IKEA MILSBO Greenhouse Cabinet | My Thoughts & Experience 

What are your thoughts on plant cabinets?

Thank you for making this video! I wish I had seen it last week, before I bought 2 milsbo tall cabinets:) In truth, I would still have purchased them, and I am still excited to set my cabinets up, but right now I have had them for a week, and I have stalled because I don’t even know where to start. They are sitting in my plant room still in their boxes! I have been researching lights and different set ups for months and still haven’t decided 100% on what I should buy. I am concerned about many of the points you made- too close to the light= my plants will burn, too far away and what’s the point?! Replacing the glass shelves is a necessary step if I want air circulation, and fans are also necessary so the air doesn’t stagnate. I have suffered my entire life with decision anxiety and perfectionism, so the fact that I have to make so many decisions in order to get these cabinets exactly right is causing delays for me. I knew what I was getting myself into, kind of: in theory, but now that it’s time for me to make all of the decisions that need to be made, I am just not able to actually pull the trigger on any of the “extras” that I need to make these cabinets functional as greenhouse cabinets. I will probably end up eventually just getting over it and getting everything I need all at once, but until I reach that point, my cabinets are just taking up space in their boxes! I am really leaning toward the mother brand lights, but they’re SO much more expensive than the t8 and t5 options on Amazon. The Mother lights are safety rated for particles and moisture, though so I think they’re worth the extra expense- IF I can grow the plants that I want to grow in my cabinets. Ideally I am looking to grow mostly philodendrons and anthuriums. I can definitely see how the anthuriums specifically are going to be a problem (thank you for your lovely demonstration- that foliage is INCREDIBLE!!!!) as well as many of the larger, velvet leaf philodendron that I want to add, but I am thinking (hoping?) if I use 1/2 width shelves just in the middle of the cabinets that I may be able to place tall(ish) plants on the very bottom base/shelf, and they won’t outgrow the cabinets too quickly. I’m definitely committed now though, regardless. I have envisioned my plants happy and thriving under high humidity and nice lighting conditions in these cabinets for too long to back out now, so wish me luck! I appreciate your sense of humor and helpful tips very much so I am subscribing now. Nice to meet you! -Nora

Miro, I just love you! 💚🧡💚 You are so eclectic and funny. I enjoy your off the wall humor. Best of all I love that you are informative, extremely smart, (super intelligent), friendly and that you unselfishly share your expansive knowledge of plants. PS: Don’t be scared, I am old enough to be your mom. Lol 🧓🏻

It’s $250 in US, specifically New Jersey. I have just gotten back into houseplants. I was an avid grower and collector. Coming back to it has been great. The issue is the expense. It takes discipline to refrain from buying more plants. I need to make sure I can take care of what I have already. I look at plants, though. I like the “Florida Beauty” you showed in the beginning. I noticed it when I first got back into indoor gardening. Great video. Take the guitar lessons. You will not be sorry.

I really thought about getting the wide version but I’m not there in my plant journey. I don’t know that I will be so I just hold off on it. I’m actually surprised there hasn’t been a company that has made something that would work better. It seems like the demand would be there.

OMG, you are the BEST!!! Just scrolling through your channel to find videos I haven't watch and this brought me sooo much joy!!! I was feeling very glum and I knew that one of your videos would cheer me up!!! I appreciate your channel more than you can know!!!💚💚💚

"Speak to me in IKEA Jack". Didn't miss that. I can't even.... you are really something else. Lol Can you make a video dedicated to your guitar? Or how about purchases we semi-regret?

You're number one fan is back for first comment 😘

I see a video from you and get excited 🥺love the content 💛

Thank you!! I hear money, money, and maybe more money 😂 I think I’m doing ok with what I have . I appreciate your knowledge

OMG!! LAUGHING MY ASS OFF CHOKING ON A PRETZEL. 😂

You are such a joy to watch! I always get so many laughs while watching your videos. I’ve had the most luck with my Hoyas in my milsbo wide. Everything else is just doing okay.

