Why do you need a mini greenhouse?

Construction

Growing good-quality seedlings is challenging and labor-intensive. To achieve this, they need the right climate conditions. Everyone dreams of a bountiful harvest and rapid plant growth. In recent years, small mini-greenhouses have become increasingly popular. They create ideal growing conditions for cultivated plants, both in the garden and in the apartment.

What is it for?

Mini greenhouses are used for growing crops not only in summer cottages but also in city apartments. They are suitable for planting delicate and heat-loving varieties.

Protects young plants from winds, drafts and precipitation.
Provides the necessary climatic conditions for plants.
Young seedlings do not get sick when transplanted into open ground, as adaptation occurs slowly and gradually.
Caring for plants is quite simple.
They are easy not only to install, but also to store.

Most summer cottages are small in area. Installation of a full-fledged greenhouses impossible. Since such structures occupy most of the site.

Differences between greenhouses and hothouses

All gardeners know that there are two essential garden structures for growing not only seedlings but also mature plants. But there are significant differences between them:

Height no more than 0.5 meters.
It has no windows or doors.
The greenhouse is heated naturally using sunlight and biofuel.
You can change their location.
These are temporary structures that are used mainly only during the summer season.
Year-round use is possible indoors.

Types

There are many types of miniature greenhouses. They can vary in size, shape, and covering material. We present several popular types that are often found both in apartments and on property.

"Home"

The design is small in size and fits on any windowsill. It is used for growing seedlings at homeThey are similar in design to outdoor greenhouses, but on a smaller scale. They can be installed in multiple tiers. You can build one yourself or purchase it from a gardening store.

Portable structure made of boards

It's a box-shaped structure with no bottom. Polyethylene film or glass is used as a covering material. Its convenience lies in the fact that it can be installed anywhere on the site, if needed. Its main use is to protect plants from frost.

"Belgian"

To build this model, you'll need to dig a trench. Create beds of fertile soil in it. Cover the top with polyethylene, framed glass, or a sheet of polycarbonate.

Important!

This type of roof is best built with a single-pitched roof. This saves space on your property.

Butterfly Model

Named for its unique feature, the doors open on both sides, visually resembling a butterfly. The main advantage is access to plants from both sides. They can be any size, but most often, smaller structures are used, which don't take up much space in the garden.

Breadbin Model

It has a single panel that lifts completely upward. The roof is semicircular. The panel opens by sliding it behind the main roof section. Access to plants is easy and it doesn't take up much space.

Shelf

An old shelving unit or cabinet can be used to build this type of greenhouse. The cabinet is left bare and covered with polyethylene or polycarbonate. Instead of doors, frames are used with the same covering material as the back wall. Visually, this structure resembles a shelf from a store. It's easy to install on any balcony or loggia in a city apartment and can be used year-round.

The Wall Model

This miniature structure is installed against the walls of outbuildings or a house. It's compact and an excellent design for small spaces. The roof is typically a single-pitched type. There is a drawback, but it's not significant: it requires constant snow removal in winter.

From scrap materials

Small greenhouses are a great solution for landscaping your garden, requiring no financial investment and taking up very little space.

Plastic bottles

To build this mini greenhouse, you'll need a simple 5- to 10-liter bottle. It's easy to make:

Cut out a rectangular hole. One side does not need to be cut. This will be the door to the future greenhouse.
Fill the bottle with nutrient soil.
Plant seeds are planted.
After the seeds have sprouted and taken root, the greenhouse is opened.

Important!

Don't forget to make a few holes in the side of the bottle that's parallel to the door. This will allow excess moisture to escape.

An old tin barrel

You can make a mini greenhouse out of an old barrel that's been unused for a while. The process is simple and involves just a few steps:

Several holes are cut on the sides of the barrel.
A thick covering material, such as double-folded polyethylene film, is attached to the top edge of the barrel.
The holes should be located at a level that will be convenient for you to monitor the plants.
Fill the barrel with soil and plant plants in it.

Window frames

A mini greenhouse made from this material is installed once and should not be moved again. Old window frames are heavy and bulky. A foundation will be required for their installation. Then, construction proceeds as follows:

Window frames are cleaned of old paint and coated with a wood protection agent against rot and insects.
For the frame you will need a stand (1 piece) and a pair of straps.
The floor is being concreted.
The roof is made of a gable type.

