How to Grow Orchids on Fern Trees

You'll need a fern with a trunk if you plan to attach an orchid to it.

In the wild, tropical orchids are epiphytes that grow on hosts -- especially trees. Gardeners can simulate the tree environment by potting orchids in tree fern bark or similar material, but an alternative is attaching orchids to trees for more natural growth. Whether you add a single, colorful blossom to surprise onlookers or spiral the orchids around the trunk for a dramatic look, growing orchids on a fern tree adds life to a tropical garden.

Things You'll Need

• Tropical orchid
• Cotton string (or similar material)
• Watering can, hose or sprinkler system

Instructions

1. Choose an orchid that suits its future fern tree host and your environment. Some orchids -- such as Vandas and Schomburgkias -- appreciate lots of sunlight and thrive on open-canopy trees. Orchids such as Cattleyas, Oncidiums and Phalaenopsis prefer dim light beneath a thicker canopy of fern leaves.

2. Choose a spot on the trunk that offers protection from heavy winds and rains that may damage the orchid. If your area is prone to cold winds from the north, for instance, choose a south-facing spot on the trunk, as orchid grower David Schaffter recommends on the East Everglades Orchids Society website.

3. Position the orchid on the fern trunk when root activity begins, usually at potting time just before or after blooming. Early spring is also a smart time to attach the orchid, as this gives it the whole summer to merge with the trunk.

4. Wrap cotton string around the orchid roots and tree trunk to hold it in place. This string is safe for the environment and will decompose in a year, leaving the orchid firmly attached to the trunk. Alternatively, hot glue the orchid psuedobulb or rhizome to the trunk. If you use synthetic ties that do not decompose, loosen them as the orchid's stems lengthen and remove them after one or two years, when the orchid has attached itself firmly to the fern.

5. Mist the orchid roots with a hose or sprinkler on a daily basis for the first few months. Because water will drip down the trunk, away from the orchid, regular watering is necessary to prevent the orchid from dehydrating. After establishing its relationship with the tree, the orchid may fend for itself as it would in the wild, beautifying your garden without extensive care.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't include a barrier of moss or other materials between the orchid and tree trunk. Besides collecting unnecessary moisture that may lead to rot, this also prevents the orchid roots from attaching directly to the tree.

References

• American Orchid Society: Growing Orchids on a Tree; Tim Anderson; 2008
• Orchid Societies Council of Victoria, Inc.; Growing Orchids on Mounts; Brian Milligan
• East Everglades Orchids Society: Growing Orchids on Trees; David Schaffter

Resources

• American Orchid Society: Growing Orchids on a Tree; Tim Anderson; 2008