grow foodherbs, greens or seedlings
grow houseplantsfor dark rooms and winter
or both, on one shelf
Sun Shelf 3 | Plant shelf with built-in full spectrum LED grow lights
$139.30 - $769.30$199.00 - $1,099.00
Mini from $139.30 · full shelf from $384.30
- 1480 × 816 × 320 mm (Mini 740 mm tall)
- shelf gaps 154 to 754 mm
- 1 wall socket, Australian plug
Already growing with gathera? Add heirloom basins, a Sun Patch or another shelf any time: every part uses the same 24 V light panels and controllers.
Shop the feed
what owners love most
- plants visibly thriving“twice as fast” · “colour restored”read what owners say
“Plants are grow twice as fast and it looks incredible”
“…have been amazed at the colour that has been restored to their leaves! … I love the way I have control over the length of daylight hours I can provide and the intensity of the light also!”
“Plants already visibly healthier after only a few days (agricultural scientist here, so informed opinion on the difference the sun shelf has made)”
“I’ve seen a marked increase in the seedlings growth which had just been sat in front of a window during the day.”
why plants grow so wellall 41 reviews“Love these - this is my 2nd one. My plants have never been healthier, even in winter!”
- a piece of furniture“like just another piece of furniture”read what owners say
“I love the look of this unit, which fits into my living room like just another piece of furniture.”
“It is also a great feature and brightens up my dark living room. Its lovely to come downstairs in the morning when it’s dark outside and the living room is lit up like a little sun.”
“The bamboo fabrication is sturdy, minimalist and able to suit many aesthetic tastes.”
all 41 reviews“I love how the sunshelf 3 looks in my living room”
- built in 20 minutes“quick and straightforward”read what owners say
“Assembly is quick and straightforward, as is purchase and delivery process. Recommend!”
“The shelf unit was very easy to assemble.”
“Really happy with how it looks … Very easy to assemble as well”
how setup worksall 41 reviews“This is a great idea and a really easy to build shelf unit that can be put in the darkest of places”
why plants grow so well under it
Light made for growing, with settings you can tune light by light.
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the easiest way to grow indoors
The biggest, most capable garden we’ve ever made, and the easiest yet to live with.
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Mini or full size?
Same bamboo, same lights, same width and depth. The full shelf is twice as tall, with three lights instead of one.
| compare | Mini | full shelf |
|---|---|---|
| price from | $139.30 | $384.30 |
| height | 740 mm | 1480 mm |
| width × depth | 816 × 320 mm | 816 × 320 mm |
| levels | 2 (1 under a light) | 4 (3 under lights) |
| with a Sun Patch | 2 lights: the top grows too | 4 lights: the top grows too |
| basins | up to 1 (2 with a Sun Patch) | up to 3 (4 with a Sun Patch) |
| gap between levels | one gap; the top shelf can move up 154 mm | 154 to 754 mm, adjustable |
| power | 36 W adaptor, 1 socket | 100 W adaptor, 1 socket |
| running cost at full brightness, 12 h a day | about 10c a day | about 29c a day (about $8.70 a month) |
A Sun Patch adds about 10c a day. Running costs are the most it can use: 24 W per light at full brightness for 12 hours, at an average Australian price of 33c/kWh. Lower brightness costs less.
questions about the Sun Shelf 3
Quick answers before you buy, with every size and spec in one place.
can’t find it? chat with usthe shelf
How big is the Sun Shelf 3, and how far apart are the shelves?
1480 mm tall for the full shelf and 740 mm for the Mini, and both are 816 mm wide and 320 mm deep. On the full shelf the gap between layers adjusts from 154 mm to 754 mm, so there’s room for low houseplants, tall seedlings or even vegetables.
| Size | Full shelf | Mini |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 1480 mm | 740 mm |
| Width | 816 mm | 816 mm |
| Between the uprights | 777 mm | 780 mm |
| Depth | 320 mm | 320 mm |
| Gap between layers | 154 to 754 mm, adjustable | one gap; the top shelf can move up 154 mm |
To change a gap, unscrew the shelf, move it to a new set of holes and screw it back in.
What is the Sun Patch, and can I add one later?
The Sun Patch is a separate light we sell, sized to sit on top of the Sun Shelf 3 (full size or Mini), so the top level becomes a growing level too. It uses exactly the same light panel, controller and 24 V supply as the lights in the shelf, so it works as part of the same system, with the same brightness and timer settings.