Hi Miro! I just watched your hoya video in the cabinet and it looks really good. I appreciate the pros and, mostly, cons on the unit. I don't have room for one, so I'm good. LOL! Also, I looked the cabinet up and they don't deliver to my area. Oh well! Thank you so much for sharing! You are so much fun to watch!

What do I think of plant cabinets? They are beautiful. And plants deserve them. I can’t afford cabinets yet. And I need a larger living space. I use to attend meetings with the New York Indoor Gardening Society. I must have started there in the late 70’s. There were members who grew plants on the plant shelves that had grow lights on them. Some people had more than several of such shelving units. They were large and awkward. It is so nice to see a response and solutions for people who love houseplants and those who have particular collecting interests. An expensive plant deserves good care. I knew people who had hundreds of plants in their small NYC apartments. One woman specifically grew plants in miniature pots. She wanted every variety available. And I believe her collection was mostly succulents. I’ve met the most eccentric people by participating in the plant community. They will travel across the globe for a plant. My love for houseplants only grew because of my interaction with the group. They taught me an appreciation that has become more complicated and demanding of excellence.

I agree that it’s great for plants that don’t grow fast. I use my milsbo wide for propagations and smaller Hoya.

Hi people. My name is Bill and I'm a plantaholic. Hello Bill, welcome to the meeting. I see nothing wrong with all the plants you've collected. I wish you all the best with them. They bring us happiness and make our lives enjoyable. I totally understand your obsession. Thanks for a great video too. Stay well my youtube friend....

Thank you for this, lots of practical considerations that others don't go into, and I had wondered about myself. I'm planning on grabbing a large second hand fishtank locally (Australia) and setting that up as a giant terrarium / mini greenhouse for my small plants...

I have the short, wide Milsbo and I love it. It was expensive and the modifications I made added costs too - peg board, clips and shelf, grow light, fan, weather proofing, heat mat (my house is cold 🥶 during the Canadian winters) and extra light. The way I see it is that it keeps some of my investments (11 Hoyas, but I have many more outside the Milsbo) alive and thriving. A number of them are blooming too, which is nice. The added humidity and heat does mean that my little Hoyas grew big and unwieldy fairly quickly and I ended up with a big mess of vines. So I had to repot and trellis most of them. Some of them got mad at me and vine tips are dying but they’ll recover.

Thanks for another fun video.

I have two wide Rudsta cabinets, I’m lucky if I can keep the humidity up, I think I have to take some more time and do some better weather sealing, most of my plants have been okay anyway, the cabinets have become more of a way to protect my plants from my toddler and my dogs than for optimal condition!

I have been thinking about getting a cabinet for some begonias and hoyas so this was very informational. I laughed so hard when you showed your guitar! I bought a ukulele on clearance a a few weeks ago and it is still sitting in the box. 🤣🤣

Just found you on YT, and wanted to say love your “humor” just got a few cabinets I’m building today. New to Indoor plants but but a crazy outdoor plant guy for most of my life. You totally should have got to 🐢 though! ❤️-Tortoise Dad

I agree with you on Monstera/monster lol, just too crazy for my small humble abode. Put it out on my patio, live in southern California 🤗🌱❤

You are HILARIOUS!!!!

I really like mine as it lets me have a nice place for plants in my office. I think of it as a display case for my office plants, so already knew which plants were going in there. I removed one of the shelves to accommodate mediumish tall plants. I have led lights for each level held up with really really strong magnets and no fans, just leave the cabinet doors open at night to air out (benefit of living in a drier climate I guess). You're right, í did have most tools already so only had to buy the cabinet, lights, and magnets. Might buy another and remove all the shelves for some taller plants. Edit: I'm really glad you made this video and talked about the cons of these cabinets. You discussed some important issues that I have not heard discussed elsewhere. The issues need to be thought about before buying into this trend.

It’s a beautiful looking cabinet for sure. Not sure I want to stress checking the IKEA website daily to find one in stock just due to the space issues. However it would def make a cute propagation area!

