Anyone with a green thumb knows that a mini greenhouse is a worthy investment if you want your plants to thrive.
While there are already some things to consider when having houseplants, limited space is something you may not be able to circumvent.
With mini-greenhouses, the main issues are the amount of space required to have one, or maybe you don’t have enough plants to deem it necessary.
Greenhouse innovation has come a long way, making them more compact without sacrificing their impact.
With this list of the best small greenhouses, you can maximize your space and provide the best care for whatever plants you have.
If you’re in the market for the best small greenhouses, take a look at our selection. We hand-picked and tested our top 5 along with 2 honorable mentions.
Our Top Picks
| Product | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|
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Best Overall: Nova Microdermabrasion Mini Greenhouse | Great for smaller plants and seedlings. Sturdy and spacious design can fit multiple small plants on its 4 shelves. | Check Price |
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Best Moveable Greenhouse: Home-Complete Mini Greenhouse | Cover works well, has wheels for transporting the whole structure together, and has 4 removable shelves. | Check Price |
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Best Indoor/Outdoor Option: Educational Insights GreenThumb Greenhouse | Possibly the most versatile mini greenhouse out of the list. The size and space is the best combo if you need to move your plants in a pinch. | Check Price |
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Best For Smaller Or Fewer Plants: Zenport Mini Clear Greenhouse | A truly mini greenhouse. This is a mini balcony greenhouse that fits practically anywhere. | Check Price |
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Best Hard-Cover Greenhouse: Ikea White Greenhouse | You can’t go wrong with IKEA products when on a budget. This white mini greenhouse is perfect for indoor gardening. | Check Price |
How We Chose the Best Small Greenhouse
There are several main characteristics that are needed to create a high-quality mini greenhouse.
We understand that everyone’s needs and yards are different, but we took the most generally important aspects into our consideration and ranking.
Attributes such as material quality, durability, weather resistance, and efficient design are all makings of a top-tier greenhouse.
It may be even harder to include these important factors when constructing a compact version.
Another characteristic we looked at is weight. Although it seems like a trivial trait, weight is sometimes synonymous with quality.
The heavy-duty materials on the best mini greenhouses tend to be longer-lasting, more resistant to weather and wind, and better use of your money.
Last but not least is planting space. We need our mini greenhouses to be small enough to fit in the space we have while making as much space possible for the plants.
Interior space varies from greenhouse to greenhouse. It usually depends on how many shelves they have, but in some cases, some mini greenhouses will have no shelves at all.
Instead, they’re more suited for larger plants and pots or customized shelving.
Read our related article on Rooftop Gardens and their benefits. Rooftop gardens are a great alternative to greenhouses if you have a rooftop space or are living in a community of apartment dwellers.
Best Small Greenhouses Reviewed
1. Best Overall: Nova Microdermabrasion Mini Greenhouse
Product Ratings
| Affordability | 4/5 |
| Durability | 4/5 |
| Effectiveness | 5/5 |
| Sizing | 5/5 |
| Quality | 4/5 |
Sizes: 27″ x 19″ x 63″ | Plant Space: 1,836 square inches | Brand: Nova Microdermabrasion | Weight: 10.2 pounds | Type: Tall, four-tiered Greenhouse | Material: Polyethylene
What We Liked
- Plenty of space inside
- Zippered roll-up door
- Comes with two covers for different temperatures
- Shelves are removable if you want to cater towards larger plants
What We Didn’t Like
- Can not hold too much weight
- Parts are not very weather resistant
This 4-tier mini greenhouse from Nova was definitely a contender for our top spot. It’s very affordable and spacious, allowing for many lightweight seedlings or succulents to thrive in the vertical space.
With a little bit of customization, you can even fit some of your larger plants inside (preferably on the lower rungs).
NOTE: Be careful not to overload it as it doesn’t support that much weight.
This mini greenhouse places more in the heavyweight section of small greenhouses, but it should still be tied down.
The choice of having two covers helps it weather harsh conditions, but high winds can still pose a threat, so anchor it firmly in your outdoor space to keep plants safe.
See Price on Amazon2. Best Moveable Greenhouse: Home-Complete Mini Greenhouse
Product Ratings
| Affordability | 3/5 |
| Durability | 4/5 |
| Effectiveness | 4/5 |
| Sizing | 5/5 |
| Quality | 4/5 |
Sizes: 27″ x 16″ x 63″ | Plant Space: 2,052 square inches | Brand: Home-Complete | Weight: 12.5 pounds | Type: Tall, four-tiered greenhouse | Material: Molded Plastic
What We Liked
- Plenty of space inside the mini greenhouse
- The cover is thick and durable for protecting young plants
- It has wheels for easy transport
What We Didn’t Like
- Steel shelves make it a little heavy
- Prone to rusting and warping
Easily the most spacious entry on this list, this small greenhouse is as close as one can get to shedding its “mini” label.
