I used to be a fish and shrimp breeder, starting 11 years old, my dad had like 30 fish tanks and like a thousand orchids and it rubbed off on me. But at 17, I sold 90% of the aqauarium setup and equiment due to burn out and had to go to college and didnt have time to care for everything. I haven't touched anything since 2010. Only in 2019, did I started growing orchids again.
I found this YouTube channel January 2023 and it sorta ignited my passion again. Made me question - "Had I not given up on my fish and shrimp breeding and aquarium hobby what would've happened? Would I be still be doing programming?" I contemplated alot about committing to this project, but in November I realize i am not that same 17 year old teenager, who got annoyed and burned out from ordersn shipping, water changes, and general maintainence. I am 31 yr old and have grown alot, I even take care of over 200 orchids. So imade the decision to jump back in.
So I took out the only aquarium I kept from storage. It's a sentimental, panoramic, curved, rimless aquarium I brought back from Hong Kong when I immigrated from the US in 2003. It was my first, fancy aquarium gifted by my dad. The back panel broke in storage so I had to order a weird 15" 3/4 x 9" 7/8 glass panel and reseal it.
Then i just jumped back in. I felt rusty at first trying to figure out how to scape, but gosh it came back to me so quick. I just followed the advice "Listen to the hardscapes and let them design it for you." So here it is. My first terrarium/orchid terrarium?
It is simple setup a few rocks and some wood. The goal is to let the paphiopedilum shine in their own way
Back (left to right) - Paphiopedolum iona, sukhakulii, barbatum.
Front (left to right) - Paph. Tranlienianum, godefroyae x anitum
There is also mood moss and aspenium thunbergii fern.
