5 Low Cost Greenhouse Ideas

[@cheechee7890]

Just an idea. By placing 2 gallon containers with water in them it would help to level the temperature at night. The containers would stay warmer at night

[@kaiteemitchell9453]

With a solar fish tank warmer

[@dianamoody7251]

As we are getting older, I use the containers to plant things. Drill drainage holes for water to drain water out. Shower curtains can be used as green house covers, too.

[@hisbeautifultruth5931]

Yes, I've been using old juice bottles for the past 3 years!

[@MaxineShaw_84]

Yes! Shower liners from the dollar store are great for greenhouses. It didn't dawn on me until I needed to quarantine a plant in the same space as others and needed a quick barrier. 💡

[@SojournersOutpostTV]

We really like these low cost greenhouse ideas, especially the plastic tote container! By God's grace, we would be trying out the plastic tote greenhouse idea, next winter. Thanks for sharing!

[@dianeladico1769]

Great content. Three suggestions: Use wire or cable ties to secure the pallets together so they don't fall and crush your plants The box frame can also be made of PVC-it costs a little more but can be easily disassembled and stored if it's not glued The box frame can be covered with insect or bird netting to protect plants from pests when cold protection is not needed.

[@luckypenny312]

Thats brilliant to protect my berry bushes!! Thanks!!

[@jameslaing3733]

This man is real. I appreciate that. He talks from the heart. You know that if you just listen to him. Hugs Sir !

[@yadiaag7771]

I used large clear storage totes too and omg it was amazing for seedlings. Will absolutely use this idea again.

[@ziggyustar3137]

me too / I seek them out at second hand stores for best value/ cracked ones work well once taped

[@helnyson4694]

Have loads of old fish tanks used as cold frames and can grow seeds even throughout winter!

[@kathyyoung1774]

A dollar clear plastic shower curtain from Dollar Tree is also economical.

[@ginkat1318]

Kathy Young that's what i was thinking too

[@kathyyoung1774]

You and I think alike! I also use the red plastic table cloths from Dollar Tree under my tomatoes. Some research a few years ago showed that "red mulch" increased the growth of the tomatoes. It was the reflected red color. Cheap enough!

[@dangcao8341]

That's right, one can also use plastic glue to glue two curtain together to make a larger one if needed.

[@kittyrules995]

No!!!, just one more like and itll be 69!

[@mariaespere566]

That’s what I’m thinking right now and I’m going to dollar store and Home Depot buying all the stuff to make a trellis 🙂

[@damnitHark]

I'm kicking myself because I really could've used this video last year when I lost most of my seedlings from a late frost. Thank you so much for making this! A very informative video and I have a lot of clear plastic totes that I can use. 😊

[@bobbun9630]

You could get somewhat better insulation on some of these by using two layers of plastic with an air space between. Also, the north side of the "greenhouse" will never receive sunlight (in a northern hemisphere winter), so you could use white plastic or other reflective material on that side, and pile up soil or leaves on the outside for insulation and temperature buffering. To take best advantage of this, the "long" sides of a rectangular container would ideally face directly north and directly south. Some clear plastic on the ground surrounding the greenhouse will warm the soil and may help with night time temperatures. One issue with the plastics is that none of the plastics shown here are likely to be UV resistant, which means they will break down pretty quickly under the sun and have to be disposed of. UV resistant clear plastic would be more reusable and generate less trash, but defeats the point of being "low cost".

[@AdRawk]

Farm Supply Plastics have super affordable UV resistant plastic sheeting for greenhousing. Amazon sells their products at a much higher mark up

[@randystache78]

I can't believe how many free greenhouses I've recycled our thrown away. The salad green container is great!

[@normagarcia3454]

Ja ja jaa

[@luckypenny312]

I was thinking the same thing! Gonna save all that stuff now!

[@LittlePieceOfHeaven.65]

Thank you for adding the " plastic issue " and raising awareness!

