BABY GREENHOUSE
Perfect for
Inner-city living and those short on space with froth over this DIY mini greenhouse, perfect for succulents and seedlings.
Gather your supplies
• Recycled barrel
• Hoop iron
• 50mm hinges
• Mix of plant cuttings
You’ll also need
Bricks or pavers; masking tape; drill and bits; jigsaw; safety glasses; button-head screws; seed-raising mix; watering can
Step 1 Place barrel on ground. Use bricks on either side to hold it in place while working. Using tape, mark out position and size of 2 openings. Drill holes into each corner of marked areas.
Step 2 Wearing safety glasses, insert jigsaw blade into hole at 1 corner. Using tape as a guide, cut along 1 short side. Remove jigsaw. Repeat for other opening.
Step 3 Evenly space 2 hinges along cut edge of 1 opening and secure with screws. Repeat for other opening.
Step 4 Insert jigsaw into hole in corner of 1 opening then, using tape as a guide, cut around opening. Repeat for other opening. Remove tape.
Step 5 Roll barrel onto other side. Drill several drainage holes in that side, which will be the base.
Step 6 Using wire snips, cut two 20cm lengths of hoop iron. Fold 1 in half and screw to front of 1 lid. This will make it easy to access your cuttings and prevent lid from caving in. Repeat for other lid.
Step 7 Add seed-raising mix to roughly quarter-fill barrel and plant up with cuttings. Water well.
THE GLASSHOUSE
Perfect for
Those with a garden and a little space to spare, and some bigger plants, will definitely get a kick out of this bigger DIY greenhouse, featuring glass panels. If you’re able to salvage some window frames, this process can actually be simpler than a smaller option.
Gather your supplies
• Hay Bales
• Window Sashes
• 50mm hinges
• Larger plants
Step 1 Make a small square enclosure with hay bales. The hay bales act as insulation and shelter plants from strong winds.
Step 2 Hinge together a pair of window sashes and arrange on top. While the glass radiates heat and creates a warm environment.
Step 3 Pop a few winter vegies in your new mini-glasshouse, such as kale and spinach, to grow and enjoy now.
THE PLANT MANSION
Perfect for
If you have an existing shed or undercover space that you find drastically under-utilised, why not transform it into an apartment for your plant babies as they grow? The beauty of this conversion is that you don’t have to start from scratch – convert an existing structure like a shed by using recycled windows and doors. Whilst the most grand of all the greenhouse options, this one is certainly the easiest to kick-off.
Gather your supplies
• An existing shed or shelter
• Recycled existing windows and doors
• All plants great and small
Step 1 Approach your existing shed and excavate all current material, providing you with a clean slate and space for your plants.
Step 2 Hinge together any recycled or reclaimed doors and windows, providing an added layer of much needed warmth and protection for the new inhabitants of your new greenhouse.
Step 3 Add your plants gradually, spacing them out, and draw on your interior design skills to create a space that inspires growth in both your plants and yourself. Think vertical climbers, hanging pots, and floor sitting ferns - the only limit is your imagination in this grand-daddy of greenhouses. Still stuck for inspiration? Let us help you out a little more.
