You don’t have to spend a lot of money to build a greenhouse. These cheap ideas will work for a fraction of the cost.
In this article, readers will learn about five low-cost greenhouse ideas to protect plants during the winter. These ideas were presented by Jack in a video, where he demonstrated each method and provided helpful tips to make them work efficiently.
The first idea is to create a dome greenhouse by placing a wire cage on a container and covering it with a clear garbage bag. This method is great for protecting potted plants from cold and frost. The plastic bag allows sunlight to penetrate to the plants while locking in moisture. The cost of this method is only two dollars for the cage. The other four ideas include using a plastic container, a clear plastic tote, a pallet A-frame greenhouse, and a greenhouse box. Each method has its own benefits and cost-effective solutions to protect plants from the cold.
Key Takeaways
- There are five low-cost greenhouse ideas to protect plants during the winter.
- Each method has its own benefits and cost-effective solutions to protect plants from the cold.
- While plastic is used in some of these methods, it is important to be mindful of plastic usage and its impact on the environment.
Dome Greenhouse
One low-cost way to protect plants from cold and frost is to create a dome greenhouse. This can be achieved by placing a wire cage over a container and covering the cage with a clear garbage bag. The garbage bag should be tied to the container using a string to prevent it from flying away. This greenhouse hack locks in moisture and allows sunlight to penetrate to the plants. The cost for the cage is only two dollars.
By using this method, potted plants can be protected from cold and frost. The dome greenhouse is an efficient way to retain humidity and lock in moisture, which is essential for the growth of plants. The clear garbage bag allows sunlight to penetrate to the plants, which is also essential for their growth.
This method is easy to set up and can be used to protect multiple plants or just one single desired plant. The dome greenhouse is a low-cost solution that can be used to protect plants from cold and frost during winter months.
Plastic Container Greenhouse
In the video, Jack shares five low-cost ways to create a greenhouse to protect plants during the winter. The second method he suggests is using a plastic container, which is free and easy to use on multiple small plants or a single desired plant.
To use this method, simply place the plastic container over the plant to protect it from frost and insects. The container allows for a lot of light to penetrate and can be used to retain humidity, making it an efficient way to protect plants.
Jack also mentions that this method can be used as a humidity dome or mini greenhouse to start seeds. The container is free and can be reused, making it an eco-friendly option.
Overall, using a plastic container as a greenhouse is a cost-effective and efficient way to protect plants during the winter.
Plastic Tote Greenhouse
One of the five low-cost greenhouse options that Jack covers in his video is the plastic tote greenhouse. This greenhouse is made by purchasing a clear plastic tote for around seven dollars and using it to cover desired plants. The tote retains humidity well and is large enough to support the growth of bigger plants. To prevent cold air from seeping in, one can use soil or dead leaves to cover the sides of the tote. The tote allows sunlight to penetrate and protects plants from frost.
Jack tested the effectiveness of this greenhouse by placing one temperature and humidity sensor inside the tote and one outside. After running the system for a day, the readings showed that the plastic tote was 21 degrees Fahrenheit or 11.6 degrees Celsius warmer during the day and 2 degrees Fahrenheit or 1.1 degrees Celsius warmer at night. The humidity drops during the day and rises back up at night, but the plastic tote retains 24% more humidity during the day compared to outside.
Overall, the plastic tote greenhouse is an efficient and cost-effective way to protect plants from frost and cold weather.
Pallet A-Frame Greenhouse
The Pallet A-Frame Greenhouse is a low-cost solution to protect plants from frost. It involves leaning pallets against each other to create an A-frame. The frame is then covered using a plastic tablecloth cover. The plastic cover is unfolded and draped over the A-frame to cover the plants from top to bottom. The front and back of the frame can also be covered if desired.
This simple solution provides ample protection to the plants from frost. It is an effective way to protect plants without spending a lot of money. The cost of this setup is just seven dollars if the pallets are secured for free. It is important to ensure that the pallets used are heat-treated and marked with the symbol HT.
The Pallet A-Frame Greenhouse is a great way to protect plants from frost and cold weather. It is an easy and affordable solution that can be used to protect plants in small gardens or backyard setups. By using this method, gardeners can ensure that their plants remain healthy and protected during the winter season.
Greenhouse Box
One of the five low-cost ways to protect plants in winter is by using a greenhouse box. This method involves building a frame out of wood with desired dimensions and covering it with a plastic table cover. The speaker in the video used four 30-inch pieces, four 42-inch pieces, and four 56-inch pieces to create a box that is 30 inches high, 56 inches long, and 42 inches wide. This size fits easily inside a 4 feet wide raised bed.
The greenhouse box provides enough room for plants to grow and is easy to move. The plastic cover allows sunlight to penetrate the box, protecting the plants from frost. The speaker recommends reusing plastic covers to reduce plastic waste.
To test the effectiveness of the greenhouse box, the speaker used a Govi product that records temperature and humidity. After placing one sensor inside and one outside the box, the temperature readings indicated that the greenhouse box was 11.5 degrees Fahrenheit or 6.4 degrees Celsius warmer during the day and 4.4 degrees Fahrenheit or 2 degrees Celsius warmer at night. The humidity readings showed that the greenhouse box retained 24.3% more humidity during the day.
Overall, the greenhouse box is a cost-effective and efficient way to protect plants from frost and cold temperatures during the winter months.
Plastic Usage and Awareness
In the video, Jack provides viewers with five low-cost greenhouse ideas to protect plants from the cold and frost during the winter season. However, amidst the use of plastic in these ideas, Jack takes a moment to raise awareness about plastic usage and its impact on the environment.
Jack recommends avoiding plastic altogether and using products made from renewable sources. However, he acknowledges that it can be difficult to avoid using plastic, especially when it comes to greenhouse covers. In such cases, he advises buyers to purchase plastic with the intention of reusing it year after year and never throwing it away as trash.
Moreover, Jack warns viewers that plastic added to recycle bins may not actually be recycled. Therefore, he encourages reusing plastic covers and storing them for future use.
To demonstrate the effectiveness of his greenhouse ideas, Jack uses a Govi product to record temperature and humidity inside and outside the greenhouse systems. The plastic tote and greenhouse box retain more humidity during the day compared to the outside environment.
While promoting the use of environmentally-friendly products, Jack also provides practical solutions to protect plants from the cold and frost.