Updated at: 25-04-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

It’s understandable that someone new to greenhouse gardening could be stumped as to where they should put their plants in such a confined space. The type of plant you’re cultivating will have an impact on where and how you set up your greenhouse. In a multi-tiered greenhouse, the plants that require the most sunshine, for example, can be placed at the top. As a result, you need be careful about where you install your greenhouse, as most plants prefer sunlight.

Ideally, your greenhouse should be located on the south or southeast side of your home, where it will receive the most sunlight during the fall and winter seasons. On this topic, see below.

Where Should You Place Your Greenhouse?

The closer your greenhouse is near your residence, the better. You’ll be more likely to use it because it’s more handy for you. You should also take into account the availability of energy and water when deciding on the ideal location for your irrigation or heating/cooling systems.

During the winter months, it is especially important to find a location with at least six hours of daily direct solar exposure. If you don’t have access to a lot of sunlight or live in a rainy environment, you can grow your plants with grow lights.

A Beginner's Guide to Using a Hobby Greenhouse ~ Homestead and Chill

What Can You Grow Inside a Greenhouse?

A greenhouse is a great place to grow just about anything, but the finest plants are those that thrive in pots. Your little greenhouse’s microclimate should also be compatible with the plants you choose.

In a greenhouse, you can cultivate a wide variety of plants, some of which are listed below:

Vegetables

Unheated greenhouses are ideal for growing cold-season veggies. There is no need to install a heating system unless you reside in a location with exceptionally low temperatures where peas, carrots, lettuce, and other cold-weather crops can handle it.

To produce many of these veggies, you don’t need to install lighting in semi-shaded regions. However, don’t forget to include adequate ventilation in your plan. You can use a tiny fan on hot days in the beginning of the year.

In contrast, warm-season crops like peppers, tomatoes, and cucumbers thrive in climates ranging from 55 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s possible that grow lights are necessary if you reside in a cold climate. However, if you’re on a tight budget, you may heat your greenhouse naturally by adding compost, wrapping it in bubble wrap, painting the walls or plastic black, and insulating it.

Ornamentals

There are several varieties of flowering plants that can be grown in an indoor greenhouse. These include pansies (pansies), salvia (salvia), impatien (impatien), caladium (caladium), and chrysanthemum (chrysanthemum). While you can readily grow these plants outdoors, cultivating them within a greenhouse isolates pollen, making it easier for your plants to proliferate from cuttings..

Tropical

Even if you live in a cooler environment, you can grow tropical plants and cacti in your greenhouse since you have control over the microclimate. A greenhouse is ideal for growing cacti, carnivorous plants, and other unusual species.

Is Investing in a Small Greenhouse Kit a Great Idea?

If you’re new to greenhouse farming, getting a tiny greenhouse is a great way to get started. They come in a variety of sizes and forms, are impenetrable to pests and animals, can withstand changes in weather, and are the right size for beginners. The following are some of the most compelling reasons to purchase a tiny greenhouse kit:

You have a wide range of shapes and sizes to choose from

A greenhouse can be any shape or size, and it doesn’t have to be made of glass. Mini greenhouses can be used by the common gardener to grow their favorite fruits and vegetables. You’ll be able to reap the benefits of having a greenhouse without having to spend a lot of money.

It shields your plants from pests and animals

When it comes to pests and animals, your produce could be a tasty treat. In a single day, squirrels, raccoons, aphids, and beetles can wreak havoc on your years of hard work. In a greenhouse, pests are kept at bay, ensuring the health of your plants.

It keeps your plants safe from erratic weather

You could lose all your plants in a single storm. Blizzards, strong rains and extreme heat should be kept away from your plants in a greenhouse. They are also protected from illnesses transmitted by other plants by being housed in a confined area.

