Building Indoor Greenhouses

So, you've decided to grow greenhouse plants indoors, but don't want to go through all the hassle of building your indoor greenhouse from scratch. Never fear. A wide variety of indoor greenhouse kits are available from supermarkets, garden supply stores and online retailers.

Types of Indoor Greenhouse Kits

Indoor greenhouse kits range from a tiny herb garden that you can keep on your desktop to a kit capable of turning your basement's shelving unit into a hothouse. There is no standard list of size categories and terms like "portable greenhouse", "mini indoor greenhouse", "small greenhouse" and "orchid greenhouse" can have a variety of meanings depending on the preferences of the supplier. It is best to figure out how much space you need and then try to find a kit to match it. Chances are, someone will make one in just your size!

What's In The Box?

The actual contents of an indoor greenhouse kit vary, but typically they will include the following:

A base: this can range from a flowerpot-type structure in the smaller kits to a set of up to four shelves in the larger ones.
Potting soil or peat: some kits, known as hydroponic kits, do without this and allow the gardener to grow plants in substances such as coconut fiber, sand, gravel or a liquid nutrient solution instead.
A cover, usually made of the same type of glazing material found in full-size greenhouses.
Lighting materials: given the absence of sunlight in a typical indoor greenhouse, special fluorescent lamps are required to provide the light and warmth that would normally be provided by the sun.
Watering kit, normally consisting of a spray mechanism, timer and reservoir for water or nutrient solution.

Basements: They're Not Just For Wastrel Children Any More

If you're feeling really ambitious, you could convert a part of your basement into an indoor greenhouse. Hydroponic kits work particularly well for this purpose, as they provide all the light, water and nutrition needed to grow tropical and subtropical plants in what is probably the coldest, darkest place in your home. You can buy a cover for an existing shelving unit that will enclose heat and moisture for your plants, or you can buy the shelves as part of a kit, with the same components as in the kits listed above. You will need to pay special attention to the ventilation and air circulation in your basement to stop the increased humidity from rotting your wooden beams and joints. Also, make sure you consult any family members who use the basement, to make sure they don't object to it being turned into a hothouse!