Orchidaria: vivaria with orchids.

I created this blog to document the construction of my orchidaria. There are many words or terms, that have been used to describe similar or entirely different things such as orchidarium, terrarium, vivarium or vivaria or wardian case. I have been inspired and motivated to construct this project after looking at so many amazing and beautiful vivaria, vivariums, wardian cases, and terrariums. Additionally I have many orchids that could grow well in such environments, with careful planning and consideration of each orchids particular needs and requirements [temperature, humidity, lighting and so forth].

I've chosen to use the word orchidaria at this point because I believe it fits as a better description of what I am hoping to create but someone else might choose to call it a vivarium or one of the any other terms. So orchidaria is relative to me and possibly not to others.

The term orchidarium has baggage [see Wardian case (formerly orchidarium) article has moved...]. Also personally while the term orchidarium has been used [and may still be in use] to describe a growing 'chamber' [a fish tank perhaps] within which orchids [possibly other plants] are grown, to me it represents and describes something that is usually meant to be more practical and functional by having for example shelving on which orchids are placed within pots or hanging on mounts.

I see a wardian case as being practical and function and similar to an orchidarium.

Terrarium to me describes something that is not necessarily for orchids and potentially
fairly small, it just doesn't seem adequate.

Vivarium and vivaria to me technically describes something that could be a terrarium or wardian case or orchidarium but one that houses living animals such as frogs. My project will hopefully combine the functions and look of many of the vivariums that can be found at such places on the internet as www.dendroboard.com but I have not decided whether I will be adding any live animals and until or if I do, I will refer to my project as an orchidaria.

Ultimately I will be creating an environment primarily to grow orchids within which will look like and function as, a natural mini-ecosytem representing how these orchids might look in situ growing as they do in nature.