Acrylic
Inside a traditional, condensation filled, glass terrarium,
it’s impossible to enjoy your plants exquisite
colours and shapes.
The crystal clear dome of your biOrb AIR enables
you to enjoy every facet of the wonderful tropical
world you create.
But being perfectly suited to your home with its
award winning, chic, minimalist design is not
enough … how your biOrb AIR performs is equally
important
- it needs to have ‘functional beauty’.
Glass
For example, the biOrb AIR is made with acrylic
instead of glass.
Why?
Because Acrylic is incredibly strong.
What’s more, acrylic doesn’t have a green tint
like thick glass always does. And allows 23%
more light to pass through.
All this means the clarity of your biOrb AIR is
astonishing. Allowing you to savour even the
smallest detail of your planted world.
Quite frankly, old fashioned ‘bottle’ terrariums are a nuisance you can do without.
They’re not ideal for your plants. And they certainly don’t bring anything to the room you put them in.
However, your biOrb AIR’s ‘functional beauty’ uses technology to overcome all the problems associated with antiquated terrariums. It allows you to enjoy looking after and looking at your plants - not struggle to keep them.
Firstly, everything you need comes in the box.
With easy to follow instructions and numbered packs, your biOrb AIR is a cinch to setup.
Next landscape with your choice of décor and plants.
Finally, just plug it in and switch it on. Your biOrb AIR automatically creates the tropical conditions your new world needs to thrive.
Light from the integrated LED lights with full 24 hour cycle – this includes ‘sunrise’ and ‘sunset’
Water drawn up to the compost by the capillary matting – constantly hydrating without overwatering
Fresh air gently sucked in, circulated and expelled through the replaceable carbon filter – all by a whisper quiet fan
Humidity maintained at a tropical 75% - should it drop, a gentle mist hydrates your plants all the way to their roots
A discreet and easy to read indicator in the base lets you keep the water level perfect.
And - unless you’re keeping carnivorous plants like a Venus Fly Trap - your plants nutritional needs come from biOrb AIR’s Coir compost.
Coir compost is made from coconut husks – a waste product from the coconut industry.
Unlike traditional peat moss, Coir is a plentiful and sustainable resource.
Peat moss takes centuries to evolve. Then extracting it damages the fragile wetlands ecosystem – harming the plants and animal species only found in peat bogs.
Sadly this destruction of the world’s wetlands is proceeding at an alarming rate.
But grow tropical plants in your biOrb AIR and you can be sure you’re not causing any environmental damage.
But there are differences between the 2 models. Some of which may affect your choice.
For example, if space is a premium, the 50cm diameter of biOrb AIR 60 may be too big for you.
Finally, if you want simple ‘set and forget’ control, the biOrb AIR 30 with its remote control is the model you need.
The following table will make it easier for you to select the biOrb AIR that’s right for you.
| biOrb AIR 60 | biOrb AIR 30 | |
| Diameter (cm) | 50 | 30 |
| Integrated Ring of LED Lights | Yes | Yes |
| 24 Hour Light Cycle | Yes - 12 hour day with 'sunrise' and 'sunset' | Yes - selectable day length with 'sunrise' and 'sunset' |
| Colour | White / Black / Grey | White / Black / Grey |
| Whisper Quiet Fan | Yes | Yes |
| Replaceable Carbon Air Filter | Yes | Yes |
| Misting Unit | Yes – adjustable with boost | Yes – adjustable with boost |
| Water Reservoir | Yes | Yes |
| Water Level Indicator | Yes | Yes |
| Remote Control | No | Yes |
| Suitable for Tropical Plants | Yes | Yes |
| Suitable for Temperate Plants | Yes | Yes |
| Suitable for Semi-Arid Plants | No | Yes |
You can grow so many different varieties of plants in your biOrb AIR.
All you have to do is make sure they’re small plants which thrive in a tropical environment.
These can loosely split into 5 groups:
1. Foliage plants
Lots to choose from. Foliage plants are usually quite robust, low-level and slow growing.
You might like to consider:
Fittonia Skeleton bicolour
A stunning colour combination of a bright green leaf with red veins. Plant in small groups. Will spread but remains low growing.
Fittonia Red
Has narrower leaves and remains quite small. Best planted in small groups.
Fittonia Lemon
A citrus colour with wider leaves. This Fittonia can grow slightly larger.
Fittonia White
White veins on a dark green leaf. Low growing with a spreading habit. Plant in small groups.
Peperomia Rotundifolia
Vibrant green, round leaves. Works well for ground cover and infill. Like to creep with new growth being a brighter green.
Peperomia Angulata
Has dark green, striped, angular leaves. Good for ground cover and can be used as a feature plant.
Peperomia verticillata
The leaves form discs around the stems. Grows with a tumbling habit.
Peperomia mixed
The range of Peperomias is very extensive and varied - there’s a wide choice of leaf colours and shapes.