It comes with its own 36 W power adaptor and plug, so it uses a second wall socket rather than the shelf’s splitter cable.
Order it with the shelf, or add it any time later if you change your mind. It’s the easy way to grow more than the base shelf allows: one more light, and room for a fourth basin on the full shelf (a second on the Mini).
How big are the basins?
20 L per basin, with 18 net cups in each: enough water for three to four months between refills. You can order the full shelf with up to 3 basins (4 with a Sun Patch) and the Mini with 1 (2 with a Sun Patch).
Basins are also sold on their own as the heirloom basin, so you can start with none, or just one, and add more later.
| Volume | 20 L per basin |
|---|---|
| Net cups | 18 per basin, each with an integrated algae guard |
| Material | food-grade ABS basin, with food-grade, antibacterial silicone net cups |
The food-safe ABS is impact- and scratch-resistant, won’t fade with age, and is fully recyclable at the end of its life. Rounded inside corners make it quick to wipe clean.
Growing in basins: how does hydroponics work, and why grow that way?
Hydroponics is growing without soil. Each seed starts in a rockwool cube in a net cup, and its roots grow down into the basin, where the water carries the nutrients straight to them. The aeration pump bubbles air through the water so the roots get oxygen, and it plugs into the light above, so it runs on the same timer.
- faster growthWater, food and air reach the roots directly, so plants spend their energy on leaves instead of searching through soil.
- ultra-low maintenanceNo soil, no daily watering and no mess. Top up every 3 to 4 months and change the nutrients every 3.
- less waterThe water stays in the basin until the plants drink it, rather than draining away through soil and out of the pot.
Pots of houseplants don’t need any of this: they sit straight on the bamboo and are watered as usual.
Growing in basins: how often do I top up the water and change the nutrients?
Every 3 to 4 months for water, and every 3 months for nutrients. The 20 L basins hold enough water that you’ll usually go three to four months between refills, and the water level indicator on each basin shows when it’s time to top up.
We recommend emptying and replacing the whole nutrient solution every 3 months, because some trace elements build up as plants use certain nutrients faster than others. Read more in what nutrients do plants need?
This only applies to growing in the basins (hydroponics). Houseplants in pots are watered as usual.
How bright are the lights, and can I change the brightness and timer?
2,000 lumens per panel, with 5 brightness settings and 3 daily timers. Every panel (3 on the full shelf, 1 on the Mini) has its own controller, so you can set each light to suit what’s growing under it. Warm white and deep red light gives plants the full spectrum they use to grow, and a lens over every diode focuses it onto the leaves, which makes the lights twice as efficient as our previous ones.
| Brightness | 100%, 80%, 60%, 40%, 20% |
|---|---|
| Timer | 8 h on / 16 h off, 12 h on / 12 h off, 16 h on / 8 h off |
The basin pumps plug into the lights and run on the same timers. Not sure where to start? See which brightness and timer to use.
How many plugs does it need, and how much power does it use?
1 wall socket runs the whole shelf, and each light panel uses 24 W (24 V, 1 A). A Sun Patch has its own adaptor and plug, so it uses a second socket. The full shelf comes with a 100 W power adaptor with an Australian plug and a power splitter cable that runs up from the bottom level, with a branch at each level to that light’s own controller; the Mini comes with a 36 W adaptor. Because every controller plugs into its light, a faulty controller can be replaced without replacing the light, and new controllers can be added later. The aeration pumps plug straight into the light panels, so there’s nothing fiddly to wire up.
Running cost: at full brightness for 12 hours a day, a full shelf uses at most about 0.9 kWh a day (3 lights × 24 W × 12 h), roughly 29c a day or $8.70 a month at an average Australian price of 33c/kWh. The Mini, and each Sun Patch, uses about a third of that: about 10c a day. Lower brightness uses less.
What’s in the box?
