A Guide to Creating an Indoor Greenhouse

Do you love to garden but your living arrangements just aren’t suited to it? Why not consider an indoor greenhouse. If your home is an apartment, the benefits of an indoor greenhouse are quite apparent. But even homeowners with large yards are attracted to the idea of an indoor greenhouse.

A real benefit is the lower expense involved. Even a simple lean-to greenhouse shed is more costly to build than a small indoor unit. It’s not that difficult to build a greenhouse in your own home with supplies that are readily available at any home improvement outlet.

Or maybe you want an indoor greenhouse, but aren’t interested in building one from scratch. Fortunately for you, it’s possible to purchase indoor greenhouse kits. You can get these in various styles and brand names. They’re available at nurseries, department stores and even online.

Indoor greenhouse kits range from a tiny herb garden that you can keep on your countertop to a kit capable of turning your basement’s shelving unit into a hothouse.

If you don’t find this idea suitable, you can build your own greenhouse on the cheap. Begin by building a freestanding set of shelves, about 4 shelves in total. You will need to attach it securely to the floor.

Next, there needs to be a way to retain the moisture and heat that you have provided. This can be accomplished by using sheets of plastic or an old shower curtain to cover the shelves, and sealing them with duct tape. You can provide heat by purchasing heating pads and placing them at the bottom of the greenhouse. Make sure you buy a thermometer so you can measure the temperature regularly.

Place a cup of water in your greenhouse to provide the humidity your plants need. The plants will require light, and you can provide this with a simple fluorescent light. But you should really consider purchasing a specially designed grow light that will help your plants thrive. A basic unit is relatively inexpensive.

Your next task is to find some containers, fill them with soil and plant your garden. Set them on the shelving unit and give them a drink of water. Now sit back and admire your do-it-yourself greenhouse that does the job just as well as a kit.

These are general guidelines, and you can add to them with your own ideas and preferences. You will most certainly end up with an indoor greenhouse that’s perfect for you, whether you buy or build.