It’s great for those with limited garden space

What if you’re a gardener but have a small plot of land? Compact in size, a little greenhouse kit can be placed on a tabletop, a balcony, a patio, or even a backyard. A six-square-foot greenhouse is considered to be the industry standard. This greenhouse, despite its diminutive size, is just as effective as any other.

It’s perfect for newbie greenhouse gardeners

Start with mini greenhouses if you want to learn more about greenhouse gardening. Compared to a standard greenhouse, these are far less expensive. The decision to go with a more permanent one can be made once you have all the information you need.

Why Build an Indoor Greenhouse?

There has been an explosion in the popularity of indoor gardening. It turns out that you don’t really need a lot of acreage to grow good vegetables, even if you want to run a full garden.

If you live in a small space, an indoor greenhouse is an easy and entertaining DIY project that provides a wealth of advantages. You can keep an eye on how your plants are progressing and make necessary adjustments. It’s good to be able to contact all of them at once.

Adding an indoor greenhouse substantially extends the variety of plants you can grow in your home. There’s no arguing that houseplants are wonderful, but they could use a little more room.

Even if you meet the land criteria, other issues may prevent you from having a successful garden. It could be that the soil isn’t right, or that the weather in your location is perpetually on the verge of scorching or freezing your vegetables or flowers.

Another option is to grow plants that require more attention, such as orchids (which I’m sure you’ve heard of).

If you can control the weather, you’ll have a better chance of a good growth season. You’re in charge with an indoor greenhouse. As well as being quite inexpensive to install, this system also requires very little ongoing care.

If you have a full-size, freestanding greenhouse, you may not even notice that you’ve had problems like plant diseases and pests. Indoor greenhouses are considerably less likely to have these kinds of issues, and if they do, you’ll usually notice them right away.

In addition, you have a plethora of customization possibilities when it comes to designing your indoor greenhouse to accommodate the plants you wish to cultivate. Not only are we creating an actual plant refuge, but we’re also delving into the world of interior design.

Best Plants for an Indoor Greenhouse

With an indoor greenhouse, the number of plants that can be cultivated indoors is substantially increased. You don’t have to stick to simply aloe and spider plants if you want to grow your own food.

In spite of this, certain plants do better in a house than others. Most of the time, simply steer clear of the ones that have the potential to grow to enormous proportions. Beyond that, the sky – or is it the ceiling? – truly is the limit. Make sure to prepare ahead and change the atmosphere as you go along.

Keep in mind that certain fruits and flowers may necessitate a certain type of pollination. Pollinating indoor plants is the subject of a whole guide here on the site.

Herbs

You can never go wrong with herbs when it comes to cultivating them in your home. Because they’re easy to cultivate, you can cut some up and sprinkle them on your food whenever you like. Thyme, parsley, sage, chives, and just about any other herb will make an easy and tasty start if you’re just starting started with indoor gardening.

Fruits & Flowers

The orchids are back again. It’s conceivable that an indoor greenhouse may make this a reality.

Honestly, I mean it! In an indoor greenhouse, you may grow orchids, chrysanthemums, roses, and marigolds, as well as strawberries, blueberries, and more. Before you plant any flowering plants, keep in mind the space requirements. Because you’re living in a confined space, you don’t have to let your plants suffer the same fate.

There is a guide to cultivating lavender inside if you’re interested in doing so.

Vegetables

Having an indoor greenhouse will save you money on food purchases, in case you forgot. What if you could grow your own food in the comfort of your own home? A few seconds in your indoor greenhouse, then a few minutes in your stomach: that’s the life cycle of vegetables like onions, kale, and other leafy greens.

Planning ahead for the amount of room you’ll need for anything you intend to grow is essential. Carrots, on the other hand, require a lot of space beneath the surface of the soil.

Garlic is a favorite of yours? Our guide on growing garlic indoors is here for you.

A Beginner's Guide to Using a Hobby Greenhouse ~ Homestead and Chill

Indoor Greenhouse Sizing

Choosing the size of your indoor greenhouse depends on a variety of factors, including how much room you have, where you plan to put it, and the number of plants you intend to grow in it.