Ball / Pillow Moss
Use in groups or form into a larger single piece. Makes a nice edging detail. Good for creating a Japanese garden look.
2. Feature Plants
Larger plants but still slow growing. Use to create a focal point in your biOrb AIR, or for background.
Ficus Ginseng
Grows with some roots - aerial roots – exposed, enhancing their ‘jungle’ like quality. Should be pruned periodically to maintain size and shape.
Adiantum raddianum Fragrans (Maiden Hair Fern)
A small growing attractive plant with vibrant green leaves.
Adiantum tenerum Scutum Roseum
The new growth of this fern has a pink tinge.
Asparagus plumosus
Very fine bright green foliage, held from delicate branches forming many layers.
Asplenium antiquum (Birds-nest fern)
A slow growing plant with attractive bright green strap like leaves.
Cryptanthus mixed (red)
Small growing with irregular, spiny leaves. Can produce small flowers in the centre of the plant. Often develops side shoots which grow into new plants.
Cryptanthus mixed
Available in various shapes and sizes. Grow close to the ground and can be as small as 3 inches tall.
Neoregelia Fireball
Small growing with pink / purple flushed leaves. Can be grown in soil or on branches (epiphytically).
3. Orchids
Orchids are the most diverse species of plant on the planet. And are mostly found in tropical rain forests. Orchids either grow on the ground of as a parasite on trees (epiphytically).
Micro Phalaenopsis
A small variety ideal for your biOrb AIR. Grows epiphytically so should be planted with the roots semi exposed. Can be made to reflower.
Ceratostylis Retisquama
The plant has a rambling growth habit and leaves which are round on one side but flat on the other (semi-terete). Grows epiphytically or in free draining substrate. Produces a single, red-orange flower. Can be made to re-flower.
Haraella Ordorata
Miniature fan shaped plants with leaves about 4cm long and 1cm wide. Well grown plants frequently flower all year. The attractive, pleasant smelling, yellow and purple flowers are held away from the plant.
Psygmorchis pusilla
A miniature plant with leaves arranged in a fan shape. Produces a succession of yellow flowers held away from the plant.
Ornithidium Sophrontis
Compact with a creeping habit.
Ornithophora Radicans
A true miniature with delicate white & brown flowers and grass like leaves.
4. Tillandsia
Commonly known as ‘air plants’. Tillandsia mostly grow without soil as parasites on trees or other plants (epiphytically) - they don’t cause any harm to their host.
Tillandsia Cyanea
Has a tall bract sprouting from a cluster of leaves. The bract changes from green to bright pink when the plant flowers. Each flower is purple and has three petals. Petals may not last long, but the bract remains pink for many weeks.
Tillandsia Festucoides
Perfect for your biOrb AIR, this plant has long, grassy looking leaves.
Tillandsia Ionantha Rubra
Small plant producing a dense rosette of green leaves which take on a vivid red hue around flowering. Blooms are neon violet.
Tillandsia Brachycaulos x Abdita (with red floral tint)
Starts life with velvet like soft, dense green leaves. Colour changes to beautiful hues of pink and cardinal red as it starts to emit purple, pink, and yellow blooms.
Tillandsia Fillifolia
Small with many, very fine leaves in rosette.
Tillandsia Ionantha Fuego
Makes up for its small size with its intensely neon red colouration around flowering time. Blooms are deep, velvety purple.
Tillandsia Tricolor
Melanocrater
Gets its name from its multi-coloured flower stems. Elegant long, stiff leaves turn almost entirely red around flowering season.
5. Carnivorous plants
Many species of carnivorous plants flourish in a biOrb AIR.
But do remember they need insects for food.
Dionaea muscipula (Venus fly trap)
Probably the most famous carnivorous plant. Trap closes when an insect touches several of the small hairs on the inside. Traps only activate 3-4 times before turning black and dying.
Drosera Aliceae (Honey dew plant)
Leaves are covered with hairs, each one having a sticky dew drop to trap insects.
Pinquicula
Has bright green leaves arranged in a circle. Produces a succession of purple flowers held aloft on stems. Flowers exude a sticky sap to attract and ensnare insects.
Sarracenia
A ‘pitcher’ plant which comes in a variety of colours and sizes. Insects are attracted to the mouth of the pitcher where they slip and fall inside.
Heliamphora nutans x heterdoxa
Small with bright green pitchers reaching approximately 10 cm high.
biOrb AIR 30 Semi-Arid
The biOrb AIR 30 is also suitable for Semi-Arid plants such as;
Aloe
Conophytum
Echeveria
Haworthia
Sansevieria
Sempervivum
Senecio
Austrocylindropuntia
Astrophytum
Cleistocactus
Dolichothele
Echinopsis
Ferocactus
Lobivia
Mammillaria
Crassula
Lithops
Euphorbia lactea compacta
Parodia magnifica
Acanthocereus tetragonus.
