A small greenhouse can be built onto a home window, providing an attractive design feature for your house. A window greenhouse is best located on a south or southeast facing window. Many kits are available online with a variety of attractive designs. Window greenhouses allow you to tend your plants from the comfort of the inside of your home. With accessible water and the controlled climate of the house, the window greenhouse provides a convenient place to care for plants.
A small quonset-style greenhouse is easy to make. This type of greenhouse has a rounded top and is constructed out of PVC pipe and plastic film. A wooden foundation is anchored by four corner posts cemented into the ground. On opposite sides, drive 30-inch lengths of rebar halfway into the ground at 2-foot intervals. Slide the PVC pipe over the rebar, bend over the top and anchor by sliding over the rebar on the opposite side of the frame. Once the PVC pipe hoop frame has been placed, cover with plastic film. On one end, build a basic wooden door frame and door to complete your greenhouse.
A lean-to greenhouse can be built along the south or southeastern wall of a house. The quonset design can be cut in half, with one side of the PVC frame anchored by metal bands along the side of the house. Alternatively, a more permanent and attractive lean-to greenhouse can be built using a glass cover. A glass cover requires a more stable foundation, preferably poured concrete, along with a rigid frame of wood, steel or aluminum.
Portable greenhouses allow you to move plants around easily. A portable greenhouse can be made out of a small set of shelves. Lightweight shelf units work best. Simply cover the shelves with plastic film that is anchored on the sides and the back. For the front, anchor the plastic film only at the top to allow access to the plant. This type of mini greenhouse allows you to keep plants inside during the coldest weather and to move them outside when the sun is shining.