Succulents and a few herbs shouldn’t take up a lot of room if you keep them in a small container. A broad variety of plants, such as leafy greens and huge floral plants, should be included in a container garden, so make sure to plan ahead for their different sizes.

You should also consider the layout you desire. It’s up to you whether you choose a long, boxy structure that resembles an actual garden bed, or a taller, shelved unit. In motion or in place? Make a choice, please!

A 5″ by 5″ grow tray can be used as the foundation for a mini indoor greenhouse if you like to keep it on the smaller side. A five-foot-tall, tierred unit would be a better option if you need to furnish a greater area in your house.

Remember that your indoor greenhouse can be as large or as tiny as you wish; the choice is entirely yours. It doesn’t matter if it takes up a full room or only a small portion of it. If you’re an apartment dweller, you might be interested in learning how to build an indoor greenhouse.

Materials: What to Build Your Indoor Greenhouse Out Of?

The decision-making process isn’t through yet, though. Following a broad plan for your new indoor greenhouse, you’ll need to decide on the materials that will go into its construction.

Frame

If we presume that you’re building a normal greenhouse, only miniature, we’ll proceed. We’ll get into some of the more outlandish and unusual strategies for constructing an indoor greenhouse later on.

For the frame, you’ll need something solid enough that you don’t have to worry about the whole thing falling apart. The goal is to keep all of your plants and dirt in the greenhouse itself, rather than on your home’s floor.

As always, you’re spoilt for choice.

Wood

Using wood to build the structure of an indoor greenhouse is the first alternative that you should consider. In your home, this may be done very nicely and will look great, too. It’s easy to cut, shape, and put together to get the desired frame shape.

For a greenhouse, wood is an excellent insulator. When humidity levels are too high, the wood may begin to rot and disintegrate, which is like, Interior Decorating 101 in and of itself. By purchasing wood that has been treated, you can avoid this sad occurrence altogether.

PVC pipe

PVC pipe can also be used as a simple and inexpensive alternative. You can put this together in a matter of minutes because it’s so simple. As opposed to wood, the structure won’t be harmed by dampness.

Despite the fact that PVC pipe is an excellent choice, there are still certain limitations. Because PVC tubing is not as sturdy as metal, it may not be the ideal option if you want several tiers in your greenhouse.

It’s also a concern that PVC pipe loses its strength when exposed to the sun for an extended period of time. Clearly, this is a problem in a greenhouse.

Fortunately, the solution is really simple. PVC pipe should be UV-protected when purchased, but you can also add primer and paint the pipes yourself if you choose. What was once a minor annoyance is now yet another way to make your indoor greenhouse uniquely yours.

In reality, you probably had to paint it regardless. If your PVC pipe is traditional white and your walls are eggshell, how will this look? That’d be a problem.

Check out this page for more thorough instructions on how to make a PVC greenhouse.

Steel

The galvanized steel option is also a good one because it’s both sturdy and affordable.

The term “galvanized” refers to a material that has been coated with zinc to prevent rusting, so it doesn’t need to be painted or sealed.

Because steel is more difficult to cut than wood, it has a drawback. It’s quite weighty, too, due to its exceptional sturdiness and long-term usability. The disadvantages of using steel in your indoor greenhouse may outweigh the benefits, depending on your vision.

Glazing / Covering

After you’ve chosen your frame material, it’s time to consider your options for a covering. This is critical, just like in a traditional greenhouse, because it controls the amount of light that reaches your plants.

Glass

For centuries, greenhouses have been covered with a sheet of glass. You can’t go wrong with glass for a variety of reasons: it’s easy to keep clean, won’t crack or chip, looks excellent, and lets a lot of light in to nourish your plants.

