New at the library: Check-out houseplants

MONROE COUNTY — The Monroe County Library System offers much more than books.

Patrons can now check-out houseplants. Three branches — Bedford, Frenchtown-Dixie and Dorsch Memorial — recently started houseplant libraries/plant propagation stations. Bedford has the largest collection.

At all three branches, houseplant leaves and clippings are placed in water until roots form. Then, library patrons can take the clippings home and plant them. Some plants already established in dirt also are available. Both clippings and plants are given for free and forever. Patrons may also donate their own plant clippings to the collection.

“I’ve seen a couple other area library systems with propagation stations, but it’s definitely still not a common library offering,” said Molly Kellie, Bedford Branch reference technician.

Bedford Branch

Kellie brought the houseplant library concept to MCLS in April 2022, when she started a collection at the Bedford Branch.

Initially, the plants were a way to bring nature into the library.

“Many patrons commented on how cool and beautiful it is to have all the plants back there (in the solarium), and a few patrons told me it’s now their favorite space in the library,” Kellie said. “Adding a propagation station so patrons could take plants home with them just seemed like a natural step.”

Kellie started the houseplant collection with just nine plants. Today, there are more than 50 plants of 32 varieties.

“During the growing season, about 30 to 50 new plants (rooted and planted in potting mix) go out every month. Sometimes if we have a large group coming in, I’ll take and root a bunch of cuttings and just send them home in Ziplocs without planting; that's probably in the 200 to 300 range,” Kellie said. “It’s been so lovely to see the interest our patrons have in the houseplant library.”

Most of the plants and supplies are donated by patrons, but the branch’s Friends of the Library group provides potting soil and planters when donations run low.

Pothos, purple heart and inch plants make up the bulk of the collection.

“We also have aloe, arrowhead, hoya, kalanchoe, monstera, philodendron, rubber plants and weeping fig, to name a few,” Kellie said. “There’s been some trial and error, but it’s been such an amazing learning experience. I’ve always been a plant lover, but caring for this collection and getting to connect with patrons about their plants and try to help them solve their plant problems has given me so much more knowledge and experience.”

Frenchtown-Dixie Branch

After Bedford’s success with the houseplant collection, Ashley Liford started one at the Frenchtown-Dixie Branch earlier this summer.

“Ashley has a love of plants,” said Paula Sandefur, circulation clerk.

Monstera, pothos and umbrella trees are the most popular with Frenchtown-Dixie patrons. The umbrella tree cuttings come from a tree on the library's grounds.

Patrons of all ages use the collection.

“A lot of patrons come in and get a clipping. People love the idea, and it’s expanded. They really like it when the library has something besides books and DVDs," Sandefur said.

Recently, Preston LeFevre, 23, of Monroe, stopped in to get a snake plant. Next he’d like to take a monstera. LeFevre said he has enjoyed houseplants since childhood.

Another patron, Lora Engle of Newport, hopes to soon take home a lavender plant.

“I love lavender, the color, the smell,” Engle said.

Like LeFevre, she also likes the arrowhead in the library’s collection.

“It just fills me with joy,” she said. “(The collection) is very user friendly.”

Dorsch Memorial Branch

Aimee Luck started the houseplant library at the Dorsch Memorial Branch earlier this summer. She even built a table for the collection.

To complement the plants, Luck wanted a natural wood table. So, she and her husband, Brad, built one, using a large piece of wood that came from the Ida area. The wood's $75 cost was covered by Dorsch’s Friends of the Library group. The couple built the table over about two months at their Dundee home. They finished with a shiny bar top finish and metal legs.

The table sits in a windowed area near Dorsch’s circulation desk. On it are glass jars of all sizes filled with inch plant, monstera, jade tree, umbrella tree, spider plant and succulent clippings.

The vessels range from Mason jars to small vases and recycled food containers. Luck got many of them at yard sales.

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Last month, 65 plants and cuttings were checked-out at Dorsch by people of all ages, including some children.

“Everybody loves it. Some (plants) go in as soon as they are dropped off. People like the unusual plants,” Luck said.

The houseplant library is available all year. Next summer, Luck may add outdoor plants to the offerings.

“We’ll keep it going as long as it will go,” she said.

Three Monroe County Library System locations — Bedford, Vivian, Blue Bush and the Ellis Library & Reference Center —all have fruit and vegetable plant and tree seeds available for checkout.

For questions about houseplants or the MCLS’ houseplant libraries, email Molly Kellie at plant@monroe.lib.mi.us.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: New at the library: Check-out houseplants