This tutorial demonstrates how to set up an indoor plant cabinet using an IKEA greenhouse cabinet hack. The first step is to acquire an Ikea glass cabinet, such as the Detolf, Fabrikör, Milsbo, or Rudsta. These cabinets can be transformed into a miniature, glass-enclosed humidity haven for plants. The DETOLF, MILSBO, and RUDSTA are popular choices for custom greenhouse cabinets. The DIY FABRIKÖR IKEA greenhouse cabinet is a simple project that only adds grow lights.
There are four IKEA cabinet models commonly used for these projects: DETOLF, RUDSTA, FABRIKÖR, and MILSBO. The Milsbo Glass-Door Cabinet is the best fit for the space and decor, and it is not sponsored by Ikea. While assembling, you can choose to remove some of the glass shelves.
The Milsbo is a great option for those with a lot of plants, as it is large enough to fit a lot of plants and is one of the larger options offered. The tutorial provides a step-by-step guide on how to create a greenhouse cabinet using these cabinets.
📹 IKEA Milsbo Greenhouse Cabinet | Simple Setup & Accessories
Hi! I had some requests to see my IKEA Greenhouse setup/accessories so here it is- short and sweet. I really didn’t make too …
Which Ikea cabinet is best for a greenhouse?
The most popular IKEA cabinets for greenhouses are FABRIKÖR, MILSBO, RUDSTA, BAGGEBO, and DELTOF models. These cabinets can be used to house plants and maintain their health with the right modifications. However, standard curio cabinets don’t come with grow lights, fans, humidifiers, or other plant-growing accessories. If you plan to use a humid greenhouse, it’s recommended to paint and seal the cabinet properly or find a metal version.
How to turn an Ikea cabinet into a greenhouse?
The IKEA greenhouse cabinet is a popular DIY solution for plant enthusiasts who need adequate light for their houseplants. These cabinets create a warm, humid environment suitable for various tropical plants, including aroids, pothos, Anthurium, and Monsteras, orchids, Bromeliads, and various types of succulents. However, desert cacti and succulents prefer dry conditions, so it’s best not to use a humidifier.
There is no single grow light best for an IKEA greenhouse cabinet, as factors like the type of cabinet, budget, and the plants you’re keeping in the greenhouse all matter. However, a full-spectrum, LED hanging grow light is usually the best choice due to their power and ease of securement. For this tutorial, a full-spectrum hanging grow light was used, but LED strip lights are also a great low-cost option with a small profile and easy double-sided tape attachment.
In summary, the IKEA greenhouse cabinet is a versatile and functional solution for plant enthusiasts looking to add a greenhouse to their living room. It’s essential to fully assemble the cabinet, drill holes for cords, secure grow lights, add plants, and turn on the cabinet to ensure a well-lit and healthy environment for your plants.
Can you make a greenhouse out of a wood cabinet?
This DIY tutorial explains how to create a glass greenhouse cabinet at home. The process involves using an old cabinet or purchasing a new one, but it’s recommended to use old wooden cabinets to save money. Custom glass panels can be added to the old cabinet, and the project is easy to execute without any assistance. Basic tools are required, but minor changes may be made based on personal preferences. The tutorial emphasizes the importance of using old cabinets and custom glass panels to create a greenhouse cabinet at home.
How to waterproof an Ikea cabinet?
IKEA kitchen cabinets are not inherently water resistant, but proper sealing and maintenance can enhance their water resistance. The AXSTAD line is a popular choice for upgrading the cabinet line. Sealing all seams around the sink, cooktop, and plumbing connections is crucial. Investing in a backsplash and choosing water-resistant countertops can also enhance the cabinet’s water resistance. IKEA cabinets primarily use particleboard, a wood-based material with compressed wood chips bonded with adhesive.
This construction method offers affordability and consistency but is susceptible to water damage, swelling, warping, and losing structural integrity when exposed to moisture. To enhance cabinet longevity in a water-prone environment, consider upgrading the cabinet line, investing in a backsplash, and choosing water-resistant countertops.
How humid should my IKEA greenhouse be?
The author maintains a cabinet with a humidity level of 65-85, using a small humidifier to keep the air moist and plants happy. They have been growing orchids for 20 years and have recently diversified into miniatures, begonias, and carnivorous plants. They are an artist and art teacher, offering remote classes. The author shares their art and plants on their website. To create ventilation in the cabinet, they recommend installing all glass, except for the rear right panel, and installing pegboards. They cut down both 30″x22″ SKÅDIS pegboards to 30″x20″ and 30″x15. 5″, making one cut per pegboard. The 30″ width fits perfectly with no trimming needed.
What are the disadvantages of a wooden greenhouse?
It is widely acknowledged that traditional wooden greenhouses, constructed from softwoods such as pine and cedar, are characterised by their durability. Typically, such structures will last for a period of between 10 and 25 years before requiring replacement.
How to waterproof a wood cabinet for plants?
Natural oils like linseed oil, tung oil, and Danish oil are used for waterproofing wood, with a short re-coat time. These oils need to be reapplied more frequently than synthetic sealants, up to twice a year, depending on the wood and surrounding conditions. Stain/sealer combinations, which contain wood sealers, are used for outdoor elements like decks, fences, siding, shingles, outdoor wood furniture, and railings, and come in wood-friendly colors like browns, tans, and reds.
Are IKEA kitchen cabinets environmentally friendly?
