Back to all guides

Tiered Plant Trays for IKEA Cabinets: Light for Every Plant

By Mallory Berthomé3 min readUpdated
Tiered Plant Trays for IKEA Cabinets: Light for Every Plant

TL;DR

On a flat shelf, the plants in front shade the ones behind. A tiered tray lifts each row, so every plant gets light.

  • Each row higher back plants sit above the front ones
  • Up to 15 cups of 4.5 cm on the 5-tier tray
  • MILSBO and ÅKERBÄR all sizes fit MILSBO, 3 and 4 tiers fit ÅKERBÄR
  • No tools parts click together and apart

Why the back row struggles

Grow lights shine from above. On a flat shelf, the leaves of the front plants cover the small plants behind them, so the back row gets less light every day.

Signs your back row needs more light:

  • Plants lean toward the front.
  • Stems get long and thin.
  • New leaves are smaller or paler.
  • They grow slower than the same plant in front.

Tiered tray for IKEA MILSBO and ÅKERBÄR

Set up your tray

  1. Measure your shelf

    Check the width, the depth and the height up to the light. The door must still close.

  2. Click the tiers together

    Choose how many rows you need. You can add or remove one later.

  3. Put the smallest plants at the back

    The highest row is at the back. Small plants need that lift the most.

  4. Drop the cups into the holes

    Each cup sits in its own hole, so nothing tips over when you move the tray.

  5. Check again after a week

    Compare the back row with the front. If a plant still leans, move it one place up or turn it around.

What fits in the tray?

Tap your setup:

4.5 cm cups

Yes. The holes are made for 4.5 cm cups, like the humidity cups for corms and baby plants. The 5-tier tray holds up to 15.

6 cm pots

Yes. There is a version made for 6 cm pots, with different tier options.

IKEA MILSBO

Yes, every tier size fits on MILSBO shelves. Measure the space under your light first.

IKEA ÅKERBÄR

The 3-tier and 4-tier trays fit on the floor of the ÅKERBÄR greenhouse. The 5-tier tray doesn’t.

Bigger pots

The trays are made for 4.5 cm and 6 cm pots. For bigger pots in an ÅKERBÄR, look at the ÅKERBÄR drip trays.

Keep it clean

Click the tiers apart and wash them by hand in warm, soapy water. Rinse well and let them dry before you put the cups back. Doing this between batches stops mould and pests from moving on to your next plants.

Growing corms in the tray?

Corms in 4.5 cm humidity cups fit the tray too. See how to do the puddle method and the Corm Condo setup.

FAQ

Does a tiered tray replace a grow light?

No. It helps the light you have reach every plant. The plants still need a good light above them.

Will it fit my shelf?

Every size fits IKEA MILSBO. For ÅKERBÄR, choose 3 or 4 tiers. For other shelves, compare your measurements with the size on the product page.

Do I still need to turn my plants?

Less often. If one keeps leaning, turn it or move it up a row.

Can big plants go in the tray?

No, it’s made for 4.5 cm and 6 cm pots. Once a plant outgrows its pot, give it a bigger one of its own.

Sources

Products in this guide

Comments

Related guides