Greenhouse Cabinet Accessories: Top Picks for Organizing and Enhancing Your Indoor Garden
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Transform your indoor gardening experience with the top greenhouse cabinet accessories available on Amazon. Whether you're looking to maximize space, control humidity levels, or provide optimal lighting for your plants, these accessories are essential for creating a successful indoor garden cabinet. Join us as we explore a curated selection of must-have items that will help you organize, enhance, and enjoy your indoor plant collection to the fullest. All of the recommended items have been used in either my Ikea MILSBO (Tall), and my Ikea FABRIKÖR. However, any cabinet can be turned into a greenhouse cabinet with a little creativity!
Switching Glass Shelves for Wire Pantry Shelves
Swapping out the original glass shelves in your greenhouse cabinet for wire pantry shelves offers improved airflow and drainage for your plants. Wire shelves allow water to drain freely and promote air circulation around the pots, reducing the risk of waterlogged roots and mold growth. They are also lightweight and easy to clean, making maintenance hassle-free. Additionally, wire shelves can be adjusted to accommodate plants of different heights and sizes, providing flexibility and versatility in cabinet layout.
I purchased my pantry shelves from Home Depot, if you choose this option make sure your local store has the proper equipment to cut the shelves as not all stores do. Just be sure to know the proper dimensions of what you need, and they’ll be able to cut your shelves to size in-store. If you’re looking for pre-cut pantry shelves, start you search here on Amazon.
Grow Lights
Incorporating grow lights into your greenhouse cabinet is essential for providing supplemental lighting to your plants, especially during the darker months or in low-light environments. Grow lights mimic natural sunlight and ensure that plants receive the right spectrum of light for optimal growth and photosynthesis. This is particularly beneficial for tropical or high-light plants that require more intense light levels to thrive indoors.
In my Ikea MILSBO and FABRIKÖR, I use 1 ft. Barrina T5 Grow Lights. However, I have to connect two lights together to cover the entire width of my shelves. I chose the 1 ft size because they were running a deal at the time and I was balling on a budget. The 2 ft. Barrina T5 Grow Lights would’ve fit perfectly in my MILSBO, but the 1 ft. option was perfect for the FABRIKÖR.
These lights are offered in yellow, pinkish white, and white tones. I opted for the yellow lights because they are a little bit softer. They are also more tolerable if you’re going to be putting your green house cabinet in a place in your home that is used frequently.
To attach the grow lights to the wire pantry shelves, I used the zip ties that came with the grow lights and positioned them directly in the middle of the shelves. To attach the grow lights to the top and side of my cabinet I used these Velcro Command Strips.
Weatherstripping on the Sides
Installing weatherstripping on the sides of your greenhouse cabinet helps create a more controlled environment by sealing gaps and preventing drafts. This improves insulation and humidity retention, which is crucial for maintaining stable growing conditions for sensitive plants. Weatherstripping also helps conserve energy by reducing heat loss, making your indoor garden more efficient and sustainable.
I used this Weatherstripping from Amazon. It has a peel-off back and can be easily cut to the exact size you need to seal off the doors of your cabinet.
Tip: Seal off the ends of your pieces of weatherstripping with hot glue or super glue. If left open, the tubes of this stripping could become the perfect refuge for fungus gnats and other unwanted pests!
Hygrometer
Adding a hygrometer into your greenhouse cabinet is essential for monitoring and maintaining optimal humidity levels for your indoor plants. This device measures relative humidity, allowing you to gauge the moisture content in the air surrounding your plants. By regularly checking the humidity levels with a hygrometer, you can ensure that your plants receive the right amount of moisture to thrive. Maintaining appropriate humidity is especially crucial for tropical plants that require higher humidity levels. With a hygrometer, you can make informed adjustments to ventilation, watering frequency, or use of humidifiers to create a comfortable and conducive environment for your plants. This helps prevent issues like dryness or excess moisture, fostering healthy growth and overall well-being for your indoor garden.
I use the Govee Indoor Hygrometer, which connects right to an app on my phone. From the app I can track the humidity over a period of time, as well as set alerts for when my humidity or temperature reach a certain minimum or maximum.
Small Fans
Putting small fans into your greenhouse cabinet enhances air circulation and reduces the risk of fungal diseases and stagnant air pockets. Fans help distribute heat and humidity evenly throughout the cabinet, creating a more uniform microclimate for your plants. Improved airflow also strengthens plant stems and encourages robust growth, resulting in healthier and happier indoor plants.
I use these USB Fans from Amazon, they come in a pack of two and can be easily zip-tied to the wire grid shelves. I find these to be better than the re-chargeable options because you don’t have to worry about them losing charge in the middle of a vacation.
Tip: Planning on putting fans at the very top of your greenhouse? Most USB cord aren’t long enough for the larger-sized cabinets, so try this USB Extension Cord.
Surge Protector with App-Controlled Timer:
A surge protector with an app-controlled timer is a game-changer for greenhouse cabinet management. This innovative device allows you to schedule and automate lighting cycles or ventilation fans directly from your smartphone. It protects your valuable equipment from power surges while providing convenient remote control and monitoring capabilities, ensuring that your plants receive consistent care even when you're away.
App-Controlled surge protectors definitely changed the game for me. Based on the plants in your cabinet, you can set the timers for any amount of time you want. It has really made this aspect of plant care more hands-off, allowing me to focus on other parts of plant care.
I’m currently using a HubSpace Smart Surge Protector, which is currently only offered at Home Depot. I opted for this option as it allows me to control and set timers for individual outlets, meaning that if I have multiple lights plugged into this surge protector, I can put them on individualized timers based on my plants’ needs.
Here is a comparable product, the Kasa Smart Plug Power Strip offered on Amazon.
Wire Grid with Shelves for Storage and Organization:
Incorporating a wire grid with shelves into your greenhouse cabinet is an excellent way to maximize space and organize your plant collection efficiently. The wire grid allows you to display and arrange potted plants at different heights, optimizing light exposure for each plant. You can easily hang small to medium-sized pots on the grid, creating a visually appealing vertical garden within your cabinet. The shelves provide stable platforms for larger pots or decorative plant accessories, keeping everything tidy and accessible. This setup not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of your greenhouse cabinet but also improves air circulation around plants, promoting healthier growth and reducing the risk of moisture-related issues. It's a practical and space-saving solution for showcasing your indoor garden in style.
I used this Wire Grid and the 4-Pack Wire Shelves, both available on Amazon. I combined 3 of the wire grids with zip-ties, making them almost fit the entire length of the MILSBO cabinet. I attached the wire grid to the cabinet via zip-ties through the two holes at the top of the cabinet.
Transparent Plastic Pots:
Opting for see-through plastic pots for your greenhouse cabinet offers several advantages. Transparent pots allow you to monitor root growth and soil moisture levels without disturbing the plant. They also provide better aeration and drainage compared to traditional clay pots, reducing the risk of overwatering and root rot. Additionally, clear pots are lightweight and easy to move around, making them ideal for rearranging plants within the cabinet, as well preventing too much weight on the wire shelves.
For my smaller plants and cuttings, I use these Variety Pack Transparent Planters, which feature pots in a 3.5”, 4”, and 5” size. For my larger plants, I like to use the 1 Gallon Reinforced Clear Nursery Pots.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.