How to Turn a Basement Into a Greenhouse

How one gardener overwinters many tender treasures

Arlene Lopasshared her beautiful gardenwith us some week ago and remark that she use igniter in her basement tooverwintermany plants . Many of you were curious about the details of her technique , so today she ’s back with some more images and all the data on how she make her cellar a good haven for her many plant life .

In the next several weeks , before the first frost can kill my annuals and tropic plant , I will be pruning ( origin , prow , and blossom as necessary ) , repotting , spray with horticultural oil , and getting my cellar “ greenhouse ” organized for the 23rd year . Why do I do this ? For the challenge of keeping a adorable plant live until next year that I may not see again in a nursery or garden center , to grow plants that would not normally acquire in my geographical zone , to save money ( though my husband would say that is moot ) , or just because I have the desire to roll up plants that interest me . I bring about 200 plant of various sizes indoors in the dusk .

The indoor setup I have consists of 10 stock 48 - inch fluorescent shop brightness , which will be on 16 - hr timer , and 4 four - shelf alloy repositing racks on bike ( only two of the four shelves on the racks are used for plants ; the other two shelf are used for depot of commode and other items ) . Each storage rack was manufacture from two standard sets of five - ledge units 36 inches wide by 70–72 inches in high spirits , and 18 - inch ledge incur at most house betterment snapper . I use only four shelf for each set and tie the two unit together using the remaining two shelf , in the midsection , with the end product being 36 inches wide and 48 inch long . An old door with supporting sawhorses underneath serves as a board for larger plant .

Plastic racks with shelf are used for the two eastern United States - facing window in the basement . Two small devotee by this doorway prevent compression . The furnace has an air - to - air heat exchanger , which helps control excess humidity , but more devotee would be helpful . The basement temperature is 60 ° F . In the spring , I set up an additional fluorescent light to start my blossom and vegetable seeds .

Every three Day during the winter , I water the plants , check for pests , and prune and repot if necessary for about three to four hours . There is a lot of cleanup with fall farewell and pots that accidentally tap over .

Insects can be a job , but I use insecticidal scoop and horticultural vegetable oil indoors when necessary . Thrips , scale , and wanderer mites are the usual cuss . Fungus gnats also can be a trouble , so I ’m thrifty not to overwater and let the top soil dry out on the plants that seem to have an infestation . Yes , some industrial plant do n’t make it , which is disappointing , but the vast majority do , and it is rewarding to see yearly blooming in January and February in the basement with the snow out of doors as a backdrop and then to check them revive and flourish out of doors during the summertime .

This indoor glasshouse would n’t have been potential without the help of two wonderful Friend who have watch our sign , our pets , and our plants for 23 geezerhood when we have gone on vacation . I ’ve garner many of my plants on these holiday , and I have heard my hubby say many time , “ We just do n’t have any more way in the elevator car to bring back more plants . ” Somehow , though , I have found a way .

Here are some of the plant life I overwinter in the basement : lantana , pentas , coleus , geranium , ferns , Hedera helix , jasmine , herb , colocasias , genus Alternanthera , begonia , strobilanthes , ruellia , asarinas , breynia disticha , acalpha , fuschias , succulent , modest bougainvillea , and many others . I also have plants scattered throughout the rest of the house and may get some downstairs when they involve additional light or bring bloom plants on a higher floor so that I can enjoy them . ( They go back under the lights when they are done blooming . )

My recommendations : Start small with the plants you want to keep for future seasons ; realize the time and equipment commitment involve ; utilize information from many helpful sources including magazines , books , the web , and your local horticultural broker or Master Gardener arrangement ; and enjoy the lovely plant that you have helped outlast another wintertime indoors .

I hope this data is helpful to other potential indoor gardeners .

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Metal storage rack on wheels with plants in the Indoor basement setup, under fluorescent shop lights

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