[@paulbehr468]

From Paul's wife Katherine in Texas USA 🇺🇸- Mother Earth News magazine in early 70's had story about a guy in Michigan who built a big greenhouse with a circulating rectangular trench inside with a deeper pond area. He put tilapia in to live. You could put in different fish. The water 💧 running kept the green house from. freezing He had radishes and greens all winter with snow outside. He also had fish to eat and some fertilizer for the plants. He didn't pay to heat the greenhouse. He also had early tomatoes. I never forgot this article with pictures.

[@bigsteve9279]

I often buy & use clear shower curtain liners from Dollar Tree… idk how thick, but they’re pretty thick

[@DarkMoonDroid]

I live in a senior apartment complex where we have crazy restrictions about what we can have on our patios. If it doesn't look perfect, we can't have it. So I have to figure out something that looks good. I think I can use some of this. Thank you!

[@Msibme]

I live in Illinois where temperatures can get really cold. I can see how this might be an idea I could use early Spring. I can imagine that the plastic gets torn up when it is stored. I think maybe using some plastic ceiling tiles or other plastic sheets from the hardware store using tape to make it air tight might work as well. these plastics would be a bit costly at first but in the long run could save money. Thank you for this video it has inspired me in many directions

[@Stephie788]

Great video! I love that you are raising awareness about plastic waste as well. Xxx

[@joanneferec3851]

More attention being drawn to the impact plastic is having on our planet is very timely. Since it's inception, plastic has caused such widespread devastation. We are all drowning in the stuff. Thank you for highlighting that important point of view. It's up to all of us to make a difference.

[@Christine-wi1dl]

I use 3 mil poly in the roll which you can buy at Home Depot or places like that. You can buy different lengths of the rolls, like 25' , 50' or 100' or more. Instead of using nails, you can just use staple gun staples. I had a entire green house covered in the double-layered 3 mil poly for years. It stood up well to the heavy snow we get in our Northern Ontario, Canadian Winters. Also, my experiences have been that clear plastic tablecloths become yellowed and brittle after a couple of years.

[@Mark300win]

Hi christine, did your double layered greenhouse do well through winter? I live in Calgary

[@kelliedean05]

"This free plastic container" was perfect and started my seedlings. Thank you.

[@MLGKrunK]

Atta girl!

[@francesb-p2441]

Gotta love simplicity! And affordability!

[@kristenoberhauser8228]

Covering your greenhouse with blankets at night helps a lot. This is what I do with my cold frames.

[@rogerbriggs9802]

I made a large version of the greenhouse box for winter protection of my Daughter's bonsai. To prevent sagging under the weight of rain, or much less likely snow, I placed a layer of split bamboo on top of the frame, under the plastic sheet.It worked like a dream, providing cold insulation and retaining humidity.

[@kunke2298]

Can you share a pic? Thanks

[@tonisee2]

I really like that measurement part. In such way one can prove if something really works as it was expected. Thanks for posting those quick tips! However, I'd suggest two things - when fixing plastic film on wooden frame, narrow (e.g. 20 mm x 10 mm x ..) wooden strips of maybe even strips of 3 layer plywood would really give a long-lasting result - wind tends to break plastic film easily when it is fixed just by nails (even if they have large flat heads). That additional wood doesn't cost much extra neither. If frost is really a serious issue, a double-layer of plastic could be used - ordinary plastic sheet outside and either ordinary or bubble plastic sheet on inner side on that frame. Or even a dual solution - plastic box(es) over the plants and that wooden frame + plastic sheet construction over everything.

[@elaines5179]

Re the a-frame from pallets. Throw-away shipping-straps plentiful in lumber areas of any big box store make great safety hinges. just cut to size and screw or staple to both pallets where they come together. It gives a lot of stability and safety from tipping over.

[@coleenpq]

Thank you for this! Been looking for ideas on how to make a makeshift greenhouse with things I already have in my home and this video was perfect

[@celestestar5439]

Oh my goodness I want to do this so badly ... ❤❤🌷🌸this is brilliant I think about how many of these containers that ppl throw away that can be reused for things like this .

