The sunniest part of my living space is near the front door. That. coupled with the fact that I like to keep things off the floor for easier cleaning, means most of my plants are there and some are hanging. In winter though it can get a bit chilly. The zippered hanging plant protector works as an indoor hothouse for one or more plants, keeps the plants from getting bumped into when people come and go and protects them from pet attacks. Plants are still easy to access for watering and it can all be stored flat when not required.

This Instructable uses a repurposed lampshade frame, with the idea that later a light fixture and small light could be incorporated if more heat and/or a grow light were needed. For my space, sunllight alone keeps it warm. Since I live in Europe, items available locally are shown along with metric measures. Calculated imperial measurements are also included.

Supplies

The supplies and sizes used are indicative. They can be changed depending on the size desired. In parenthesis I've indicated possible substitutes.

100cm x 70cm (39.3" x 27.5"), acetate sheet, width greater than the circumference of the rigid frame
20cm (7.8") diameter rigid frame, from a lamp shade (an embroidery hoop could be used)
100cm (39.3") zipper, the length of the acetate sheet
60cm (23.6") zipper, the width of the acetate sheet
glue appropriate for materials used (alternatives are needle and thread, double sided tape)

Step 1: Measure

3cm (1.18") width of zippers
- 1cm (0.4") on each side of the zippers will be used for fastening, leaving the middle 1cm (0.4") to be accounted for in the circumference.
- Circumference of 63cm (24.8") - 1cm (0.4") of zipper bridges two acetate sheet sides = 62cm (24.4") width needed for sheet.
- For the height of the sheet, the extra 1cm (0.4") is immaterial.
The longer zipper is 100cm (39.3") in length with an excess of 3cm (1.18") of material on one end which is immaterial.
The shorter zipper is 60cm (23.6") but has 3cm (1.18") of excess material on one end so will cover the frame entirely.

Step 2: Cut

Cut the acetate sheet to the width needed, 62cm (24.4") from the 70cm (27.5") side. The length of 100cm (39.3") will be left as is.

OPTIONAL: Cut out a top cover if desired. Here, one of three pieces of acetate is cut out of the acetate piece cut away previously. It is to be placed on the top to prevent dust and dirt from entering. It also helps retain heat.

Step 3: Fix

Using glue (or alternative) fix the zippers to both long sides and one short side (width) of the acetate sheet.

Be careful that both zippers start at the same corner. This is more important for the long vertical zipper because it should be at the bottom when "zipped up" or closed.
The shorter zipper around the top might be better in the opposite direction, finishing in this corner where the other starts, for a left handed person.
Keep the glue away from the teeth of the zipper and leave enough space so that the sheet does not interfere with the zipper.

Fix one half of the longer zipper to one of the longer sides of the acetate sheet. After checking to make sure placement is correct, fix the other half of the longer zipper to the other longer side of the sheet.

Fix one half of the shorter zipper to the "top", the shorter side of the acetate sheet where the longer zipper begins (if fixing counterclock-wise as shown).

Fix the other half of the shorter zipper to the rigid frame after checking to make sure placement is correct.

Step 4: Zip & Hang

After the glue has drived the only thing to do is zip the zippers and you have a transparent cylindrical tube of acetate to protect your plants.

My first plant is threaded thru the hole in the top so the protector hangs off the supports of the top pot. Additional pots can be hung under the one above.

Watering: Simply unzip the side, water, close the zip again.

Storage: When not needed, the acetate sheet can be unzipped from the top piece, the rigid frame, and stored flat. If the rigid frame is not used to hang the plants from, it too can be removed and stored flat.