Learn how to make a mini greenhouse with upcycled materials to start seeds indoors. This is an excellent activity for kids or adults, and it's perfect for the frugal gardener. Plus get tips to help your seeds thrive, even if you've never planted seeds before.
We plant a large garden each year. Our four garden plots are bigger than our entire lot at our old house!
If we plant all four plots, it can cost several hundred dollars in plants and seeds. We save money by planting directly from seeds in the garden and starting seeds indoors.
We've had good luck planting corn, radishes, green beans, and green onions seeds directly in the garden. We get a great harvest each year with this method.
For other plants, however, we have the best success starting seeds indoors and then moving them to the garden. We start our green peppers, zucchini, cucumbers, spinach, lettuce, and tomatoes inside in a mini greenhouse.
We used to just plant the seeds, but we've had better success making these little greenhouses. The supplies are basically free, so it won't even cost you anything.
This is a great project for kids, too. I feel that it's important for kids to learn where their food comes from and how to grow their own food.
How to Make a Mini Greenhouse to Start Seeds Indoors
Although my kids have been helping us in the garden since they were toddlers, I never thought that I'd see the day that we had a food shortage in America like we do right now.
Each year, I inform the kids that it's planting week. They mumble and groan, and I remind them that it's important for them to know how to grow food. They reply that they will just go to the grocery store or shop from my basement.
I never thought I'd see the day where our stores were out of food or quantities were severely limited like they are right now. Each week, I go to the store only to walk out with less than half of what we need because there just isn't any meat, canned goods, or frozen vegetables.
I'm thinking they won't grumble and complain as much this year.
Why Use a Mini Greenhouse?
For years, we just started out seeds inside and set them on a table under a light. It worked okay, but we get heartier plants when we start them in a greenhouse.
Although these mini greenhouses aren't as good as a commercial greenhouse, they do come at a low cost (free!) and do help the plants.
These little greenhouses help keep the the air and soil warmer, which helps the seeds germinate. Since they are made with clear containers, they let the light shine through so you may not even need to use lights.
This mini greenhouse is meant for indoor use, but you can set them outside. In fact, you should start setting them outside for an hour a day and increase the time each day before you plant them.
Mini Greenhouse Tips
If your tubes are falling over, use newspaper for support on the bottom of the container.
I like to use a seed starting mix and not soil. It holds water better and drains better. Don't use soil from outside; it can have plant diseases that can kill a young plant.
Check the seed packets to see how deep to plant the seeds. It you plant them too deep, they may not make it to the surface. You may also want to plant a few extra in each tube just in case a few don't grow.
After you plant the seeds, place it in a warm space. I set mine on top of the fridge. They don't need sunlight until they start to sprout. Be sure to check on them daily so you can move them when they sprout.
Keep track of your seeds in a printable gardening planner. Write down when you start each seed and when you need to plant them.
Seed starts need to be moist but not too wet. You will need to water often to keep the soil wet.
Once you get some sprouts, move the mini greenhouse to a sunny location. Natural sunlight is best, but you can also use fluorescent lights 1-2 inches above the plants or try this LED grow light kit.
Although seeds love a warmer temperature, sprouts like it a little cooler. They do best in the high 60s.
Once there are two sets of leaves on the spouts, it's time to thin them. Keep the sprout that looks the strongest and healthiest and remove the rest from each tube.
About a week before you want to plant, take the greenhouses outside for an hour during the warming part of the day. The next day, increase to two hours and so on. This helps them acclimate so they will withstand being transplanted better.
DIY Mini Greenhouse Materials
- Clear plastic containers with lids (I used a spinach container, but you can use strawberry containers)
- Seed starting mix
- 18 paper rolls
- Popsicle sticks
- Spoon
- Scissors
- Black Sharpie marker
Directions
Step #1
Cut your paper rolls so they will fit inside the container with the lid closed. On the bottom of each roll, make four 3/4 inch cuts. If you are looking at it like a clock, they will be at 12:00, 3:00, 6:00, and 9:00.
Step #2
Fold the flaps over like you would for a box to secure it.
Step #3
Flip the roll over so the closed end is on the bottom. Use a spoon to fill the tube with soil. Place in the container.
Step #4
Cut the popsicle sticks in half. Use the Sharpie to write the name of the plant on the stick.
Step #5
Place your seeds in the soil, cover per the directions for each seed, and then mark with a stick so you know what's in each tube.
Step #6
Place your DIY mini greenhouse near a window to get natural light. Close the lid for more heat and humidity.
Step #7
When they are ready to plant, remove the tube from the container and unfold the bottom. You can plant the entire roll in the ground because the cardboard will decompose.
Not ready to DIY? You can also buy a mini greenhouse with a light
DIY Mini Greenhouse Seed Starter
materials:
- Clear plastic containers with lids (I used a spinach container, but you can use strawberry containers)
- Seed starting mix
- 18 paper rolls
- Popsicle sticks
tools:
- Spoon
- Scissors
- Black Sharpie marker
steps:
- Cut your paper rolls so they will fit inside the container with the lid closed. On the bottom of each roll, make four 3/4 inch cuts. If you are looking at it like a clock, they will be at 12:00, 3:00, 6:00, and 9:00.
- Fold the flaps over like you would for a box to secure it.
- Flip the roll over so the closed end is on the bottom. Use a spoon to fill the tube with soil. Place in the container.
- Cut the popsicle sticks in half. Use the Sharpie to write the name of the plant on the stick.
- Place your seeds in the soil, cover per the directions for each seed, and then mark with a stick so you know what's in each tube.
- Place your DIY mini greenhouse near a window to get natural light. Close the lid for more heat and humidity.
- When they are ready to plant, remove the tube from the container and unfold the bottom. You can plant the entire roll in the ground because the cardboard will decompose.
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