How to make a mini-greenhouse

Follow these easy steps to build your own mini-greenhouse.

You Will Need

• Wooden wine box
• Acrylic (1 sheet)
• Wood stain
• Exterior glue
• Hinges (2 small)
• Wooden door knob
• Half-round moulding (4m strip)
• Hammer
• Saw
• Stanley knife
• Screwdriver
• Wood screws (4)

Total time : An afternoon

Step 1

Using a hammer, gently tap out one end of the wine box and remove any nails. Keep the end section as you will need to use it later.

Step 2

Make a sloping roof by measuring 3cm down from the top front corner of each side of the box and drawing a straight line from there to the top back corner. Cut along each line, using a handsaw.

Step 3

Cut off two 1.5cm strips from the end section of the box that you removed earlier. Glue one strip halfway up each side of the box to create a shelf support. When the glue has dried, paint the box and the strip of half-round moulding.

Step 4

Using the dimensions of your wine box as a template, cut out pieces of acrylic sheet for the door, roof and shelf of your greenhouse with a Stanley knife. Allow a small overhang for the roof.

Step 5

Cut strips of half-round moulding to fit around the edges of the acrylic door and roof and glue them in place.

Step 6

Glue the roof in place. Once it has dried, rest the box on its back and attach the hinges to the main casing using the wood screws. Attach the hinges to the door. Glue the door knob in place.

If you need more space, hang two or three boxes together. Choose a bright spot away from frost pockets and cold winds.