DIY Greenhouse: How to Build a Greenhouse

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As we head out of a long chilly winter into the promise of warmer nights, you’ve probably forgotten how frigid it can get in the dead of the night. As the temps plummeted during the colder months, you can curl up under your blanket and get nice and toasty, protected from the elements. But what about your family members, aka your succulents, off-cuts, plants and seedlings? Poor little ‘succers’ left to fend for themselves in the big bad outside world. Well, thankfully there are some design ideas to protect your plants that you can build on your own; enter the DIY greenhouse, a new home for your nearest and dearest, allowing them to thrive, just as you do!

And no, you don't have to live on acres to build your own, the beauty of greenhouses is that they come in all shapes great and small, just like your plants. So start your greenhouse journey with these simple DIY ideas and enjoy unleashing your creativity.

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Scott Henderson

As a fitness addict, adventure sport lover, and passionate story-teller, Scott Henderson is committed to bettering his home and garden. When he’s not researching and writing about the latest travel and building tips, you’ll find him renovating his home gym, running up a mountain, or out on the waves.