| For any gardener who enjoys working with their | | | | will require a special light bulb that gives off a full |
| plants, a greenhouse is a welcome addition to expand | | | | spectrum of light similar to the sun's rays. While the |
| their hobby. Greenhouse gardening can be as | | | | light cast from these bulbs certainly won't look like |
| intensive or as low-key as you want it to be, | | | | natural sunlight to your eyes, to the plants, it is |
| depending on how much gardening you do and how | | | | virtually the same. Grow lights can usually be |
| much money you want to invest in the hobby. | | | | purchased quite inexpensively from home |
| Serious gardeners wishing to expand their interest | | | | improvement stores or garden centers, and can then |
| into greenhouse gardening may opt for a permanent | | | | be screwed into your own light fixture at home. |
| structure in their backyard, possibly something that | | | | When setting up a grow light, it's important to |
| incorporates a cement foundation, integrated doors | | | | suspend the light as close as possible to the plants. |
| and windows, and an auto-venting system for | | | | Particularly if you are using the light to start seeds, |
| temperature control. On the other end of the | | | | you'll want to place the light within an inch or two of |
| spectrum, we have the beginning gardener or hobby | | | | the seedlings themselves. If you place the light too |
| horticulturist who wishes to cultivate plants indoors | | | | far away, the seedlings will grow tall and spindly |
| during the winter months or start seeds indoors in | | | | instead of strong and stocky. |
| the spring for a head start on the summer growing | | | | An indoor greenhouse can feature a vinyl cover to |
| season. This more basic form of greenhouse | | | | help retain heat or moisture, or you can simply use |
| gardening will be our focus for this article. | | | | the indoor environment of your home as the |
| Basic greenhouse gardening usually begins indoors | | | | greenhouse environment. Ideal temperatures will |
| with a temporary structure that can be set up when | | | | range from 75 to 85 degrees, so choose a room of |
| it's needed and taken down when it's not. An | | | | your house that is warmer than others. If you're |
| inexpensive shelving kit will work well for this | | | | using a grow light instead of a sunny window, you |
| purpose, provided you have space to set it up. Other | | | | won't be as limited to the possible locations you can |
| structures could be a tabletop that's not in use or an | | | | choose from your plants. If you're using a grow light |
| old workbench. If you are purchasing something new | | | | and trying to determine a warm location in your |
| for the purpose of indoor gardening, look for a | | | | house, consider an upstairs room and/or a high up |
| structure that's lightweight and that can be easily | | | | location in the room, vertically speaking, such as on |
| disassembled for storage. Consider buying plastic, if | | | | top of a high shelf or a tall cabinet. Heat rises, so the |
| you have the option, so that you can easily wipe | | | | highest place in your home should also be the one |
| away any dirt or water that accumulates. | | | | with the highest temperature. |
| Next, you'll need to look around your home and | | | | If you're a beginning gardener interested in |
| determine where the shelf or table will be placed. If | | | | greenhouse gardening, don't be intimidated to give it |
| you have a sunny window that receives at least 6 | | | | a try. Getting started indoors is easy and doesn't |
| hours of direct sunlight daily, this is ideal. Warm, sunny | | | | cost a lot of money. With a little time and a minimal |
| bay windows facing the west or south will usually | | | | investment, you can expand your gardening hobby, |
| meet the criteria. If you don't have such a window, | | | | grow more plants, and give your green thumb a |
| then you'll need to consider using a grow light. This | | | | workout during cooler months! |