On the other hand, it isn’t the most cost-effective solution, and it can be difficult to install on your own. Glass, on the other hand, is prone to shattering, which is a major drawback. If you’re confident that your greenhouse will be protected from the elements, it may be the finest option. In the case of rambunctious pets or young children, though…

After reading “glass,” you probably jumped to the next section.

Fiberglass

You may expect your indoor greenhouse to let in a lot of light if you use fiberglass instead of ordinary glass to cover it.

Lightweight and durable, fiberglass begins to discolor after roughly ten years. After that, all that’s left is a fresh coat of resin. This is more of an issue for larger greenhouses, whereas indoor greenhouses are more of a non-issue.

Film plastic

Indoor greenhouses frequently employ plastic coverings. The amount of light that reaches the plants in your greenhouse depends on the type of plastic that you choose.

The least expensive option is to use film plastic covers, however this means greater maintenance and replacement costs. Plus, they’re really effective at keeping heat inside.

Other Options

In the past, we’ve only talked about the more traditional possibilities. If you like the sound of these materials, you can either go out and buy them and start building them yourself, or you may buy a kit that’s very close to the design you like and put it together yourself.

While a little greenhouse isn’t the only option, there are a few more options worth considering. DIY videos on how to make an indoor greenhouse out almost anything, including plastic bottles, CD cases, egg cartons, and more may be found if you’re interested.

Environmental Controls

It’s impossible to safeguard your plants outside, but indoors you can create an ideal environment for them.

Sunlight & grow lights

Indoor greenhouses should be situated in a location where they will receive as much sunlight as the plants they will be housing require, as natural sunlight is the best source of light for plants. As a good addition to sunshine, grow lights won’t completely replace it.

If you plan to grow plants that need a lot of light, or if it’s winter, you might think about investing in grow lights. To avoid accidently overcooking your vegetables before they’ve ever been taken out of the greenhouse, consider purchasing a timer for your grow lights. Grow lights can get rather hot when used in certain ways.

More in-depth articles are available on LED grow lights, including whether they function and how far away they should be from plants.

Temperature

Generally speaking, plants can withstand temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, with a margin of error of roughly 10 degrees. Depending on the type of plants you’re cultivating, this range may be reduced or shifted to the other end of the scale. Find out what kind of environment your plants need to thrive.

However, if you’re growing plants in a greenhouse, you’ll benefit greatly from having control over the temperature of your greenhouse. To top it all off, a greenhouse will keep you and your family toasty warm all year long.

Because of this, a thermometer can be extremely useful. Add a tea-light or a tiny electric heater if it becomes too chilly inside the greenhouse. There are fans on the market that may assist reduce the heat in your room while also enhancing air circulation. This is important since most plants do their best work when the temperature at night is 10-15 degrees cooler than it is at daytime.

Humidity

Seasonal shifts have an impact on the environment, even if you’re indoors. Take into consideration purchasing a humidifier if you notice that your plants are losing leaves or turning brown because of low humidity. Alternatively, remember to spritz your plants at least once a day, if not more often. It will help.

Water & Nutrients

A wet but not soggy soil is recommended by ushe. The plants and water in your indoor greenhouse will always be within easy reach, so you can keep an eye on them and adjust your care as needed. Another option is to install a system that will automatically water your plants so that your indoor greenhouse is self-sufficient.

There is a finite supply of minerals for your plant to absorb in a greenhouse, unlike in the wide outdoors, where the soil is nearly limitless and plants can feast on the richness of nutrients.

Add some organic fertilizer or compost to your soil in tiny amounts but frequently throughout the year to address this issue. In the beginning, once a month should suffice, but as the plants mature, you can reduce the frequency.

Supplies Needed

You’ll also need pots or trays, soil, fertilizer, and seeds, in addition to the frame and covering materials, for building the greenhouse.

To help you get started, you’ll want to stock up on the minimal necessities first.

