How to Build an Orchid Terrarium

Orchids have very specific growing requirements that encompass lighting, temperature, moisture, food and humidity. These environmental conditions may be hard to sustain for many orchid growers, unless they have a greenhouse or solarium. Terrarium growing provides a suitable habitat and allows viewing without changing the site or lighting. A terrarium basically functions as a miniature greenhouse and condenses the heat and humidity levels inside a glass enclosure. You can buy these or make your own. An old fish tank makes an excellent terrarium, and you can decorate it with mosses, ferns and other types of flora. Add a lizard or little frog, and you will have an entire tropical forest ecosystem in one small see-through container. An orchid terrarium is called an orchidarium.

Fish tank
Plexiglas
Tape measure
Indelible pen
Clamps
2 sawhorses
Jigsaw
Eye protection
Gravel
Fish tank aerator pump
Plastic tubing
Utility knife
Sphagnum moss
Water
Orchid
Driftwood or other natural support
Small ferns or moss

Instructions

- 1
  Measure a piece of Plexiglas on the top of the fish tank. Mark it so it is just wide enough to sit on top of the tank without assistance.
- 2
  Lay the Plexiglas across two sawhorses and clamp it on so it won't move. Use a jigsaw to cut the rectangle you marked off in Step 1. Next, use it to cut two vent lines into each side of the Plexiglas and a notch at the rear for electrical cords. Wear eye protection while using the saw.
- 3
  Lay a 3- to 4-inch layer of gravel on the bottom of the tank. Set an aerator on top of the gravel and run the cord out through the top of the tank. Attach a piece of tubing to the aerator just long enough to sit in the gravel and touch the bottom of the tank.
- 4
  Moisten sphagnum moss completely. Squeeze it out if it is soggy, and lay it over the top of the gravel in a thick layer of at least 3 inches. Place orchids in their pots in nests of sphagnum moss.
- 5
  Decorate the tank with pieces of wood on which mosses can grow or small ferns to camouflage the aerator. Place the lid on the terrarium after you have organized any greenery, and allow the cord for the aerator to trail out the notch in the back.
- 6
  Lift the lid when you want to mist the plants or water or feed your orchids. Once a month, remove everything and clean out the tank. Accumulated water on the bottom can cause a problem if you don't remove it.

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