Desktop Vivariums

After two years of development, our Desktop Vivariums (also known as the Miniature Orchid Desktop Vivarium) were first available for pre-order on Kickstarter.com, where we sought funding for the equipment needed to be able to make these vivariums faster, with less waste, and at a higher quality for a reasonable price. 

We are now proud to offer our Desktop Vivariums on our website!  There are several different options available - buying a vivarium by itself, as a kit with background and substrate, or as a complete kit with orchid, background and substrate.  Click on links below for more information!

8" Desktop Vivarium Options

12" Desktop Vivarium Options

  • 12" Nature Emulating Desktop Vivarium - coming soon!
  • 12" Nature Emulating Desktop Vivarium with Decor Package - coming soon!
  • 12" Miniature Orchid Desktop Vivarium Kit - coming soon!

Are you interested in a custom size?  E-mail us at adminATbiovivara.com (insert @ in place of AT) for a quote on your custom enclosure!

Why a Desktop Vivarium?

The design for our desktop vivariums started with a problem, well two problems really: a "black" thumb and lack of time.  Rachel (co-founder of BioVivara) wanted to be able to collect and enjoy orchids, but as a busy professional and mom, she didn't have a lot of time to devote to this time-intensive hobby.  She had tried to keep a Phalaenopsis purchased from a big-box store in the early 2000's, but it inevitably died due to the environmental challenges often found in apartment living.

A small vivarium that could be placed on a dresser, bookshelf or desk was the perfect solution because it was attractive, safe and low maintenance.  And so, the Miniature Orchid Desktop Vivarium was developed alongside the larger Rainforest Emulating Vivariums.

How Does it Work?

The biggest challenges we've found in keeping plants are creating an environment in which the plant naturally thrives.  In our homes and offices temperatures and humidity levels may not be what a plant needs, or the temperature/humidity levels fluctuate so much that the plant becomes stressed.  Our desktop vivariums allow plant owners to recreate the environmental factors needed to ensure their plants thrive instead of merely survive.  They do this by creating a "flow through" system that controls humidity, temperature and air movement while allowing a moderate pass-through of air from outside the vivarium.  You can read more about why this system is ideal by reading our series on The Ideal Vivarium.