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A man sits at a round dining table surrounded by his indoor plants, in a story about DIY greenhouses to help plants.

  • Lets light in (they're typically made from a see-through material like plastic or glass)
  • Keep frosts and cold air out
  • Increases humidity

A clear plastic bottle without its lid is filled with soil to create a DIY greenhouse for small plants.

  1. Cut the bottle in half with a Stanley knife.
  2. Cut out little drainage holes at the bottom of the bottle.
  3. Remove the lid from the top (you want to increase humidity, not create a mini sauna!).
  4. Fill the bottom half of the bottle with potting mix.
  5. Pop in your cutting, baby plant or seed.
  6. Give it a little drink, then place the top half over the bottom half.
  7. Pop it in a sunny spot where you can watch it grow.

  • Thin, large lush leaves (like on a fiddle-leaf fig) that look like they would be at home in a tropical jungle are humidity lovers.
  • Thick, waxy, leathery or furry leaves that look like they could either chill in a desert or be right at home in the dry patch of bush (think dry herbs like lavender and thyme or most succulents) are humidity haters.

A man uses gap-filler between the floor and skirting board, to create a greenhouse environment for indoor plants.

  • If you're renting, sealing tape can be used for window and door gaps. It's easy to remove when it's time to move out. You could also try shoving pillows in unused fire places and covering old vents.
  • If you're a home owner, the sky (and your budget) is the limit. Patrick recommends lots of gap filler and, if you're committed, roof insulation.

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