How to Build a Terrarium for Orchids

Store bought terrariums come in a variety of shapes.

A terrarium is a glass enclosure used to grow plants. Orchids are high maintenance plants that need specific types of light exposure, humidity, and watering. The terrarium creates a small environment that the grower can control, making the orchids easier to keep healthy. You can easily build your own terrarium out of an old fish aquarium. Once you clean it, assembling the rest of the terrarium is simple. You do not even need to remove the orchids from their pots.

Things You'll Need

• Fresh water fish aquarium with lighted hood
• Soapy water
• White adhesive shelf paper
• Egg shell crate
• Razor or sharp knife
• Sphagnum moss
• Computer fan

Instructions

1. Remove the hood from the freshwater fish aquarium. Wash it out with hot, soapy water. Rinse the aquarium and turn it upside down to drip dry.

2. Turn the aquarium right-side up. If the aquarium is facing a window that provides direct sunlight, attach an adhesive-backed piece of white shelf paper to the side that faces the window. This will reflect the light and keep it from over-heating the orchids.

3. Cut a piece of egg-shell crating to the size of the interior of the aquarium. Lower the crating into the bottom of the aquarium.

4. Replace the lights in the aquarium hood with fluorescent tubes, if they are incandescent. Incandescent lights will provide too much heat.

5. Lower the orchids into the aquarium and cover the pots and egg-shell crating with sphagnum moss. Hang a computer fan from the side of the aquarium to provide air circulation. Put the hood in place.

References

• Clouds Orchids: Terrarium Orchid Growing
• Casa Sugar: How to Display Orchids in Glass Terrariums
• USBG: Enclosed Orchids