How to Make a Small Greenhouse From Recyclable Materials

Now that summer’s in full swing, it’s likely that your garden is, too!

Kids can learn a lot from gardening – how plants grow, how to create healthy soil, which insects can hurt plants and which can help. Taking care of plants can teach responsibility and compassion, too!

Did you know that while you can buy plastic greenhouses for seeds at your local nursery, there is a more eco-friendly and cost-friendly way to grow seedlings at home? Starting seeds at home not only ensures that your child can watch plants grow right before his or her eyes, but it can also be better for the plants. Seedlings may be too fragile to be planted directly in the ground because they’re too exposed to the elements. Raising delicate plants like basil in your home allows you (and your child) to provide the extra care that they may need to thrive. A home greenhouse made from repurposed materials is a great way to make this happen!

How to Make Your Greenhouse

Supplies you’ll need are:

• Toilet paper rolls 
• Large plastic container with lid and air holes (a strawberry container works great for this use)
• Seed raising mix

The basic steps:

• Cut your toilet rolls in half or in thirds – you want to be able to close the lid with the rolls inside, so cutting them into smaller sections will allow you the space you need and still give the seeds room to grow.
• Fill your container with the toilet paper rolls, and then distribute your seed raising mix in an even layer across the entire bottom (filling the rolls and the space between them). 
• Carefully add your seeds and gently water them. 
• Close the lid.

The toilet paper rolls will form tiny containers that you can eventually plant in your garden without disturbing the roots when the plants are big enough to survive outside. These tiny planters are easy for little hands to hold. This activity will allow your child to have some hands-on fun this summer and get a little dirty!

For more fun activities, check out the other posts on our blog and our website! At Little Angels Preschool and Daycare, we believe that letting kids play in nature is great for their imagination and teaches them a lot about the world around them. As the trusted and preferred daycare in Ann Arbor, we love spending time outdoors with the kids who are part of our Little Angels family! If you want to find out more about our natural play philosophy, please call us today or visit our website!