Low cost easy do-it-yourself greenhouse

Olafhenny · 03-28-2012, 06:47 PM

Low cost easy do-it-yourself greenhouse

This time of the year many of us think about getting our plants outdoors but in some protective
environment. Last spring I protected my lone Basjoo with a contraption fashioned from
irrigation pipe and fittings. This worked so well, that I made another couple of greenhouses the
same way this year and here is how:

The first one was for shelter of plants on our balcony, which is exposed from underneath and
therefore needed some bottom insulation.

This first picture shows the skeleton of the structure. The fittings used can easily identified
and counted. For the base I covered some cardboard with transparent plastic bags to keep
the draft out.

A different angle showing one of two black garbage bags filled with fibreglass insulation
and some of the fibreglass ready to go into a second bag. All of this insulation will not
be necessary if you place the greenhouse on the ground or on an insulated surface.

And lastly here is the finished product. The (ice cream-) bucket in the back is filled with water, to
absorb some of the sun’s heat and release it in the night. The little white thing in the foreground
is a thermometer, which I will probably hang up somewhere inside once that thing is operational.

The dimensions are: 45” x 34” x 32” high at corners and 44” at gable. The gable is essential,
otherwise rain water will collect and press on the roof. It should be at least ¼ as high as the width
it spans.

So what does this all cost? (I purchased pipes and fittings from an irrigation supply wholesaler)
Two 20 foot lengths of ¾” pipe......$ 7.-
Fittings......................................$15.-
3 ea. sheets 4’ x 5’ bubble wrap*...$18.-
Total without the insulation:.........$40.-

*I use bubble wrap, to get better insulation. Simple plastic would be quite a bit cheaper.

Tools required:
1 pipe cutter or hacksaw
1 pair of scissors
1 roll of transparent packing tape

Here is a second greenhouse to protect my banana/canna combination, once I dig them
out of the mulch

Beside the low cost, this is extremely practical. The pipe sections fit tightly into the fittings and
are quite secure. When not in use it can be easily disassembled and stored away. Try that with
a much more expensive wood frame.

If I missed anything or you have any questions, please ask me either here or by PM

Olafhenny · 03-29-2012, 02:12 AM

As it turns out, I did forget a couple of things:
In “tools” a tape measure would come in handy, although you could cut the first piece by ‘eyeball’ and
then the corresponding ones exactly the same length.

Also these things will blow away, unless anchored in place. The one on the balcony I anchored
with angle irons, and for the other I will pound some bamboo pegs into the ground at the proper
spacing and slip the pipe legs over them. I did that with my first attempt last year and to my
surprise that held my “crystal palace” quite securely in place without any necessity of splinting,
which I had originally planned on.
See: My Banana Experience (or lack of it)

There I had originally not allowed for a gable and had to improvise later, because of water ponding.

Another advantage I did not mention. If you find out later, that your greenhouse should be
higher or larger, just stick longer pieces of pipe into the fittings and voila, you have enlarged the
skeleton. The pipe is quite cheap.

lkailburn · 04-13-2012, 09:27 AM

That is awesome!! That's a really great idea with the black garbage bags and insulation. You could even use other materials if you didn't ahve extra fiberglass material lying around.
Side note, to make your 5gal passive heater more effective you should paint the bucket black so it absorbs more heat/light during the day instead of reflecting it.

What plants will you be putting out in the little greenhouse?

-Luke

03-28-2012, 06:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
Olafhenny Olafhenny's Photo Gallery Location: Penticton, BC, Okanagan Valley, Canada Find me on the map! Zone: Hardiness Zone 6 Name: Olaf Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,705 BananaBucks : 245,981 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,050 Times Was Thanked 2,012 Times in 876 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 77 Times	Low cost easy do-it-yourself greenhouse Low cost easy do-it-yourself greenhouse This time of the year many of us think about getting our plants outdoors but in some protective environment. Last spring I protected my lone Basjoo with a contraption fashioned from irrigation pipe and fittings. This worked so well, that I made another couple of greenhouses the same way this year and here is how: The first one was for shelter of plants on our balcony, which is exposed from underneath and therefore needed some bottom insulation. This first picture shows the skeleton of the structure. The fittings used can easily identified and counted. For the base I covered some cardboard with transparent plastic bags to keep the draft out. A different angle showing one of two black garbage bags filled with fibreglass insulation and some of the fibreglass ready to go into a second bag. All of this insulation will not be necessary if you place the greenhouse on the ground or on an insulated surface. And lastly here is the finished product. The (ice cream-) bucket in the back is filled with water, to absorb some of the sun’s heat and release it in the night. The little white thing in the foreground is a thermometer, which I will probably hang up somewhere inside once that thing is operational. The dimensions are: 45” x 34” x 32” high at corners and 44” at gable. The gable is essential, otherwise rain water will collect and press on the roof. It should be at least ¼ as high as the width it spans. So what does this all cost? (I purchased pipes and fittings from an irrigation supply wholesaler) Two 20 foot lengths of ¾” pipe......$ 7.- Fittings......................................$15.- 3 ea. sheets 4’ x 5’ bubble wrap...$18.- Total without the insulation:.........$40.- I use bubble wrap, to get better insulation. Simple plastic would be quite a bit cheaper. Tools required: 1 pipe cutter or hacksaw 1 pair of scissors 1 roll of transparent packing tape Here is a second greenhouse to protect my banana/canna combination, once I dig them out of the mulch Beside the low cost, this is extremely practical. The pipe sections fit tightly into the fittings and are quite secure. When not in use it can be easily disassembled and stored away. Try that with a much more expensive wood frame. If I missed anything or you have any questions, please ask me either here or by PM __________________ The reason I joined this forum was to share experiences, my own and those of others and to learn from them.

03-29-2012, 02:12 AM	#2 (permalink)
Olafhenny Olafhenny's Photo Gallery Location: Penticton, BC, Okanagan Valley, Canada Find me on the map! Zone: Hardiness Zone 6 Name: Olaf Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,705 BananaBucks : 245,981 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,050 Times Was Thanked 2,012 Times in 876 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 77 Times	Re: Low cost easy do-it-yourself greenhouse As it turns out, I did forget a couple of things: In “tools” a tape measure would come in handy, although you could cut the first piece by ‘eyeball’ and then the corresponding ones exactly the same length. Also these things will blow away, unless anchored in place. The one on the balcony I anchored with angle irons, and for the other I will pound some bamboo pegs into the ground at the proper spacing and slip the pipe legs over them. I did that with my first attempt last year and to my surprise that held my “crystal palace” quite securely in place without any necessity of splinting, which I had originally planned on. See: My Banana Experience (or lack of it) There I had originally not allowed for a gable and had to improvise later, because of water ponding. Another advantage I did not mention. If you find out later, that your greenhouse should be higher or larger, just stick longer pieces of pipe into the fittings and voila, you have enlarged the skeleton. The pipe is quite cheap. __________________ The reason I joined this forum was to share experiences, my own and those of others and to learn from them.

04-13-2012, 09:27 AM	#3 (permalink)
lkailburn lkailburn's Photo Gallery Zone: 5a Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 232 BananaBucks : 17,302 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 7 Times Was Thanked 176 Times in 106 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 4 Times	Re: Low cost easy do-it-yourself greenhouse That is awesome!! That's a really great idea with the black garbage bags and insulation. You could even use other materials if you didn't ahve extra fiberglass material lying around. Side note, to make your 5gal passive heater more effective you should paint the bucket black so it absorbs more heat/light during the day instead of reflecting it. What plants will you be putting out in the little greenhouse? -Luke

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