Indoor greenhouse?

[MomToTwoBoys]

I'm debating an indoor greenhouse, constructed in my basement where I currently have a large work bench.

What is the best way to go about doing this?

Thanks

[pollypurebred39]

We sprouted seedlings in our basement years ago. DH had the basement set up as a greenhouse. It was not cost effective for us. The electric bill went through the roof for all the grow lights. We dropped that idea and hope someday to have a real greenhouse.

Maybe someone here has done it successfully and can tell you how to avoid the money pit we jumped in.

[Russ]

I agree with Polly.

[chowder]

I myself had shelves with 6 double grow lights .Worked great,grew all plants to May 24 then they were planted directly into the gardens, and I did not see a huge increase in hydro,maybe a few dollars thats all.
I then got my GH and found I just needed 2 grow lights to get the seedlings started until I could open the GH at the end of March where they could grow on.

[MomToTwoBoys]

Yeah, the cost for electricity is what has me more concerned than the cost for the materials. I read somewheres about shelving and grow lights, so I wanted to see if anyone else had done that.

Chowder, how much did it cost you for materials (if you can remember)?

[Russ]

GS has a bunch of them, but they are high priced IMO. But look at them here>> GROW LIGHTS AND STANDS just to get an idea and build them yourself.

The main thing is the adjustable lighting. You need those lights close to your plants so they don't get leggy.

[chowder]

Well I would think the issue would be practicality or beauty.If you need something to fit the decor then you will pay dearly for that.
My hubby just took scrap plywood,maybe bought a few cheap 2x4's,and made 3, 8 foot long shelves.He attached the 2x4's to the cross beams above for stability.We then put chains on the florescent fixtures and hooks on the underside of the shelves,so the lights( 2 fixtures per shelf,side by side) could be raised as the plants grew.
This setup was not beautiful by any means,but in an old basement that is just used for laundry and storage,it was a wonderful set up.
The best part is the plants loved it.

[chowder]

Tried to edit but would not work.
Just wanted to say you do not need grow bulbs they are a waste of money(learned that early on).I use 1 cool 1 warm bulb in each fixture (cheap ones),and always have nice lush healthy plants.

[MomToTwoBoys]

Practicality definitely outweighs beauty for me. Cost efficiency versus pricy does too.

We have exposed beams in the basement so I'm sure we could find something to rig chains around to hang some low-cost lighting close to the plants.

What about for moisture and temperature control? Our basement gets pretty cold and the room I'm looking to put this in doesn't have a solid dividing door to it.

[chowder]

My basement is generally about 60 degrees,maybe a bit less at times,no supplemental heating.You have to remember that the plant area will be a bit warmer from them being together and by being under lights.
I did not enclose mine because too much humidity is not good,but if you had some kind of plastic to enclose the shelves at night the plants will stay warmer still.
I would check them every day and water when the top of the potting medium felt dry.
I now use a metal framed GH with a plastic cover which is in my office,but I had to cut a square out of the roof of the plastic as it was way to humid.I only use the plastic cover because I have to keep the cats away from the plants.

[Russ]

How many hours of light are you giving them?

[chowder]

Usually 10 hours.

[FrugalKat]

I have a couple of those rolling greenhouses that someone else posted a picture of earlier up-thread. I got them on clearance for around $25 each. I have them in the alcove by the double (ceiling to floor) windows in the Kitchen. They've worked pretty well for me and I didn't have rig up any lights for them...Just let the natural sun light coming in the windows shine on them. Can't wait to pull them out of storage and get them set up again this year.

[craftypam]

Tried to edit but would not work.
Just wanted to say you do not need grow bulbs they are a waste of money(learned that early on).I use 1 cool 1 warm bulb in each fixture (cheap ones),and always have nice lush healthy plants.

Just recently read that daylight and sunshine bulbs are good to use; you don't have to buy the plant ones. I also found that Lowe's has the cheapest flourscent lights. They are $10 and then you have to buy 2 bulbs for each that are $8.00 for 2.

Love your greenhouse chowder. I have one that is smaller. In MI most of the time we don't have enough sunshine so we have to use grow lights. AND please listen to Russ about putting the light really close to the plants. Very Important if you want nice transplants

[DiJon]

I would look into LED lights, they use less energy and can have a fuller spectrum.