[@gisellebarajas3454]

I love that your environmentally aware!!!!❤️Keep up the great work! :D

[@Crystallz2]

I really like your green house methods! But love how you speak about reusable plastics that you may use... thanks so much! Love this video!

[@mochibandit6190]

Love your videos and your message about avoiding plastic usage.

[@martinljunggren-abbasi2231]

Used vinyl shower curtain liners work well for covering small greenhouse structures.

[@janetbransdon3742]

I have just purchased a glass top table... I am going to make a green house by wrapping the lower part of the legs with plastic for protection and placing in holes in cinder blocks. There will be a foundation of cinder blocks so I can fold under plastic sheeting and use tent pegs inside for stability. I will place a weatherproof tarp on the floor to prevent weed growth. I plan to over winter my potted plants that are prone to frost damage.

[@georgebartholemew8444]

Another thing you can use to help with heat retention is using bubble wrap over the outside surface. We keep all our old bubble wrap (don't like to discard plastic).

[@justsomeguywithtattoos6267]

Could you elaborate?

[@georgebartholemew8444]

@@justsomeguywithtattoos6267 We get lots of bubble wrap in the packages that carry our orders. If you don't have a large input you can buy bubble wrap at stores. Our preferred wrap has bubbles that are about 25 mm (1") in diameter. the wrap has a smooth side and a "bubble" side. The smooth side goes over your frame and your sheet plastic goes over that, so you end up with a captured layer of bubbles that insulate your greenhouse. If your greenhouse is glass you can glue to the inside of the glass and tack to the frame.

[@justsomeguywithtattoos6267]

@@georgebartholemew8444 wow that's great! Thank you. Do you put the bubble wrap on all walls and roof as well? Do you think it affects the amount of heat and sunlight the plants inside can get?

[@learntocrochet1]

The dome: use a bungee cord instead of a string - then you can inspect, treat, water, admire your plant.

[@patekoent1]

love the bungee cord idea. I have lots of those.

[@joseperez2515]

I tried making a box like that once. Worked great against frost and then when the days got hotter I replaced the plastic with a screen to keep insects out and again, it worked great, except the plants grew and as soon as the leaves touched the screen the insects laid eggs on them and that was that. I gave up after that. The insects destroy anything I put on the ground and I will not use poisons. If I'm going to go trough all that trouble just to poison my food then I might as well buy whatever is out there and relax. Then I planted fruit trees and now I have to fight with the birds and the squirrels so that i might have some fruit for myself. Can't win for losing. Now I'm going for microgreens, see how that goes. It's inside the house so I will not have to worry about insects, birds or squirrels (at least, I hope so). The biggest worry is going to be the light bill. If that works, I might build a hoop house outside to grow my food.

[@denisemartinez6456]

Great ideas I'll put to use using recycled plastic we found. Thank you so much. This was great Jag!

[@gigigg9763]

Christmas Tree shops have large clear plastic tablecloths.. 3.00 but thicker then dollar store shower curtains

[@karaamundson3964]

Thanks Jag!! As usual, you knocked the ball outta the park with effective, economical ideas! These methods look like they would be helpful for starting seeds *in situ* in the garden, rather than trying to start them indoors where even with lights my starts are never as robust as those which get going on their own outside. Of course, the latter are few in number, so I can't count on that method exclusively...especially as we already had two freezes, April and mid-May! I'll give these, or a modified long-bed form of them, a try next year-- *if* I can get enough clear plastic! It *is* a resource, so it's worth folding up and saving.

[@bayleemestaz1469]

Plllll

[@maxwill7270]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gp2vfaeMhrZ7bLM

[@staceyflores899]

Great video thanks! I don't have extra money to buy expensive greenhouses, but I do want to protect my plants from frost!

[@parisas9306]

Thank you!!! Especially for the word about usng plastic responsibly :) great content, thank you so much for sharing!

[@wesleyhackney]

I been using these to protect a lot of plants this winter with great success

[@lorettawhatley9057]

Awesome Video. Now that’s a Green House I can afford. Thank you.