Thankfully, most of the space comes in height as there are four tiers in this mini greenhouse.
That potentially allows for plenty of plants to find a home there and gives space to protect plants throughout the growing season.
They’ll also be shielded from weather as the molded plastic cover is pretty thick.
While the greenhouse can be a little heavy, which partly depends on how many plants you can fit in, wheels on the bottom make it easy for transport.
There are downsides to this portable mini-greenhouse, though.
The steel parts of the greenhouse aren’t well galvanized and tend to rust and warp when exposed to the elements too much.
We also had to remove the shelving to move the whole structure because they don’t stay in place.
TIP: One thing we ended up doing was tying the shelves down using the zip ties they provided. With enough preparation, this can be your most invaluable garden asset.
See Price on Amazon3. Best Indoor/Outdoor Option: Educational Insights GreenThumb Greenhouse
Product Ratings
| Affordability | 4/5 |
| Durability | 4/5 |
| Effectiveness | 4/5 |
| Sizing | 3/5 |
| Quality | 4/5 |
Sizes: 19″ x 36″ x 38″ | Plant Space: 1,368 square inches | Brand: Educational Insights | Weight: 8 pounds | Type: Medium, two-tiered greenhouse | Material: Plastic
What We Liked
- Sturdy overall construction to protect tender plants and seedlings
- Fits well with most décor due to the simple design
- Clear cover lets in bright light
What We Didn’t Like
- Zipper is so tight it can tear away
- Might take two people to transport inside/outside
The first takeaway from this greenhouse is its cute design. Educational Insights’ products are designed to be displayed in the classroom, but this could fit anywhere.
Its resemblance to a tiny house is perfect in any room and performs its function well. There’s enough floor space to fit more than a handful of plants in there, too.
One of its primary highlights is the plastic cover that fits over the plants. It not only shields it from the elements, but it also displays and frames the plants well.
We like the PVC cover because it helps keep humidity levels stable while growing seedlings.
NOTE: The snugness is great, but the zippers are a little fragile in comparison.
If you decide to purchase this greenhouse, be sure to keep that in mind, as you might accidentally tear them if you tug on them too hard to zip them up.
See Price on Amazon4. Best For Smaller/Fewer Plants: Zenport Mini Clear Greenhouse
Product Ratings
| Affordability | 5/5 |
| Durability | 5/5 |
| Effectiveness | 4/5 |
| Sizing | 3/5 |
| Quality | 4/5 |
Sizes: 17″ x 10″ x 12″ | Plant Space: 160 square inches | Brand: Zenport | Weight: 2 pounds | Type: Short, single-tiered greenhouse | Material: Plastic
What We Liked
- Suitable for smaller and fewer plants or exotic plants
- Easy to assemble and disassemble
What We Didn’t Like
- Doesn’t have much versatility compared to other options
Another entry for compact indoor/outdoor greenhouses, this Zenport greenhouse can be your ideal option if you really want to care for your only-child plant (or a few very small plants).
We love this for starting seeds in the spring because the 160 square inch space is best suited for seedlings, herbs, or succulents.
While it is limited in space, this miniature greenhouse can fit anywhere, and its portability ensures that you can use it year round.
You can take the waterproof cover off, take the shelf out, and fold the frame.
BONUS: It also comes with zip ties to hold it down if you want to take it outside.
See Price on Amazon5. Best Hard-cover Greenhouse: Ikea White Greenhouse
Product Ratings
| Affordability | 5/5 |
| Durability | 4/5 |
| Effectiveness | 4/5 |
| Sizing | 3/5 |
| Quality | 4/5 |
Sizes: 13″ x 8″ x 18″ | Plant Space: 136 square inches | Brand: IKEA | Weight: 7 pounds | Type: Tall, hardcover greenhouse | Material: Plastic
What We Liked
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Great for indoor uses
- Tabletop greenhouses are chic and practical
What We Didn’t Like
- Not very well-sealed for climate control
- Pretty fragile in some areas
IKEA is known for its affordable, serviceable products with simple designs. Their greenhouse is a non-traditional white color that fits most households.
