WHAT IT TAKES
TIME: 4 hours
SKILL LEVEL: Beginner
We tend to buy plants first and worry about good spots for them later. So unfortunately, many of the prettiest plants get lost in the corners of a deck and sunroom and don’t get the attention (or the light) they deserve.
To help solve this problem and to spotlight some favorite plants, we came up with this simple display stand. It’s made from cedar 1x2s that are cut into just two lengths, stacked into squares and nailed together. We used western red cedar with the rough-sawn side exposed. Assembly is simple and fast, because there’s nothing to measure as you build—just keep everything square and use the wood pieces themselves for spacing and alignment.
For supplies, you’ll need seven 8-ft.-long cedar 1x2s, exterior glue, a few dozen 4d galvanized finish nails, and some 100- or 120-grit sandpaper. You’ll also need a hammer, a tape measure and a framing square, plus a saw that can cut the 1x2s to a consistent length. A power miter saw is great for this (you can rent one) but you could also use a handsaw in a miter box. An exterior finish for the wood is attractive, but not really necessary.
Begin by trimming any rough or out-of-square ends from your 1x2s. Almost all the ends will show, so they need to look good. Cut the 1x2s into sixteen 20-in. pieces and twenty-seven 10-3/4-in. pieces. It’s important that the two groups of pieces are consistent in length, so rather than measuring each one, clamp a “stop block” to your bench the appropriate distance from the blade of your saw, and push the 1x2 up against it for each cut.
Begin making your stand by arranging the lowest two layers without nails or glue (Photo 1). Lay out the bottom three 20-in. pieces against a framing square, then lay three more 20-in. pieces and three 10-3/4-in. pieces on top of them as shown in Photo 1.
Adjust the spacing, using scrap pieces to create the gaps, and make sure everything is square. The second layer should have a plant platform in one corner and nothing in the other three. When everything looks good, nail the pieces together, using one nail and a dab of glue at every intersection. Keep the nails 3/4 in. away from the ends of the boards to prevent splitting.
Add five more layers each consisting of two long and one short piece, with glue and a nail at every overlap. Check the sides with the square as you go to keep them straight. At the seventh layer, add two more platforms, with the 10-3/4-in. pieces running perpendicular to the pieces on the first platform. Add another five layers, with just two 10-3/4-in. pieces per layer, then fill in the top layer to create the final display platform (Photo 2). When you’re done nailing, sand all the outside edges of your stand and apply an exterior stain or preservative.Wait a few days for the finish to dry completely, then start moving in the plants!