How to Build a Mini Greenhouse With a Heater

Mini greenhouses are constructed with material that insulates seedlings and plants from wind and rain. Heat comes from the sun. If you live in an area with a short growing season, extend greenhouse use with the addition of a heater. Unless you're trying to grow poinsettias in Alaska, you won't need a very powerful greenhouse heater. Your structure's insulation holds in heat so heaters only need to be used for a short period each day.

Copper metal plumber's pipe
Poly plastic covering
4 1x4 boards (for base frame)
Pipe cutter
L-bracket hardware
6 2-foot rebar stakes
Outdoor extension cord
Electric utility heater with fan
Weed barrier
Soil

Instructions

- 1
  Sketch your plan out on paper. Include the dimensions for your base and desired height in your illustration.
- 2
  Clear site of debris and put down weed a barrier.
- 3
  Join 1x4s using hardware to form a rectangle. Fill with soil.
- 4
  Mark the four corners and midpoints along each long side. Drive rebar (steel reinforcement bar) approximately 20 inches into the ground at each mark, leaving 4 inches above.
- 5
  Cut copper tubing to be twice the desired height plus the width. Repeat for remaining two pieces.
- 6
  Slip one end of the tubing over a rebar stake and settle the other end over the opposite steak, forming an arch. Repeat with the other two support rows.
- 7
  Cover frame and tubes completely with plastic sheeting. Leave enough extra plastic at the bottom to weigh down with rocks or boards.
- 8
  Run an outdoor extension cord to the greenhouse. Consider heater placement carefully to avoid putting plants directly in the heat flow. Plug in and set heater according to manufacturers recommendations.

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