Creating A Light Hut to Grow Plants

February 04, 2015

Creating A Light Hut to Grow Plants

Have you ever tried to grow plants in your class? They can take forever to sprout or nothing happens. Each classroom is different. Some classrooms have lots of windows, but they are drafty and too cold. Other classrooms have one window in a corner. Heat mats can help. Budgets never seem large enough to order mini-greenhouses.

We have a solution that is inexpensive and works better than anything we have used before. It is called a light hut. It works for the classroom and just as well for starting garden seeds indoors. My broccoli sprouted in 3 days!

A light hut provides just the right amount of heat and light seeds and plants. Seeds typically sprout in about 5-7 days.

As an elementary science lab teacher that only sees her students once a week that is perfect. We recommend watering them every other day, but not too much. You can also cover the containers with plastic wrap to keep the moisture in.

Different containers may work differently. Plastic yogurt cups are great! They hold in the moisture well. Remember to put holes in the bottom for drainage. Have your students test different containers. We found that Styrofoam gives great results. We did not have good results with peat moss because it dries out quickly. Use good dark soil.