  • The use of grow lights can be beneficial during the winter months, when the sun isn’t shining as brightly outside as it is inside. As an alternative, if you’re looking to grow plants that require a lot of light, grow lights can help.
  • Your greenhouse’s thermometer may not be able to tell you exactly how hot it is inside, because it may not be as good an insulator as you believed. However, a thermometer can tell you for sure whether the temperature is maintaining within your desired range.
  • Add a little electric heater or warming crate cushion if the temperature drops too low.
  • Fans are a great way to keep your greenhouse cool and provide some much-needed air movement.
  • It can be difficult to detect if the humidity level is where you want it to be, much like with the temperature… until it’s too late and your lush greens begin to turn a nasty brown color. A simple hygrometer might help you avoid this.
  • When you add a misting system or a complete watering system to your indoor greenhouse, you can rest easy knowing that it will be taken care of if you have to leave your home for a few days.
  • Keep an eye on the soil, especially its pH and moisture levels, even when you’re planting in the garden. To keep these plants healthy, you’ll need to apply fertilizer more frequently than you would for a garden because there isn’t a lot of soil to work with. Soil probes are a good way to ensure that you’re not overdoing it.

Cost

There are a lot of great greens you can plant, but are they really worth the money you’ll have to spend on growing them?

As previously said, the vast bulk of this information is beneficial but not required. If you want to build an indoor greenhouse from scratch, it doesn’t have to cost you more than you’re willing to pay.

For less than a buck, you can acquire a decent-sized indoor greenhouse that can contain a good amount of flowers and herbs. Kits for a four-tiered indoor greenhouse are available for less than $30.

Even the optional extras are rather inexpensive, as you’d only get a small amount of each item. An indoor greenhouse’s grow lights cost about $20, while hygrometers cost about $5.

Even if the shopping list appears to be vast, the ultimate cost of this do-it-yourself project isn’t as high as it appears.

Greenhouse ideas – traditional and new ways to use a garden glass house

Getting Started

The first step is to lay out a strategy. Your greenhouse’s size will be determined by what and how much you plan to grow. Next, locate a space in your home where your plants may thrive in the warmth and sunshine.

Having a design and dimensions in mind, you may begin purchasing the materials needed to build the frame and cover. Place your grow trays or pots inside the greenhouse once it’s built to your specifications (and you’ve shared the wonderful photographs of your DIY creation to every platform), and make sure they have drainage holes.

Adding growing media, seeds, and water are all that’s left to do now. To avoid inviting creepy crawlies into your home, it is recommended that you plant seeds rather than cuttings. If you don’t already have a garden, you’ll have one in no time.

Finally, add any extra components that came with the system. Determine any adjustments (temperature, humidity, etc.) that need to be made during this early stage.

Maintenance

You may not have to do as much upkeep as you would for a full-size greenhouse or even a garden, but there are still a few things you need to do to ensure that everything runs smoothly and your plants thrive.

Cleaning & Disinfecting

If your indoor greenhouse doesn’t have a potting mix disaster, you only need to clean the outside once a month. But this relies on the material of the covering you’ve chosen for your vehicle. It’s fine to clean the interior of your home once every several months.

Glass and fiberglass don’t get dirty as quickly as plastic covers, yet they are. Additionally, this might prevent light from reaching your plants, making it a visual nuisance as well as a nuisance. Glass may be cleaned with warm, soapy water and a sponge. You can try to clean plastic coverings this way, but it’s preferable to just buy new ones.

Remove all pots and trays from the garden and clean and sanitize the insides on a regular basis. Disinfect the area by removing any dead leaves or weeds and spraying it with hydrogen peroxide or another disinfectant. Not mold, but happy, healthy plants is what we’re aiming for. Cleaning and disinfecting your tools and supplies is also a good idea at this time.

Decluttering

Because of the limited square footage, it’s imperative that you keep an eye on the amount of clutter. As long as it doesn’t cause problems, it’s okay if your plants take up more space than expected.