The company uses a sustainable core made from post-industrial recycled wood residuals, such as MDF for acrylics and dense particleboard for textured melamines, with a formaldehyde-free adhesive system using 100 NAF resin. These cores have three LEED environmental credits and have been awarded the Composite Panel Association’s Eco-Certified Composite grademark, ensuring compliance with the CPA 4-11 ECC Sustainability Standard, CARB’s ATCM 93120, and EPA TSCA Title VI rule. The wood products and veneers are made from sustainably grown logs in well-managed forests.
Do I need a humidifier in my greenhouse cabinet?
A greenhouse cabinet is a beautiful and convenient solution for tropical plants, providing stable conditions and specific settings for plants. Grow lights supplement plants with the required amount of light, ensuring they receive the necessary amount of light no matter the season or weather. The cabinet’s temperature is raised during the day, and at night, the lamps are turned off, allowing plants to maintain lower temperatures. The closed space also makes it easier to maintain a high level of humidity, reaching 90 degrees without a humidifier.
There is no ready-to-use greenhouse cabinet available on the market, so you will need to buy one and turn it into a greenhouse yourself. The cabinet should include grow lights, a fan, thermometer and hygrometer, cable organization, a mechanical or digital timer plug, and a power strip. When choosing a grow light for a greenhouse cabinet, take good measurements of the cabinet and the specific place where you plan to attach the grow light(s). Some prefer to have the light attached to the cabinet’s ceiling, while others prefer to have the lamps attached alongside the doors, affecting the growth pattern of the plants.
In summary, a greenhouse cabinet is a versatile and efficient solution for tropical plants, providing stable conditions and specific settings for plants.
Can you use a glass cabinet as a greenhouse?
A successful indoor greenhouse requires a strategic cabinet choice, such as a tall, glass-fronted display cabinet. These cabinets provide ample space and visibility for various plants, allowing easy monitoring of health and growth. They also add a decorative touch to any room. The cabinet should fit elegantly without overwhelming the space and be adaptable for incorporating additional features like specialized lighting or humidity control systems.
This approach is the foundation for a thriving and aesthetically pleasing indoor greenhouse. The MILSBO from IKEA is an excellent choice for building an IKEA greenhouse cabinet due to its sturdiness, affordability, and design versatility, ensuring plant flourishing and enhancing the space.
Are IKEA cabinets water resistant?
IKEA cabinet frames are made from Particleboard, Melamine foil, Polypropylene Plastic, and ABS Plastic, making them easy to maintain and clean. They offer kitchen measurements and installation services, with professional help available for accurate measurements and a 1-year workman’s warranty for all design installations. For more information, visit their knowledge portal or frequently asked questions.
📹 ZERO CORDS 🚫🔌 in sight! IKEA MILSBO Greenhouse COMPLETE BUILD – Do’s & Don’ts for a ✨seamless✨ look
CORD MANAGEMENT is the game, and I was determined to do my best. To some the cords may not be a big deal, but to …
For anyone else wanting to know energy usage on this set-up, I worked it out at about 20kWh/month (£7/month at current UK rates). 4x10W lighting running 12hr/day = 15kWh/month. Really important to get a low power fan. 150mm (6in) or less, with a low speed setting. Running 2 fans at 3W 24h/day is 4kWh/month. If you use 100W fans the whole set-up costs 4-5 times as much to run.
I have Barrina lights too in my Millsbo. I reached out to Barrina to ask if the lights are compatible with humidity (waterproof). Their answer is that they are not waterproof and you mustn’t have more than 85% humidity in your cabinet. So your thermometer-hygrometer is a great idea to check it. I live in Ontario and I grow orchids in these cabinets, same problem with low humidity, although you win in the Prairies!
This article was awesome! Thank you- definitely helps with where to start on making my own cabinet without drilling holes and modifying everything. Magnets and cord collectors and sticky connections are more my speed. Question though- I’m just assuming so please correct me if I’m wrong- I didn’t see any additional source of water/humidity in the cabinet. I’m assuming that comes strictly from the watering of plants and then basically being grouped together?
Hi Hanie, I am following your instructions on the build for the Ikea Milsbo wide cabinet. One thing I’ll note is that the barrina T5 grow lights no longer stick to the magnets, I believe they stopped making the outer material out of metal, luckily it comes with metal clips so I was able to get the magnet to stick to those. One thing you didn’t mention is if you’re using a humidifier in the milsbo wide. Is the humidity just natural offset from watering the plants? Thank you! I really like the ease of putting this cabinet together, many of the other builds require drilling and a ton of modifications, this build allows the cabinet to be reverted back to normal easily (though I doubt I’d ever do that 🙂 )
I’ve got 6 cats and a dog, I would love to have plants all through my house, but many of them are toxic, and even if they aren’t my cats like to eat any plant around. I live in florida so most of them are happy outside, but I think I’m gonna get a couple cabinets for my nicer plants so I can have them indoors.
Your set ups are magnificent; so clean and sleek and beautiful. Now you must have extension cords, because I don’t see a way to get the plugs through the cracks of the doors, since you didn’t drill a hole, and nor did I. So wondering how you managed your cords, if you don’t mind sharing, I would surely appreciate!
Thank you for informative article. I just bought Milsbo tall and waiting delivery. this article helps me a lot!! one more question, Is one fan on top of Milsbo tall enough? I am not sure i missed it in article or its actually just one. please help. Thank you and look forward to your greenhouse update soon.
Thank you for sharing this info and the links for items. I have been trying to figure out how I can keep my plants alive and provide better temperature conditions. I will be looking into all the details you mentioned and trying this out. I love having plants and flowers in my space. Also where is the cat chair that you showed in the beginning of the article? I think my little kitty would love that seat!