I recently got a Fabrikor cabinet in hopes that I could have a higher humidity area for some plants that are struggling this winter. The humidity in my home is down in the twenties 😬 I like the style of my cabinet from a decorative standpoint. I like the size because my house is small. I liked the price since it's a little more affordable than the Milsbon($145 when I bought the Fabrikor, the price has now gone up). I immediately changed out the shelves and that added about $50. I added wire grids the full length, with baskets, small shelves and clips, $30. I put in a grow light, a hygrometer, and fans, that was an additional...maybe $75? It didn't hold any humidity. I was getting maybe 40%? Better than my room air but nowhere near what other people were saying they got. I then tore the entire thing apart and weather stripped it, added a humidifier and LECA trays, an additional $35. I've also ordered another set of strip lights for the bottom two shelves because not enough light is getting through, $25. Now that I have a humidity level from 70-90%, I have standing water on the bottom. This freaks me out because if fire, all my cables run through a hole at the bottom. Also, are these lights and fans really made to be in this humid of an environment? The sheer amount is money I have dumped into this thing is mind boggling when I sit and think about it. It's cute to look at, but honestly if I wanted a *true* humidity environment for these plants I should have gone with a tent. Ikea cabinets are not true humidity cabinets in my opinion.

Miroo, now I want a Milsbo cabinet too. You have to come here and make space for one asap, please xD It looks gorgeous with the hoyas in there!

I'm going through the tight fit issue too 😩 I spent so much money on this set up. Also, I recommend a grid for the back instead of a peg board because of mold 😊👍 and 26 inch wire closet shelves you can get on Amazon. But would I do it again... No. 😅

Those big leaves plants are gorgeous! Those leaves are so big! I doubt I will ever get a cabinet. I try to get plants that are fine in my house environment. My plants are usually easy care. I am really quite lazy…

I live in a small apartment and one of those cabinets would look nice but I don’t have the money to buy one. Your Hoyas look nice in yours.

Your plants are beautiful.

I would prefer a grow tent for the reflective coating to catch light, but I also live in southern california where we can grow most orchids outside so a grow cabinet isnt really necessary.

Hello, I have 1 Monios T8 bulb on the top 2 shelves and I have 2 bulbs on the bottom shelf. I run the lights for 12 a day. I just ordered Barrina T8 so would they be better to use on the top 2 shelves because I believe they’re lower light plants? Thank you!

Can you mount a light wand on the outside of the cabinet?

2:59: cracked me up! Love that look! And just to let you know: if you feel like talking about turtles - I will keep on watching! It must be worthy, I know for sure!

Can you please post an update when you get your new custom shelves set up? 🙂

I set up a Milsbo just three weeks ago, expressly for Hoyas. I quickly realized the space limitations, and the issue of plants being too close to the lights. Ultimately, I decided to split it to three shelves, using one for hoya propagations, and the other two shelves for smaller hoyas which are new to my 40% humidity (in winter) Colorado home, and hoyas more sensitive to humidity in general - maybe my serpens will stop blasting when it's time to bloom again. It looks a lot like yours., so-far-as setup...you have better hoyas. lol. I followed a step-by-step guide I found online. I used Monios T8 lights and two USB fans. cord management was a bit of a chore. I replaced the glass with wire shelving and the hoya love it in there. Humidity hovers at around 86% and daytime temps are 79-81 Fahrenheit, 68 at night when the lights are off. Within only three days I saw noticeable changes in my plants - the hoya elliptica I put in there has grown 90 centimeters of vine since I put it in there. The variegated kerrii which lives in stasis has three new growth points. My wayettii is turning the color of wine. I could go on with more examples, but it is my new favorite part of my plant collection.

Love you videos 💚 I started exactly like you,put all my anthuriums, They got too big🤭 Now I’m thinking 🤔maybe Hoya’s. I also have problem with humidity I had a fountain inside which was not enough and now I have humidifier on the timer ,we’ll see how that gonna work. Anyway great video✅

I would love a cabinet to put my calathea in and my smaller fern. Unfortunately that is never going to happen because of the cabinets price🙁 Thank you Miro for your opinion on the cabinet☃️❄️💚🙃

I agree that it is too small for most plants.