Discard any pots or trays that you won’t be using in the future. Whenever you come across weeds or dead leaves, take care to remove them. You should also trim back any overhanging leaves. The air and light should not be dominated by a single plant. This is a common area that everyone can use.

Similar Options to an Indoor Greenhouse

Grow Tents

An indoor greenhouse is a subset of a grow tent. Canvas is the material used for the bag’s outside. Reflective coating on the inside distributes heat and light around the room..

While they can be used in earth cultivation, hydroponic systems are the most popular application. The weather and time of year have no effect on the growth of plants in a grow tent. Grow tents, on the other hand, are completely enclosed and covered, relying solely on grow lights to power the plants.

There are a wide variety of sizes available for grow tents, but another fantastic perk is that there is little to no setup necessary. In addition, because grow tents don’t require sunlight, they can be used in areas like garages and closets. With a proper ventilation system, you can place a grow tent anyplace.

Cold Frames

Cold frames are used mostly to shelter your plants from the coldest months of the year, as a sort of little greenhouse. There are a few advantages to cold frames over greenhouses, but they don’t have the same level of environmental control.

So, if you require a lot of environmental controls, they might not be all that useful – but if you simply need basic weather protection, these might be the best option. These devices can also be used to germinate seeds that are difficult to grow in a specific area.

Cold frames, like greenhouses, trap heat in the same way and can raise the temperature of a room by as much as 10 degrees, making them ideal for growing plants. They can be anywhere from a few feet tall to a few feet long, depending on the owner’s preference.

It’s possible to preserve your plants in your yard without having to deal with the hassles and continual upkeep of a freestanding greenhouse.

Terrariums

Terrariums are far more typically used for ornamentation than greenhouses, even though greenhouses are virtually always used to grow at least some edible plants. Like an indoor greenhouse, a terrarium is often composed of glass and creates an enclosed system, but it houses things like attractive plants and mosses, unlike an indoor greenhouse.

In addition to being smaller than even the tiniest indoor greenhouses, terrariums are made possible by this. A mason jar or bottle is all you need to get started with a terrarium. Drainage pebbles can be placed on top, followed by moss for additional moisture, before the potting mix is added.

Succulents and cacti (cactuses? cactopods? ) do not do well in terrariums because of the higher humidity. Another distinction is that in an indoor greenhouse, plants are grown from seeds, whereas in a terrarium, plants are typically moved from one spot to another when they have reached a certain stage of development.

A terrarium is a low-maintenance and visually appealing method to get your hands dirty. However, if you’re looking to grow some herbs or vegetables, indoor greenhouses are your best bet.

Related Questions

What do you need to build an indoor greenhouse?

The materials needed to build a greenhouse frame (wood, metal, PVC tubing), the materials needed to cover the greenhouse (plastic or glass), potting mix, pots/trays, and seeds are all that is required.

There are a variety of extras that can be included, including grow lights, thermometers, fans, hygrometers, and other similar devices that measure moisture in the air.

DIY Greenhouse: A Complete Guide To Make Your Own Mini Greenhouse - Plants Spark Joy

Which plants to grow in an indoor greenhouse?

When it comes to indoor greenhouses, there’s no limit to what you can plant. What you can grow in a greenhouse is limited only by the size of your plants; if they get too big, they could get tangled up with other plants and cause issues.

When planning an indoor greenhouse, keep in mind that different plants will require different environmental conditions, thus grouping them together will help them thrive.

Indoor greenhouse system

If you have an indoor greenhouse, you can grow just about anything you can grow outside. In order to create a low-maintenance indoor greenhouse system, you can add grow lights, temperature controls, and humidity controls. Alternatively, you can build a more conventional “small greenhouse” or a grow tent.

Final Thoughts on How to Place Your Plants in a Small Greenhouse

Another factor to consider is what kind of plants you’re cultivating in a greenhouse. Place your greenhouse where it will receive the most sunshine for optimal results. It is possible to reap the benefits of greenhouse gardening for many years to come if you take care of it properly.