3 light panels and 3 controllers come with the full shelf, and 1 of each with the Mini. A Sun Patch adds one more of each. Here’s the full list:
Sun Shelf 3 (full size)
- full-size bamboo shelf, with 16 screws and an Allen key
- 100W power adaptor with an Australian plug
- power splitter cable with a branch for each level (this is what makes the lighting so easy to set up)
- 3 × grow lamp panels with on-board lenses that focus the light onto your plants
- 3 × light controllers, each with 5 intensity settings and 3 timer settings
- 1 × anti-tip kit for safety
- 1 × assembly manual
Sun Shelf 3 Mini
- half-size bamboo shelf, with 8 screws and an Allen key
- 36W power adaptor with an Australian plug
- 1 × grow lamp panel with on-board lenses that focus the light onto your plants
- 1 × light controller with 5 intensity settings and 3 timer settings
- 1 × lighting instruction manual
Each Sun Patch
- 36W power adaptor
- 1 × grow lamp panel
- 1 × light controller
- 1 × instruction manual
- fixture: bamboo arms and an ABS shade
Each heirloom basin
- lid and basin set
- 1 × water aeration pump
- 1 × water level indicator
- 18 × gathera antibacterial, food-grade net cups with integrated algae guards
- 18 × rockwool cubes
- hydroponic nutrients
- 1 × hydroponic growing instruction manual
How easy is it to put together, and how long does it take?
About 20 minutes, and it’s simple: the bamboo frame goes together with the Allen key and 16 screws in the box (8 for the Mini). The light clips arrive ready assembled, so there’s no fussing with a screwdriver to get your lights up.
setup in four steps
- Build the frame. Screw the bamboo frame together with the included Allen key and screws.
- Clip on the lights. Clip each light panel up under a shelf (3 on the full shelf, 1 on the Mini). No screwdriver needed.
- Plug in once. Plug each controller into its light panel, run the splitter cable up from the bottom level and plug each controller into the branch at its level (full shelf), then plug the adaptor into one wall socket.
- Set the light. Choose a brightness and a timer on each panel’s controller. Growing in basins? Plug each basin’s pump into a light panel so it runs on that light’s timer.
Full shelf: fix it to the wall with the anti-tip kit in the box, and keep each layer under 25 kg.
The manual in the box has the full steps, and our walk-through video shows the whole thing.
What are the full specifications?
2,000 lumens per panel, 1480 mm tall (740 mm for the Mini), 20 L per basin and 1 wall socket: here’s every spec in one table.
| Light (per panel) | |
|---|---|
| Output | 2,000 lumens |
| Spectrum | warm white and deep red, full spectrum (660nm, 3000K, 4000K) |
| Colour temperature | 3575K |
| Beam angle | 120 degrees |
| Brightness settings | 100%, 80%, 60%, 40%, 20% |
| Timer settings | 8 h on / 16 h off, 12 h on / 12 h off, 16 h on / 8 h off |
| PPFD | 850 µmol/m²/s at 5 cm, 540 at 10 cm, 290 at 20 cm, 200 at 30 cm |
| Lifespan | 25,000 hours |
| IP rating | IP20 |
| Operating temperature | -10°C to +40°C |
| Shelf | |
| Frame | sustainable bamboo, flatpacked |
| Full size (H × W × D) | 1480 × 816 × 320 mm (777 mm between the uprights) |
| Mini (H × W × D) | 740 × 816 × 320 mm (780 mm between the uprights) |
| Gap between layers (full size) | 154 mm minimum, 754 mm maximum (adjustable) |
| Weight limit | up to 25 kg per shelf layer |
| Safety | anti-tip kit included with the full size; use the wall fastenings provided |
| Assembly | about 20 minutes, Allen key and 16 screws (8 for the Mini) |
| Basin | |
| Volume | 20 L per basin |
| Net cups | 18 per basin, each with an integrated algae guard |
| Material | food-grade ABS basin; food-grade, antibacterial silicone net cups |
| Refills | every 3 to 4 months, with a water level indicator |
| Power | |
| Per panel | 24 W, 24 V, 1 A |
| Adaptor | 100 W with an Australian plug (full size); 36 W (Mini) |
| Wall sockets | 1, with a power splitter cable on the full size; a Sun Patch uses a second (it has its own adaptor) |
| Pumps | plug into the light panels and run on the same timers |
| System | the whole sun series runs on the same 24 V system |
growing with it
What brightness and timer should I use for my plants?
Start here, then let the plants tell you. Every light has its own controller, so each level can have its own settings.
| growing | brightness | timer |
|---|---|---|
| houseplants (pothos, philodendrons, ferns) | 40 to 60% | 12 h |
| seedlings | 60 to 80%, light close | 16 h |
| herbs and leafy greens | 80 to 100% | 16 h for basil and most herbs, 12 h for lettuce and spinach |
| high-light plants (succulents, cacti, chillies, tomatoes) | 100%, light close | 16 h |
Crispy, bleached or burnt edges? That’s too much light: turn the brightness down, shorten the hours, or give the plant more room below the light.