You heard him people, no flipping! LoL But seriously, I agree. We plants lovers need to help one another out.

I have one Milsbo - it’s fine, not overly impressed with the growth of plants in there. I am much more successful with grow tents. I think the lights make a huge difference, and I agree that you cannot get decent grow lights which won’t burn the plants. I am still experimenting with the best plants to put in there - it’s always a work in progress!

Hey could you do an anthurium care guide..thanks

I would love to have a cabinet for ferns, jewel orchids, small nepenthes, and begonias but the costs are ridiculous... I settled for a clear plastic portable "greenhouse" with a grow light to help me through the winter until my plants can go back outside.... MUCH cheaper (ok... not very stylish) but my plants are doing very well....

What did you study while at the university?

I love your videos kid. So knowledgeable and funny, a delight. Wish you would do a collaborative video with Nick Alexander. Two very smart plant RU-vidrs with a wicked sharp mind.

Predivne biljke,ostala sam bez teksta!

I think it depends what your goal is and what your situation is. I live in a dry climate(Colorado). I also have cats 🐈. I have two Rudstas and two Fabrikors(found locally being resold for only $25/ea😲 I have been very happy with my cabinets. I have strip grow lights(not expensive ones)and only need to use pebble trays with leca for humidity. I currently don't need to use fans. I used cheap closet wire shelving.There are also so many smart, space saving solutions for plant storage. I ultimately love the esthetic, which is a big pro...I want to see my plants! Am I going to grow multiple giant plants in them...no.

they look awesome, but when I saw the price....no no no! I bought Ikea little greenhouse for 11.99 to keep my little cuttings happy and large aquarium (used fish tank). less than 100 quid, works a treat! and no need to install any light- as it already has one!

Your patent pending 🤣, make it so it fits over the ikea Vittsjo shelf units and I’m all in (Although they also have the same plant height issues, I’m finding) Seriously though, I like the look of the modified milsbo cabinet as a greenhouse but the cost was just too much for me, especially where I was at the time in my plant game and especially considering all the add on costs I noticed people discussing in the various set up videos. Still don’t want to spend that much though, even if I could get my hand on one. I got the Vittsjo units originally for books and other collectibles, and then moved the plants onto the bigger one for winter and just to rearrange my very small space. Working out pretty well so far, but I’ve definitely wished for some kind of removable cover that could serve as a greenhouse environment. I also have a small aquarium/terrarium I use for my begonias, and an alocasia bambino that chose violence regularly before it was in there 🤣

Maybe it would work better for you if you ran the lights vertically down the side instead of across so you could keep the seamless look but have lighting on the bottom.

I'd like to make a grow tent with a glass wall🤔

Maybe it is a horse? Wouldn't be the first time :D I love my Milsbo, it is a life (plant) saver along with the tent you gave me - but again, 25% humidity during the winter in my apartment. Still, would really appreciate if they made it 60cm deep at least :/

it's 850+shipping here in New Zealand lol

There's only 1 flaw in the milsbo cabinet (imo) and that is in the front frame of the doors, it needs to have a seamless closure without the 3 inch eye sore of a frame so that you can look through without the door frames in the way of your hundreds and at times thousands of dollars worth of beauty. ikea, pls take note!

Thanks for the review and giggles 💚🌱🌿🪴 I have a Milsbo wide and I use it exclusively for Hoya. Everything else sizes up way too fast!!!

ASSALAMU ALAIKUM BASIE,

I just got a Rudsta for $139 ($150 after tax) so that’s far cheaper than the Milsbo

I’m disappointed in my milsbo csbinet .. things do not grow in it

The joke about starting without video next time really made me think you should start a podcast… hoya podcast…. 🤪🤪🤪

No cabinet for me. Just will take up to much room.

But, but...I love turtles...

LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE THE PHONE IN YOUR HAND. 😂