Shed Greenhouse Project

References

• 🌱plant_terrarium_project
• 🌱how_to_grow_moss

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Stuff

• Lights
• Heat mat
• Humidifier
• USB/micro fan
• Timer plug
• Sphagnum moss
• Coco coir
• Perlite
• Activated charcoal
• Neem oil
• Water pump? +? misting system

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Setup Context

Currently have a shed, where I’m going to be growing plants.

What I’m going to be making/growing:

• Terrariums (priority 1)
• Moss (priority 1)
• Succulents (priority 2)
• Mushrooms (priority 3)

Currently have 2 rudimentary greenhouses.

I live in a zone 8A, Netherlands.

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Current Tasks

• Heating pad/heat pipes
• Misting system
  • Placed a water bucket under it ✅ 2026-03-19
• Fan
  • Buy
  • Install
• Control system for automatic adjustment
  • Research
• Hygrometer
  • Rudimentary hygrometer ✅ 2026-03-19
    • Buy ✅ 2026-03-19
    • Install ✅ 2026-03-19
  • Electric hygrometer
• Thermometer
  • Electric thermometer
  • Rudimentary thermometer ✅ 2026-03-19
    • Buy ✅ 2026-03-17
    • Install ✅ 2026-03-19
• Grow lamps or LED lamps ✅ 2026-04-22 — bought these
  • Weak lamps (insufficient) ✅ 2026-03-19
• Timer for switching off electricity ✅ 2026-04-10

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Progress

Entry

Finally got the LED lights I wanted (need to paste link here).

Entry

Had a very nice talk with a coworker of mine who is (and was?) really into growing specific rare plants. He knows how to build a terrarium. Apparently I was researching in the wrong way I was researching greenhouses and reverse engineering, when I should have looked at the paludarium side of things: knowing how to build it and what techniques go in there.

Entry

Finally bought timed switches that turn on at 08:00 and turn off at 20:00. The lamps are still too weak, need to buy better ones.

2026-04-15

Finally cleaned up the shed, can now use it for projects. Decided on building 2 climate greenhouses (buying one is like 1000 euro, don’t have that money). Brainstormed a general plan. Need to buy some things.

2026-04-16

Tried to find the stuff I need at Boerenbond Uden — they didn’t have anything, except a shitty hygrometer and basic thermometer. Bought 2 hygrometers and 2 thermometers. Tomorrow going to Intratuin.

2026-04-17

Went to Intratuin Veghel, also didn’t have anything. No lamps for plants, no grow lights, no heat lamps, no redlight, no LED lights. Then went to find heating-related stuff — none of that either. How do you not have a basic heat pad to grow seedlings? Also no cocos ground, not even the expanding ones. Only thing bought there was some moss, put in the greenhouse to test.

Went to the Action to buy some lamps and cocos ground instead.

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Research

Main Factors

• Temperature, light, humidity, airflow

Problems

Too cold in the shed

• Electric heating? Not precise enough
• Heat ‘lamp’?
• Heat pads?

Not enough light

• Cheap/efficient: LED lights
• Grow light maybe?

Air quality — not enough wind in the shed

• Electric fan? High electricity cost
• Microfan?

Insulation

• Cover the greenhouses in plastic sheets?

Secondary Factors

Measuring data

• Temperature, air quality

Energy problems (things need to be on all day)

• Get most efficient solution, reasonably priced

Night vs day automation

• Timed automatic off switch for electricity
• Possible sequence: on → redlight → grow lights → off → repeat
• Humidity controller
• Thermostat controller

Basic strategy: