have the skills needed for one of the greatest indoor gardening challenges known to man:
Fitting more plants into your home without crossing the line from hobbyist to hoarder.
(If you’re too young to know about Tetris, just know it was THE video game in the 80s.)
Spring is in full swing, which means one thing for plant lovers…
Impulse purchases.
You pop into a garden centre “just to browse” and walk out with a trailing Philodendron, a mystery rescue plant, and a pot you think you needed but forgot why.
And it’s fine. Because spring is the best time to bring new plants home.
But sooner or later, the realisation hits:
There’s. No. More. Space.
That’s when Houseplant Tetris begins.
So here’s your step-by-step guide to winning the game and levelling up your plant display (without having to move house).
Step 1: Think Vertically
If you’re only using the flat surfaces in your home, you’re already losing.
Spring is the season of going up.
- Wall-mounted shelves
- Floating ledges
- Hanging ceiling planters
- Tall bookcases that double as a jungle gym
The higher you go, the more plants you can fit without cluttering your floor.
Step 2: Get Creative With Furniture
A true MVP of Houseplant Tetris is using Facebook Marketplace. It’s full of second-hand furniture that’s often:
- Cheap (or sometimes free)
- Already assembled
- Weirdly perfect for plants
We’re talking retro plant stands, random bathroom shelves, even old ladders you can repurpose as display racks. If you can stack it, lean it, or dangle something from it… it’s fair game.
Do a quick search in your local area after reading this and see what pops up.
Step 3: Mix Sizes & Shapes
Tetris works because you’re balancing blocks of different shapes.
Same goes for plants.
- Trailing ones can hang from the top shelf
- Tall ones sit directly on the floor
- Wide, bushy ones go in corners
- Small ones fill in the gaps
The more you vary it, the more you can fit.
Also: don’t underestimate the power of staggered shelves and plant risers. Little lifts here and there can make space feel open, even when it’s packed with green.
Step 4: Rotate the Roster
Every plant doesn’t need to be out at once.
If your windowsill is getting crowded, rotate plants like a wardrobe. Bring a few into the spotlight, then swap them when the seasons change or something needs a rest.
I call it “The Plant Rotation Policy.”
It’s how you keep your home feeling fresh (while secretly maintaining an army of propagations in the shadows).
Step 5: Know When to Say When
This is controversial… but sometimes, your jungle is done.
Not forever. Just for now.
If it starts to feel too cramped, or like your plants are competing for space and light, that’s when it might be time to gift a few to friends, donate to your local swap group, or repot the kids into new homes.
But there you go!
Spring means more plants. More plants mean less space. And less space means it’s time to play Houseplant Tetris.
If anyone tells you that you’ve got too many plants, just remind them…
Tetris gets more fun the longer you play.
Pssst… let me know what you think about this longer-style newsletter format.