Slow, small or wispy, stretching towards the light? It needs more: turn the brightness up, lengthen the hours, or bring the light closer by moving the shelf down.
I kill every plant. Will I be able to keep it alive?
Very likely, yes. Growing indoors protects plants from temperature swings, wind and uneven light, and without soil there are fewer pests. The nutrient solution feeds the roots directly, and the water level indicator and light timers take most of the guesswork out of daily care.
New to growing? Start with our Serial Plant Killer series.
Should I leave the lights on 24 hours a day?
No: set the built-in timer to 8, 12 or 16 hours on instead, or use a wifi smart plug. Plants need a dark period each day to rest, so copy a natural day and night cycle rather than running lights around the clock.
Light needs vary by plant. Too many hours of light can make some leafy greens, like spinach, bolt to seed.
What warranty and returns do I get?
1 year warranty from the date of purchase, on top of your rights under Australian Consumer Law. If anything goes wrong, contact us with your order number and a photo, and we’ll arrange a repair, replacement or refund.
We also offer change-of-mind returns on all products, and a 60-day seed guarantee: any seeds that don’t grow, we’ll replace free of charge. Everything in the sun series runs on the same 24 V system, so pumps, lights, net cups and other parts can be replaced or added later.
E
Really happy with how it looks and has helped declutter a lot of space near windows without having to worry about whether my plants are getting enough light. Very easy to assemble as well
Hi Emma Thanks for sharing your experience!
J
Brilliantly speedy delivery, easy to assemble and so far, I’ve seen a marked increase in the seedlings growth which had just been sat in front of a window during the day. Yet to try out the hydroponics, but the apparatus is lovely looking. Very impressed with it all :)
A
I have wanted one for ages and so glad I finally bought one. My plants are already happier. It is also a great feature and brightens up my dark living room. Its lovely to come downstairs in the morning when it’s dark outside and the living room is lit up like a little sun. Wakes you up and makes you feel happy!! (The tinsel on the photo was just for Christmas)
L
Omg I am so glad I bought this!! I have just purchased another as I can’t believe I have lived without this in my life!!! Solid as, easy to put together (for my husband as I would not attempt it), I would love you to make one for bigger plants too as my Albos are missing out!! Worth every penny 😍
Thank yo so much for the lovely review and we are so happy you are enjoying your growing with the Sun Shelf3 and that you have purchased another.. thank you! Did you know that you can remove or leift shelves to extend the height of the space to grow bigger plants?
C
I liked my Sun Shelf mini so much that I bought a second shelf for another dark part of my house, and now have so many more options to arrange and style my growing houseplant collection. The built in LED for the plants on the lower shelf is excellent for small to medium sized plants. The bamboo fabrication is sturdy, minimalist and able to suit many aesthetic tastes. I love that you can customise the height of the upper shelf depending on your plants’ size. It integrates well with other grow lights. For example, I have affixed a sun bulb to the wall to provide light to my larger plants on one of my shelves, and have used vertical table lamp style grow lights on the top of my other shelf. Assembly is quick and straightforward, as is purchase and delivery process. Recommend!
Thank you so much for taking the time to review our products, We love it that you love it!
C
I liked my Sun Shelf mini so much that I bought a second shelf for another dark part of my house, and now have so many more options to arrange and style my growing houseplant collection. The built in LED for the plants on the lower shelf is excellent for small to medium sized plants. The bamboo fabrication is sturdy, minimalist and able to suit many aesthetic tastes. I love that you can customise the height of the upper shelf depending on your plants’ size. It integrates well with other grow lights. For example, I have affixed a sun bulb to the wall to provide light to my larger plants on one of my shelves, and have used vertical table lamp style grow lights on the top of my other shelf. Assembly is quick and straightforward, as is purchase and delivery process. Recommend!
Thank you so much for taking the time to review our products, We love it that you love it!
L
I love the look of this unit, which fits into my living room like just another piece of furniture. It was easy to set up, and the individually programmable lights are perfect for the mix of leafy greens, tomatoes and ornamentals that I have growing there at present. Highly recommend adding the Sun Patch on top to make this a convenient and attractive 4 shelf system.