Materials for manufacturing

Building a mini greenhouse is a process that relies on the use of readily available materials. It can be created from virtually anything. Commonly used materials include:

plastic;
metal profiles;
wooden bases;
polyethylene film;
polycarbonate sheets;
glass.

If your mini greenhouse has an arched shape, a flexible frame is required for its construction. Common materials for such foundations include plastic and metal profiles. Wood can be used, but it is highly susceptible to rot. An indispensable, modern option covering material is polycarbonate. It is also possible to use polyethylene film and glass.

Glass adds weight to the structure, so the first step is to strengthen the frame or install a foundation.

Professional gardeners use specific covering materials for specific mini-greenhouse models:

Polycarbonate sheets are suitable for the Butterfly and Breadbox models.
Polyethylene – for those structures that will be located in an apartment, house, or on a balcony.
Glass – for stationary greenhouses in the garden.

Features and Benefits

A mini greenhouse maintains a high temperature and can maintain constant humidity for a long time. If you live in a city apartment, a small greenhouse is an excellent place for growing greenery.

It's also suitable for growing seedlings of demanding plants. Many gardeners have experienced zero germination when planting seeds. Growing in mini-greenhouses creates optimal conditions for germination.

Main disadvantages

Like any structure, a mini-greenhouse has both positive and negative aspects. These include:

do not tolerate strong winds well;
the range of plant varieties grown is narrow, since the greenhouse is low;
It is difficult to replace the covering material if it is damaged, since the attachment to the frame is complex.

How to choose a design

Every garden, summer cottage, or other plot of land is unique. It can vary in landscape features, size, and, of course, soil composition. To create ideal conditions for plant growth, it's important to carefully select the design of your mini greenhouse. To do this, consider:

individual characteristics of the land plot;
what area will be allocated on the site for it;
what kind of lighting will be used;
what volumes of seedlings or plants will be grown.

Taking into account all of the above, you will be able to choose the right type of mini-greenhouse for your plot and seedlings.

Installation of different types

Mini greenhouses, depending on the type of supporting structure, can be built using several different methods. For clarity, we'll begin our step-by-step construction instructions with a frameless mini greenhouse.

This type of greenhouse consists of beds covered with polyethylene film or other similar material. The seeds are sown and covered with a covering material, and the edges are weighted down with bricks and wooden slats.

Arched mini greenhouse instructions

To build an arched greenhouse, you will need to follow these instructions:

For construction you will need 5-6 arches made of plastic or metal profile, polyethylene film, a couple of meters of wire and about 20 clamps.
The arches are made by hand or purchased in a store.
They are installed at a distance of 35–45 centimeters from each other.
To strengthen the frame, wire is pulled between the arches.
Cover the resulting structure with film. Then secure it on one side with clamps.
On the other side, the film is attached to a wooden slat. This is the side from which your greenhouse will open.
The sides of the structure are also covered with pieces of polyethylene and pressed to the ground with bricks or wooden slats.

Portable polycarbonate, instructions

Building a portable greenhouse from polycarbonate sheets is a more labor-intensive, but no less rewarding, process. You'll need:

wooden slats;
self-tapping screws;
awnings;
lever.

Instructions to follow when building this mini greenhouse:

They make a base frame. It should resemble a box with a slanted top.
A frame is assembled from slats. This is used to create the greenhouse roof.
A piece of polycarbonate sheet is inserted into the frame.
A support for the frame – the roof – is constructed from a wooden beam.
A hook is attached to the lid to secure the frame to the block.

These construction methods are very simple to install, but they provide seeds and seedlings with optimal climatic temperatures and humidity for germination and further growth.

Biofuel in greenhouse construction

There are situations where additional heating is needed for small greenhouses. Biofuel can provide an excellent solution. It's fairly easy to install.

Once the location for installing the mini-greenhouse has been determined, a small hole is dug.
Mix manure, straw and dry leaves with soil and place in a hole.
Water thoroughly and place fertile soil on top.

Important!

The layer of fertile soil should be thick enough for plants to grow well.

Now they are installing a greenhouse.

The heating process is based on the decomposition of biological additives. The heat released provides additional warmth to the soil beneath the plants.