Take care of your plant seeds until they grow thick by making an easy and inexpensive mini greenhouse. You can make one greenhouse for one plant or one that can contain several types of plants. This is a great way to add plants or decorative elements to your home.
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Method 1 of 3: Make a Mini Greenhouse from Bottles and Jars
Step 1. Use a 1 liter soda bottle
You can use a 1 liter plastic soda bottle to make a variety of greenhouses. This bottle is ideal for growing 1 type of garden which is short and shallow rooted. Some examples are orchids, small ferns, or cacti. Prepare several bottles of various shapes, so that it can give you a variety of choices.
- To make a complex soda bottle greenhouse, start with two bottles. One bottle should be slightly wider than the other, if possible. Carefully cut the thinner top of the bottle just past the groove that forms the bottle tube. Cut as straight and neat as possible.
- Use hot glue to glue the top of the bottle you just cut to the bottom of the bottle as well. This step will create a vase-like base for your mini-greenhouse. Smooth the rough edges so the bottle can stand upright on the table.
- Next, make the lid of the greenhouse by cutting off the wider top of the bottle, about 1 cm below the top groove towards the tube portion of the bottle. The top of this bottle then becomes the first thinner bottle cap that you have glued to the bottom.
- If you are using this type of greenhouse, be sure to put the right material for inserting into the base of your greenhouse. This type of greenhouse has no drainage and will need to be handled like a terrarium.
- A simpler method is to cut off the bottom of the bottle and push the top into the soil or over a small pot, but it won't look as good as the one made with the method above.
Step 2. Use a 1 gallon soda bottle
You can use the same 1 gallon bottle as a 1 liter bottle. The shape should be like a tube (if placed on a pot or making a vase frame) this bottle can contain three plants of the same variety as a 1 liter bottle.
You can also use this bottle to make the base of a greenhouse with a drain, by making a small hole in the bottom and cutting a 2.5cm long vertical line into the bottom side of the lid. Remember to leave at least 2.5 cm above the soil line when cutting the cover. This will keep the soil from falling out when the bottle is opened
Step 3. Use a jar
If you want to grow the smallest plants, you can use a jar with a lid to make a small terrarium. Jars are available in various sizes and should be selected according to the size of the plant you are going to garden. Fill a jar with a suitable growing medium for a terrarium and you will have a very small and beautiful greenhouse.
Step 4. Use an aquarium
You can use the aquarium to make a greenhouse or mini terrarium. A square or rectangular aquarium can be used, or you can use a round aquarium. Size is adjusted to the size and number of plants that you will plant.
- One small plant can be covered with a round aquarium with a wide opening.
- A round aquarium with the right size can be used as a terrarium, can be covered with plastic or left open.
- A large round aquarium can be used as a terrarium without drainage, holes can be drilled in the bottom of the aquarium for drainage, or (if the material is glass) it can be turned over to form a greenhouse. When tilted, the cover can be made from a plastic bag or using a wooden frame using the method below.
Method 2 of 3: Making a Mini Greenhouse from Photo Frames
Step 1. Prepare the frame
You will need eight frames with glass or some kind of glass. The sizes required are four frames measuring 12.5X17.5 cm, two frames measuring 20x25 cm, and two frames measuring 22.5x35 cm. Sand the frame to remove texture and paint.
Frames like these can be purchased at the drugstore, grocery, craft, camera or online from a number of sources. You can also buy used ones at thrift stores like Goodwill
Step 2. Create the main outline
The main body shape of the greenhouse by bringing together a 27.5X35 cm frame and a 20X25 cm frame so that the sides 27.5 cm and 25 cm meet, the back of the 25 cm frame presses against the outer edge of the 27.5 cm frame.
- Adhere the frame by drilling small holes through the inner edge of the small frame halfway into the small frame. Then use bolts the size of the holes you drilled to secure the frame together.
- Keep bringing the frames together until you have a rectangle made up of four frames (both 25x35 cm and both 20x25 cm).
Step 3. Shape the roof
Form the roof of the greenhouse by joining four frames 12.5x17.5 cm. Both can be put together two by two and combined into a triangular roof. The hinges can be attached so you can open the greenhouse to water the plants inside.
