DIY Mini Greenhouse With Hula Hoops
Looking to build a mini greenhouse to protect your seedlings, but not sure where to start? You’ve come to the right place! Today I’m going to show you how to build a miniature hoop house quickly and inexpensively with hula hoops! So follow along and you’ll have a new greenhouse in no time.
Materials Needed
The dimensions of this mini greenhouse design are going to be roughly 4′ x 8′. I decided to build two at once and it took me virtually no extra time to do. All the materials combined only cost about $40, so this is a way more affordable option than some of the pre-made mini greenhouses out there which could easily run for $200.
For this project (to build one greenhouse) you’ll need:
Materials Required:
4- 2″ x 4″ x 8’s
3 Hula Hoops
A Roll of Painter’s Plastic
Tools Required:
Drill with 3/4″ Spade bit
Staple Gun with Staples
Hand Saw or Power Saw
Speed Square
Wood Glue
2″ or 2-1/2″ Decking Screws
Step 1- Cut Hula Hoops
To get started, simply take a hand saw and cut your hula hoops in a single spot like so:
Once you’ve done this with all your hula hoops, they should look like this:
Step 2- Drill Holes in Wood
For this step, take two of your 8-foot 2 x 4s and place them side by side. Mark out both boards about 2 inches from each end, and the center. Then take your 3/4″ spade bit and drill out 3 holes in each board like so:
The boards should look like this when you’re done drilling the holes.
Step 3- Dry Fit Hula Hoops
Now it’s time to see how your hula hoops fit. Spread out your 2 x 4s roughly 4 feet apart (it doesn’t have to be exact) and place the cut ends of your hula hoops in the holes like so:
You may need to adjust the distance between your boards until your hula hoops all look properly arched. I just eyeballed it.
Step 4- Attach Cross Braces to Complete Frame
With your 2 x 4s roughly spaced out to where you want them, it’s time to finish the frame by adding cross pieces of 2 x 4 to each end. To do this, just lay another 2 x 4 across the ends of each drilled board just inside the hula hoops.
Now measure the cross boards so they are flush with the outside of each of the drilled boards so you know where to make your cut. If you cut both cross boards the same length, this will ensure both ends are an equal width. Cut your cross boards to size with a hand saw or circular saw.
Once your cross boards are cut to size, lay them back across the drilled boards just inside the outer hula hoops, and place one screw on each end of them.
Then take your speed square and ensure each corner is 90 degrees. This will ensure your frame is a true rectangle.
Once you’re happy that your corners are square, lock your frame into place with a second screw in each corner. Your frame is now complete!
Step 5- Glue in Your Hula Hoops
Now that your frame is finished, it’s time to glue in your hula hoops. I used wood glue for this step and it worked great! You’ll want to place a generous amount of wood glue into the holes and onto the cut end of the hula hoops and then press them down into the holes.
Let the glue dry for at least an hour (or ideally overnight), and you’ll be ready to cover your mini greenhouse with plastic!
Step 6- Cover Your Hoop House with Plastic
Finally, it’s time to cover your greenhouse with plastic! I recommend using painter’s plastic because it’s durable, affordable, and will do a great job insulating your greenhouse.
Roll out the painter’s plastic next to your greenhouse and cut it to the length you’ll need, leaving about 3 feet extra on each end.
Unfold the plastic and stretch it over the hoop frame. (Remember I did 2 at once, but you get the idea.)
Take most of the slack out of the plastic, but it doesn’t have to be super taught. Now, take your stapler and staple the plastic down along the sides of the long 2 x 4s.
Cut off all the excess plastic from the sides of the hoop house. I used a box cutter but scissors will work as well.
Now staple the plastic down to the cross braces on the ends of the hoop house, ensuring the plastic is pulled relatively taught. (The hula hoops will bend a bit so you won’t be able to pull it extremely tight, so just do your best.)
Finally, just fold the edges of the plastic over to take the remaining slack out and staple the flaps to the cross brace as well.
Finished Hoop House
And that’s it, your mini greenhouse is complete!
As you can see, there is no ventilation in these little greenhouses, but they are very lightweight and so when it gets warm, I just prop them up with a piece of scrap wood like this:
I’ve had my seedlings outside under my mini greenhouses for about two weeks now and they seem to love them!
Conclusion
That’s basically it guys, a simple and inexpensive way to build a mini greenhouse. This design may not be able to withstand gale-force winds and hurricanes, but it will definitely get your seedlings through this transitional spring weather, and have them ready for planting in your garden!
Hopefully this project helped inspire you and maybe you’ll even find ways to improve the design. If you do, I’d love to see what you come up with so make sure to let me know in the comments section below!
Happy Gardening!
Cody
Thistle Downs Farm