African Violets and Gesneriads: PVC light stand, 0 by critterologist

critterologist wrote:
I thought about making a PVC stand, but my husband, who likes things that are really, really sturdy (such an engineer) went out and picked up a "Gorilla Rack" storage shelf unit at Sam's instead... they make one (or did make, at least) that can be assembled side-by-side (3 shelves each side) rather than 6 shelves tall, and that's how I put them together for my seedling light shelves downstairs. The lights above the top shelf are raised & lowered on ropes (great for tall-growing tomato seedlings). The adjustment holes in the metal uprights are great for putting 1/4 inch dowel through to support adjustable-height lights above the lower shelves. The 18" shelves will hold four standard 1020 flats, if you don't mind a bit of overhang front & back.

I know you don't need all that adjustment for AVs, but I really do like this setup. I did have AVs down there last fall, and I may have to move some propagation trays down there this winter (will use heat mat), because I'm out of room upstairs.

I was thinking about the issue of sturdiness with your pups, P... If you do go with PVC, you might want to see if you can find a way to add some cross-bracing to the stand design. I wonder if making X's with rope on the back side of each shelf would do the trick...

This photo shows how I support the lights on my Gorilla Rack stand...