It fits best sitting atop a windowsill or a kitchen counter displaying your herbs and veggies.
This is the best mini greenhouse for protecting plants like succulents and herbs.
It fits in small spaces, allowing light and humidity levels to remain stable while capturing UV rays to make happy, healthy indoor plants.
IKEA’s white greenhouse is also praised for its hard-cover exterior. It’s sturdy enough to protect the plants from unassuming pets but also needs to be handled carefully.
NOTE: When transporting the structure, lifting from the bottom is advised.
We also noted that it can be a little loosely sealed in some areas, making it a little lacking in retaining moisture.
This is a nice little greenhouse for seedlings, herbs, and tropical plants.
See Price on AmazonComparison Chart
| Products | Best Overall | Best Moveable | Best Indoor/Outdoor Option | Best For Smaller/Fewer Plants | Best Hard-Cover Greenhouse |
| Overall Rating | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Affordability | 4/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Durability | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Effectiveness | 5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Sizing | 5/5 | 5/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Quality | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
The Winner
While a lot of the overall scores ended up being razor-thin close, we ultimately decided that the Nova Microdermabrasion Mini Greenhouse was the winner out of all of the best small greenhouses available.
We like the reinforced plastic cover, and the four-shelf model is great to have if you are a beginner or master gardener.
If you have a lot of smaller plants, this will be a great place to put them, and they’ll easily thrive.
Beginner gardeners will most likely have only a few plants and will be able to put a few on each tier, framing them nicely and providing them enough space to breathe.
It functions well, but you can also take out some of the shelves to make room for larger plants. Nova’s customization capabilities put it over the top of the other choices.
Other than the fact that you can use it how you’d like, it functions well on its own. Excelling at your primary purpose is the most important in crowning the winner.
How to Choose the Best Small Greenhouses
The choice of small greenhouses is entirely up to you. Given the selections we have provided, there still may be some indecision.
The top choice might not be for you, given your wants and needs.
Paying attention to these aspects will narrow down your choices and make the purchasing process easier.
How Much Space You Have
If you’re reading through this article, chances are you don’t have enough space for a traditional greenhouse, which is perfectly fine.
Maximizing the space you have for your plants is important for any plant-lover.
Plants look great, improve your air quality, and host plenty of additional benefits.
If you do have more space and want to give your plant babies some extra love, treat them with an indoor composting bin.
Before even looking at options, the first step in planning is knowing how large your space is.
Knowing the measurements of the space you can dedicate to a small greenhouse in all three dimensions will save you time, money, and wasted effort.
How Much Space You Need
This part is dependent on how many plants you have or how many plants you plan on storing in the greenhouse.
Not every plant needs a greenhouse and some of your plants may differ in size.
Another thing to consider is the sturdiness of the greenhouse.
If you have a ton of plants that need the protection of a greenhouse, getting one with multiple and/or sturdy shelves may be the way to go.
Removable shelves are another perk to look out for if you have some taller plants that take up a lot of space.
How Protected Your Plants Need to Be
In addition to having distinct spacing needs, plants thrive and suffer in different weather conditions.
Know what your plants need in terms of light exposure, airflow, and humidity before purchasing your small greenhouse.
Greenhouse covers made from certain materials such as polycarbonate plastic might be more suitable for your plants and climate.
Here is a guide to different greenhouse cover materials and their strengths.
While these covers can be made of different materials, they are primarily plastic which is not environmentally friendly.
If you want to help offset your carbon footprint, take a look at these rainwater harvesting kits.
Honorable Mentions
Here’s a brief look at the 2 options we tested that didn’t make our list.
1. Quictent Mini Greenhouse – Considered for Best Overall
Although this greenhouse looks huge according to the product pictures, it is not as large as it looks.
There’s no doubt that it is best suited for outside use, but you must weigh it down. Even in this case, it is too lightweight and thin to make it to the top of this list.
Consider buying the Nova Microdermabrasion Mini Greenhouse or Home-Complete Mini Greenhouse, which occupies similar spaces.
2. Mini Lop Pop Up Greenhouse – Considered for Smaller/Fewer Plants
The Mini Lop greenhouse is a good option for a small batch of plants. It is considerably cheap, which also makes it a budget-friendly contender.
It can be popped over taller plants to protect them against an early or late frost, which we love.
However, the way it pops up and down is fast but it can be hard to fold up and put away. Also, the fabric seams can get moldy if it is folded up and not completely dry.
If you have the budget, the Zenport Mini Clear Greenhouse is still our favorite in this category.