[@rosewood513]

I made 2 a frames for my squash this year, I can use them as a greenhouse coupled with plastic I have. I can use it over and over since it is thick.. I love the box one if you make two, one a few inches bigger than the other you can give extra cover the air lock with be even more efficient. Nice video thank you.

[@suethomassen1520]

I know this comment comes a few years later, but just wanted you to know, loved your video. I ask around for the plastic that new matresses come in. This is good thick plastic, ideal for covering frames.

[@propertiesbypenni7755]

This video is so helpful. I love that you ran the experiments to show effectiveness. Thank you

[@sheilasmith2053]

Thank you for metioning the problem with plastic, but agree, sometimes you must, but recycle it.

[@wifemommeboblife3657]

I love the idea of a greenhouse box

[@swethasrujitha4479]

Y it t ki tyyy

[@swethasrujitha4479]

Yyiiizgizzzzyigizyziizgzygyyyzyzyi

[@Junzar56]

I also use glass light shades I pick up at thrift shops. Don’t forget to vent if temps get too high!

[@DaisyCreekFarms]

Great Idea for shades! Yes venting is important. Next, I am going to make a greenhouse out of old discarded windows :)

[@Junzar56]

Daisy Creek Farms with Jag Singh that is how I made my cold frames!

[@dimik3855]

Leaning a frame on the side of the house and covering with plastic is also an easy and simple method, especially if it faces south.

[@marshwetland3808]

Can also rot your house if you have a lot of moisture in the greenhouse. I have seen it. People had to strip down their house and live in a hotel for a year. Also no have a chronic mould injury to respiratory system. It took time, but the man who wouldn't listen when it was installed had to deal with it 20 years later.

[@maggieobrien5515]

Jag Singh, I enjoyed learning how to protect my produce in the winter and I will be using a few of your ideas from the video above. I do want to thank you for that, but what prompted my wanting to leave a comment as when you mentioned the "issue" with plastic. How it is NOT being recycled and we need to reuse as much as possible. The "Plastics islands" are terrible for our environment, our animals and air...everything is effected because everything is connected. Thank you for informing people about this. I feel people do not know and if more people did, maybe they would think about their choices and the impact they have. Thank you! Wishing you a Happy Winter Solstice Jag.

[@melindap614]

Ok now you are winning me over with plant genius!

[@tessmonro7102]

I use the large totes to raise my seeds. Works really well.

[@emmacarlberg4634]

using plastic table cover is brilliant! never thought of that. thanks. really nice video. :)

[@duanewolgast4165]

Thank you for the statements about plastic. It saddens me very much when I see all of the cases of water bottles purchased. I recycle about 50% of everything disposed of from the house.

[@epiccoconut5995]

It's only January and I'm already preparing for next winter. My Garden will not die this year. I live in an apt complex that believes in recycling, I'm either going to raid out bin or my neighbor's trashes late at night LOL

[@AndreaM77]

Love the greenhouse box idea ❤️🌿

[@pigeon-mu7fk]

Love your video....going out of town for Thanksgiving and needed a fix asap for delicate ferns in case of frost...you're my hero ! Thank you 😊

[@barbararickman8543]

Which is what I do. You can weave floor mats with plastic. Great way to reuse plastic.

[@annicks7385]

Re use the plastic year after year indeed !! This video was amaaaaaaaaazing !!! Ty

[@jesuschristislordoflordsan427]

instead of flat roof i would go with tilted. but thanks for the videos, highly appreciated

[@danielfonseca7722]

I never would have thought of something like this, how useful!

[@chrisdarry-roseelrod4481]

I like this idea of using portable green houses. I'm using the bag method on a rack of seedlings.

[@OsirisNeits]

thank you for saving me time by showing me the ideas in the first 5 seconds.

[@tccrochetworks9749]

Just what I needed for my little balcony's aloe Vera plants. Thanks a lot!

[@kaylash123456]

JUST PERFECT. I do same tomorrow. Thank you. love simple ideas

[@ximth3d4ddyx]

5:49 I am in the process of making a similar wood frame plastic cover green house and I am considering making it a double layer. One running outside the frame as shown in your video and a second lining the inside of the frame giving a small gap between the sheets. The hope is that this will add to it's insulation properties slightly. Not sure how effective it will be though. Great video. Simple yet effective ideas.

