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Upcycled self-watering greenhouse

Upcycled materials were utilised to help build a greenhouse housing wicking planters, with the project goal to be more self-sufficient and save water.

The project

My fully upcycled self-watering grow house cost me next to nothing. The most expensive items are the polythene and growing media.

Steps

Step 1

Started by laying out the house lot of windows that I won on an online auction site, and made a rough plan. Put my four posts in then prepared the base for the pavers.

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Step 2

After the windows were all in place, I found some hardy panelling.

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Step 3

Started to make a self-watering garden that catches water from the roof. Start by laying Nova flow down, with the end enclosed, covered with stones until it reached the overflow pipe. Laid cloth down that will allow moisture to wick, but not let soil get get among the stones. Cover with a layer of sand then soil.

Step 4

Set up another two smaller watering beds before planting.

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Step 5

First harvest!

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Tools and materials

Materials used in the project:

Recycled framing
Recycled roofing
Recycled pavers
Recycled guttering
Recycled windows
Gutter downpipe
Pond liner.

Tools used in the project:

More inspiration for your garden

Bunnings Workshop member gredonmanor used recycled doors and windows to create an orchid house and potting shed.

Orchid house.jpeg

Community member JackiN used recycled windows and some reclaimed timber for a D.I.Y. greenhouse for her mother.

Get more inspiration from our Top 10 most popular garage and shed projects, 7 ways to grow vegetables in your garden and 10 outdoor storage ideas.

Find more posts tagged with

Tools and Materials

Gardening

Building and Construction

Planting and Growing

Doors and Windows

Recycling and Upcycling

Outdoor

Garden

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All comments

Dave-1

Good Afternoon @MrBJDavis

Everytime I see your greenhouse all I want to do is go home and start building one 🙂 It is inspiring. Is there anything you would change or add to the project from when you started?

Dave

MrBJDavis

Morning @Dave-1

Now into my second season and growing well. Not alot I'd change, everything works as it should .

The new second planter isn't connected to the gutter so needs filling manually.

The top soil looks dry but underneath it's still moist, I think ill plumb in a small drip feed and/or sprinkler system.

It's getting upto 40 degrees inside, will need to add more ventilation for summer.

Any other questions I'm more than happy to help.

Dave-1

Good Morning @MrBJDavis

🙂 Thank you, its always nice to see how projects have faired. If they stand up to the test of time then it goes up my internal "saved" list 🙂

Just read 40deg inside... ohhh yeah 🙂 thats hot, hot and humid!

Dave

MrBJDavis

@Dave-1 It was always built with a plan B in mind strip it back and put a spa in it's place but this far it's worked a treat and can't see why it wouldn't stand the test of time .

I haven't found it be humid, just hot. It has a total of 10 opening windows so strategically leaving certain windows open lets it breathe and the flower beds outside allows bee's to fly in and do their thing.

Kids love raiding the cucumbers, basil and tomatoes on a daily basis.

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