Soil

• Using traditional chemical fertilizers to enhance the quality of soil requires a great deal of fossil fuel use. Oil and nitrogen are both used to create most types of fertilizer, and the fertilizers need to be reapplied periodically. Creating soil that manages itself will remove the necessity of using chemical fertilizers.
  According to Washington State University, making a worm bin--a compost bin that can be used indoors--can create rich, healthy soil.
  
  

Insects

• To create a sustainable indoor greenhouse, insects are necessary. Insects pollinate plants, and certain types of insects, such as ladybugs, are very important for biodiversity and reducing the presence of pests, according to Cornell University. Pests in a greenhouse can destroy many plants and require oil-intensive pesticides to destroy. Utilizing biological pest control helps keep pest problems under control and makes a greenhouse sustainable.
  
  

Plants

• Traditional greenhouses often grow specific types of plants in their own potted area. In showcase greenhouses, this is the best way to display each type of plant. For a sustainable greenhouse, it is important to plant things in a way that benefits the greenhouse as a whole. Permaculture varies the types of plants used and plants them in proximity to one another in order to increase the growing potential of each plant.
  
  

Permaculture

• Permaculture is a movement that incorporates traditional gardening methods with a design based on nature. Some plants are used to maintain and derive nutrients from deep within the soil, while others produce fruit and nuts for food. Additionally, according to Michigan State University, adding chickens to a greenhouse can raise the temperature during the winter months. Permaculture greenhouses contribute to the sustainability of the process.
  
  

Planters

• Changing the type of planters used can help create sustainability. Many permaculture greenhouses plant directly on the soil at ground level without using tables and planters. This not only increases the amount of available space for planting, it also removes the need for planters. Planters made of plastic use a great deal of oil and fossil fuels in their production and distribution, as do many other plastic gardening products. Reducing dependence on these products can help contribute to a sustainable greenhouse.