We are so happy to hear that you love the Sun Shelf3 and it clicks ll boxes for you. Thank you for the review, we appreacite it very much.
J
I mistakenly purchased a Sun Shelf 3 Mini when I should have gone for the normal sized version. However, I was told that if I bought a 2nd Sun Shelf 3 Mini, it would be possible to stack them on top of each other therefore creating a normal sized Sun Shelf 3. Unfortunately, in order to attach both Minis together, you require a nut and bolt for both sides. Now according to the instruction manual for the normal sized version it states that it comes with a set of nuts and bolts to attach both shelves together. After communicating with Gathera, I was advised to find a wood screw in order to attach the shelves together. It would have been amazing if Gathera could have provided a set of nuts and bolts (which I would be happy to pay for) to attach both shelves. I have had to use four zip ties to attach both shelves as a stop gap but obviously would prefer something more permanent.
M
I'm a first time hydroponic gardener. I love how the sunshelf 3 looks in my living room, how it was easy to assemble. Love how to cables are minimalistic and the clip-on lights with timer are the best! I sew the seeds before holiday for almost 2 weeks and came back healthy seedlings without any watering.
Perfect and thank you !! and we are so happy you love the product!! Many happy growings!
W
This has a great design, easy to assemble if your handy and really is topped off if you include a Sunostch as I did.
Thanks so much for taking the time to send us a review. We appreciate it very much.
T
Great shelf! My plants are loving it.
C
Love these - this is my 2nd one. My plants have never been healthier, even in winter!
M
Easy enough to assemble. Very intuitive since the instructions are a bit lacking. A longer or extension for the Sun Patch would be nice. Several of my orchids are taller than the Sun Patch, so can't really use it.
K
Ok to set up although instructions could be clearer. Two holes on one side of the frame to attach the top frame to the bottom, were pre-drilled a size too small, so we needed to redrill the holes to fit the binding barrel nuts. Looks good and works well.
D
Sun Shelf 3 | Plant shelf with built-in full spectrum LED grow lights
Thanks!
A
The shelf unit was very easy to assemble. I was pleased with quality of the product and it looks very good in its location. The Shelves are now full of plants who enjoy the lighting provided for each shelf.
Thank you for the kind review!
S
I wish I could leave a good review but unfortunately Gathera have only sent half of my order. I'm yet to receive the pendant light and I'm not getting anywhere with answers as to when or if it'll even be sent out. Both ordered at the end of December, why couldn't both items have been sent? Same address!
Hi Samantha, thanks for shopping our boxing day sale. I see the sun shelf was delivered on 1st of Jan.
Looking at your other order which you made for a Sun Bulb two days later i can see that the tracking has not updated. We will follow this up and send out a replacement ASAP.
A
This is a great idea and a really easy to build shelf unit that can be put in the darkest of places and still be used to grow your tropical plants in the house or start your seedlings in late winter. Living in a Queenslander house you want to reduce sunshine in the house as much as possible but that has drawbacks if you like plants in the house. This is the perfect way to get the best of both worlds.
L
Easy to put together. Looks good. Grow lights are easy to install and works well. However it needs to be more stable as it wobbles with a slight touch. Perhaps 2 reinforcing diagonal planks will make it more stable. I will be looking into adding them as I feel it is not stable.
A
Sun Shelf 3 | Plant shelf with built-in full spectrum LED grow lights
Thanks Andrew!
J
I love my SunShelf 3 plant shelf
My Baby African Violets are sitting in their new home and looking great .
J
I love my SunShelf 3 plant shelf
My Baby African Violets are sitting in their new home and looking great .
P
I have been growing tropical pitcher plants in my laundry with mixed success. They were happy enough with the light while it was summer but here in Melbourne , Summer lasts only so long! I set up my Sun Shelf in a heated room and have been amazed at the colour that has been restored to their leaves! All plants are looking very healthy and I am confident that the light generated will encourage them to produce pitchers. I love the way I have control over the length of daylight hours I can provide and the intensity of the light also! Such versatility enables me to experiment and find the best combination for my plants ! This is a wonderful product and I cannot recommend it enough!
Thank you for your review on the Sun Shelf. We are so happy to know you love it! Happy growing Peter !
R
The shelves are nice and sturdy. The timer on the lights are excellent and I can just leave them on the timer and they turn on and off by themselves.