We are in West Palm Beach, about a mile from the ocean. What are the best orchids for attaching to trees in this area? Thanks.
Orchids on trees for South Florida
What's your exposure? Many Dendrobiums are good for your zone. The ones requiring year around water do well. Broughtonias, which are native to Jamaica and Cuba do well. Oncidiums are a good choice. RF Fuchs has loads of Vandas plastered to their palms. Gorgeous! Every few years they get a freeze that makes the Vandas drop leaves but the plants immediately produce kikies and there are three plants for every one that was there. My uncle was growing Cattleyas under his avocado trees but the dense foliage was keeping them from getting enough light or water. He gave them to me. But, with a proper canopy and adequate water you could grow those too. He lives on Treasure Island, Miami Beach which is almost on the ocean. One of the most beautiful tree grown specimens that I've ever seen and posted here is my Miami neighbor's Rhyncholaelia digbyana http://www.orchidspecies.com/brassavoladigbiyana.htm
Take a trip down to Homestead and the Redland area. There are a zillion local growers selling bargain plants suited to the area. Home Depot sells reed stemmed orchids, like Epidendrum ibaguense, for landscape. They are semi-terrestrial and can be planted under trees to climb. They also have Spathoglottis in spring and summer http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/2540/