[@meanqkie2240]

Save your bubble pack and line the inside with it.

[@Ucmirolln]

Thank you for this wonderful video. I searched KZbin and Google and found exactly what I was looking for right here! Thank you again friend. Happy growing

[@Belzbub]

Tip: If you have room fill some bottles, cans or whatever with water and leave them inside. They will heat up during the day and slowly submit heat in the night. Its not big numbers but maybe a couple of degrees warmer in the night depends of how much water you can store.

[@DaisyCreekFarms]

Great idea!

[@meanqkie2240]

Yes, heat sink! Set jugs filled with water in the sun during the day, and before the afternoon turns chilly, set them close to the plants inside.

[@Afronadian]

you rock. I love our videos and that love tested some of this stuff! thank you thank you!!!!

[@possums1010]

Instead of using plastic 'tablecloths', one can use rolls of clear plastic [found in stores like Walmart in the painting dept.] $10.00 for a 25x10 ft. roll.

[@cozzyinternet4706]

fortunate for you. where I live, it ain't that cheap :(

[@charlenekociuba7396]

@@cozzyinternet4706 I suggest saving plastic bags that hold mulch etc, then use duck tape to piece together. I thought of this after I threw out so many. Ugh, I guess next year. Also these "greenhouses" need venting, a way for air to escape and circulate. I think the danger is that molds will develop and poison the plants, perhaps kill. Greenhouse designs by pros should be examined and then incorporated. I think these ideas are more like temporary structures to make it a bit more ideal to start seeds ( cold frame) or to protect from killing frosts. Greenhouse means something entirely different, not that these ideas won't work or aren't good. There are limitations to everything. But I will be more emboldened now and get something up. Suggestion, if you are looking for free or cheap plastic, try early Spring when deliveries are made and uncovered. I'm sure some stores will gladly hand over what covers up palettes of goodies.

[@cozzyinternet4706]

@@charlenekociuba7396 Hey, I was wondering what your comment was about......hahah. Thanks very much for your advice and tip. Much appreciated! I've been collected bags for printer toners/drums too! :D Cheers!!

[@icie1504]

Plastic tablecloths or shower curtains are only $1 at Dollar Tree if you can't find that roll or don't want that much.

[@cozzyinternet4706]

@philomena phanthagia brilliant idea too

[@ByGraceIGo]

The only problem with the pallets is that they block some of the sunlight. But that's a good idea using the clamshell from leftover spinach or salad or whatever. I actually have some clear vinyl that was going to use for something else as a kind that you use on a boat or a car and I'm thinking of building a frame and putting this on it it's way durable and it lets a lot more sunlight in. And I really like your choice of music in the background it's not cheesy it's just nice and your voice is nice and you're explaining things and that's important. Because I went to another site the person wasn't even talking and they were playing this horribly cheesy music I got about not even 15 seconds in the video and I exited and said forget this I can't deal with that! It had no instructions at all!

[@ourislandacres6685]

I like to use clear shower curtain liners, then reuse them in the garden.

[@Thankful_.]

Great idea to reuse clear ♻️ plastic containers and totes as humidity domes

[@prettyparadoxicalwoman8285]

Spinach container BRILLIANT

[@kathyyoung1774]

Technically these are cold frames, not greenhouses. Cold frames are very useful, and I use several of these. But don’t expect these to keep your tomato plants alive at night in freezing weather. For that you need a greenhouse with heat.

[@TruckTaxiMoveIt]

If you do the a A-frame with the pallets you can put compost up to a certain point so that you allow the light to get in from the top but the heat from the compost will continue to warm to whole thing from the bottom and around the sides

[@kathyyoung1774]

Agreed. But how much heat? Not enough for many veggies that can't stand cold. I can see that working for most greens, snow peas, etc.

[@SearchFT]

Very nice touch with the temp and humid tests 👍🏻 Very helpful video, thank you.