- Place the two 12.5x17.5 cm frames side by side so that the short sides meet. Then unite by making a plate measuring 5 cm at each end of the side that meets. Drill holes beforehand to make it easier to insert the bolts. Repeat the same steps with the other two 12.5x17.5 cm frames.
- Connect the small frames to each other, forming a 90° angle along the long edge and attaching the bolts at a 90° angle to secure them.
Step 4. Fill and meet the roof
You can bring together the roof on the underframe of the greenhouse in a position that allows you to easily fit into it. You can just put the roof on top of the underframe but putting it together will make it more stable. Make sure you close any gaps that are too large at the edges of the roof.
- Attach the roof to the underframe by installing 2.5 cm hinges equally spaced along the joined sides.
- Fill in the triangular gaps with the back of the frame, plywood, foam or other suitable material. Plywood or foam should be of the appropriate thickness, so that it is easy to glue to the frame. Whatever material you choose, follow the size of the inner triangle if using plywood or foam or the outer triangle if using the back of the frame. Plywood can be nailed if desired.
Step 5. Apply the final layer
You can use the paint or decoration of your choice as a finish and reattach the glass to the frame. After that fill your greenhouse with suitable plants.
- Use wood paint and don't forget to paint all the parts before putting the glass back on.
- Reattach the glass from inside the greenhouse and attach it with hot glue to the corners. Once the glass is in place, seal the edges with hot glue again. You can also use plastic instead of glass.
Method 3 of 3: Making a Mini Greenhouse from PVC Pipes
Step 1. Prepare the PVC pipe and its joints
Since the greenhouse is modular and the size can be adjusted to your liking, the number and length of pipes will vary according to your plan. You need to measure the dimensions you want and determine the required number of pipes from those dimensions.
- Try dividing the large frame into 60 cm sections. So that your greenhouse has better strength and stability.
- Use a small PVC pipe, no more than 4cm in diameter. The size should be about 2 cm.
- Also make sure the joints and PVC pipes match. You can test it first at the store or ask a material store clerk for help.
Step 2. Connect the wall pipe
You will form the base and walls together, by connecting the pipes. Start by connecting the vertical pipe at 60 cm intervals on the horizontal pipe with a T joint. Form an angle at the horizontal base by joining the T joint with the elbow joint with a small pipe.
When you're done, you'll have a square or rectangular base with posts rising from the T joints at regular intervals. The corners of the posts are made from the last T joint on the long side, with the elbow joint and the short side of the base coming out of the "wall"
Step 3. Connect the roof pipe
He continued, you can join the wall pipe to the roof pipe and form a roof. It is important to form an uneven roof as this will reduce the light that can enter, and it can also cause rain or snow to build up on your frame.
- Form the center frame of the roof by making a line of PVC pipe that exactly matches the long side of the base. Pipes can be connected by 4-prong joints at the same intervals as wall posts, except at the ends with T-joints. From T-joints and four-prong joints, place short pipes and cover with 45° joints.
- Next, place the 45° joint on top of each wall post. After that you need to measure the pipe needed for the connection 45° from the center of the roof.
Step 4. Place it on the ground
Place the greenhouse on the ground you want to cover. You can place it on the ground with stakes and tied or on raised ground with hooks but only on one long side. That way you can lift the frame to water and care for your plants.
Step 5. Close
The final step is to cover the frame with plastic or cloth, as desired. If using plastic, use clear plastic and cover the entire frame with one large sheet if possible. Whatever material you use, cover the frame and secure it with duct tape. Your greenhouse is done!
Tips
- For a photo frame greenhouse, you can paint the frame any color you want. Don't forget to paint before reinstalling the glass frame!
- Prepare a temperature data chart that will clarify the temperature difference outside and inside the greenhouse. The chart consists of two lines titled "inside" and "outside". The column is labeled "at the beginning" and then every 15 minutes for at least an hour, or as long as you can. Be aware that depending on the time of day and the temperature of the day, the temperature in the greenhouse can continue to rise or fall.
- For greenhouses made of PVC pipes, materials other than plastic can be used to cover plants. In summer, cover with a cloth that can keep the plant from overheating or burning.
Warning
- When moving the greenhouse, first make sure the strength of the frame.
- If children are involved in building a greenhouse, make sure they are involved in activities that are safe for them. Keep them working around the clock.
- The tools used to make these greenhouses are sharp and can injure you. Be careful.
