Cheap PC case grow box for less than $20
Jan 7, 2008 indoor grow box
I enjoy when I can be rewarded by overcoming mother nature, so when my 6 year old mentioned she wanted to figure out why strawberries will not grow in the winter for her science project I couldn’t have been prouder. Once she determined the reason was because it was colder and the sun wasn’t up as much, she suggested using lights to help them get more light and warmth.
The next obvious step was to create a grow box, now if this wasn’t cheap vegetable gardener I would just buy a commercial grow box, but by now you should know better than that 
Looking through my garage I found my first victim, an old PC case. After a few screws and a few drilled out rivets I had a good structure for the grow box. Next I added some styrofoam insulation which I got at HD on all 4 sides. Also at HD I picked up a cheap extension cord, lamp timer, and a socket plug adapters that allowed me to plug right into the extension cord. Followed by a small hole in the top and about 45 minutes my work is done.
In January we had a strange couple weeks of 20 degree days so I also added an incandescent build for some extra light but more importantly little extra heat. Which I made from a old lamp taking up space in the garage. With all the sides up the box is able to maintain a 70-75 degree temperature even with the chilly conditions in the garage.
After a little over a week we seemed to be getting some good results with our first blossom on the strawberry plant my daughter chose under snow in our garden.
| Old PC Case | $ 0.00 |
| Extension Cord | $ 1.25 |
| 2 – Socket adapters | $ 5.00 |
| Lamp timer | $ 4.00 |
| 2 – compact fluorescent blubs | $ 7.00 |
| Small sheet of insulated Styrofoam | $ 2.50 |
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| Total | $ 19.75 |
Some of our other grow boxes
Fully automated computerized grow box (Project Everbearing) Beta 1
Cheap LED Light and Grow Box
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February 11th, 2008 at 12:52 AM
that is SERIOUSLY cool. although my computer loving (non-gardening) OH is looking on in horror…
you made my day! thankyou!
February 11th, 2008 at 7:05 AM
If it makes him feel any better the computer was an eight years old and lived a good life.
February 14th, 2008 at 8:32 PM
What a great way to reuse an old PC. Maybe I should get a new desktop PC so I can make my old one into a grow box?
March 13th, 2008 at 8:52 AM
Great idea!! I am the same way, don’t let anything go to waste. If it is broken, use it for something else!!
March 17th, 2008 at 11:38 AM
This is an awesome project. Nice work. Just be sure to run Norton before putting your strawberries in there. Wouldn’t want them to catch a virus. Ba-dum-bum. Thank you, I’ll be here all week.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:20 PM
You left out the cost of the pottery and potting soil.
March 25th, 2008 at 6:52 AM
Well I was just pricing the grow box not the contents, ironically I used dirt from the garden which the strawberry plant was currently growing and a pot recycled from a plant we got as a gift.
June 12th, 2009 at 11:23 AM
It works great for growing marijuana as well.
June 30th, 2009 at 4:56 PM
usefull 4 ganja
February 1st, 2010 at 10:27 PM
I saw this and thought it was so cool and so simple that I made one. I just wanted to tell you, It work’s great.
February 4th, 2010 at 8:54 AM
Glad it worked for you. Though I have upgraded mine some over the past few years this one work great though I did find I filled it up a little too quickly.