[@karlynnelangerak4549]

Also liked what u said about plastic! TY

[@norxgirl1]

Winter Seed Sewing....some of us are recycle "dumpster diving", with permission of course, at recycle centers, and using many plastic containers as mini greenhouses and cloches....

[@quantumchang4410]

You should have made the wooden frame with slanted roof so when it rains water don't pool at the center and eventually weight the plastic down.

[@kathyyoung1774]

Quantum Chang The rain on top will actually help keep it from blowing away. I had a whole plastic greenhouse blow across the yard. These cold frames need to be weighted down if you have any wind.

[@jow6845]

Kathy Young - tent pegs.

[@seedaholicgardens9085]

Ty as always for another smart thoughtful video, jag!

[@lydvincecruz824]

Thank you for sharing the techniques on how to save money.It helps to save.Thanks for the bright ideas.❤

[@fredsnyder3063]

😁 thank you for being a Teacher. I really appreciated the recyclable part.

[@msnijjar22]

I think it needs to have some small holes for the oxygen flow.

[@brobang5102]

plants dont need oxygen, bro the carbon dioxide trapped in might be enough for one day so you have to open it again daily

[@etherspin]

when i have a container indoors i heat the tip of a tiny screw driver over my stove and can then gently press it through, the plants do air exchange/photosynthesis at different rate to how we breath so the ventilation doesn't need to be major. heat is harder to maintain

[@keamogetsoeipeleng5565]

lol

[@keaganalldred1978]

You're content is some simple and helpful!

[@doreenmangru3490]

Thanks for your invaluable advice/suggestions - helpful and much appreciated

[@audreyabdo7719]

Very great ideas, will use a few of them.

[@nysokhom6213]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@wherethewildwenzelsare8108]

Love Your Channel, being a seasoned gardener it's amazing what you can learn... Thank You for the tips

[@lynnevans7700]

Thanks Jag for the ideas.

[@funbomb1102]

Thank you sir. I had some ideas, but wasn’t sure. Very helpful ❤️

[@dianaromero7611]

I can’t wait to make some of these covers, I have the big one.

[@monicalynnjames]

Thank you so much these were great ideas and you also mentioned the impacts of plastic. Really wonderful and eco friendly thank you

[@user-vy4pp8dv4f]

Молодец! Ставлю 👍, за изобретательность. Особенно с поддонами от товара.

[@mohamedazarudeen8045]

Brilliant... I always thought green house meant big non brick domes. These are what I wanted.

[@purpleluna8413]

Oh my gosh these are brilliant ideas So many I didn6t even think of loved the idea of using mulch around the plastic totem to keep the cold air out and wow the Heat treated pallet is awesome Thankyou Jack this is a fantastic video. And the Gobi is awesome Will share this video on my fav garden pages What country are you from Hello from Australia 🇦🇺🐨

[@karaamundson3964]

I had no idea that pallets could be gotten for zero dollars...I always thought that the people who had them bristled when you asked, "May I have a few of your pallets?" I'm still nervous but feeling a little more game...

[@jeannainnc8390]

Awesome job creating inexpensive way to grow in the shoulder seasons.

[@carlschleicher5516]

Picked up some good ideas here, thank you.

[@NarrowPathDiaries]

We can also use/reuse a clear shower liner

[@pc0086]

I would have to make an A frame mini green house here in zone 6, we get a lot of snow, the weight accumulated will tear through the green house box you made.

[@298CRE8]

Everyone remember to either lift or check on regularly I'd advise at least once or twice a day lift replace air shake e cess condensation depending on application etc etc greenhouse humidity dome and sealed unit are completely different lol I'd advise drill sone holes on highest point and cover as necessary big tubs might need several small 10 to 15mm holes where's smaller domes container lids etc might only need one or two hope this helps stop rot mold and losing seedlings and seed due to excessive moisture because excessive and inadequate are both bad

[@mystaphaphas]

I used a clear plastic umbrella as a greenhouse for my strawberry three years ago

[@andrewjohnson6716]

Very clever and useful ideas!