{"id":2340,"date":"2010-02-17T15:42:23","date_gmt":"2010-02-17T23:42:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/?p=2340"},"modified":"2010-07-15T18:35:27","modified_gmt":"2010-07-16T02:35:27","slug":"up-a-tree-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/2010\/02\/17\/up-a-tree-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Up A Tree"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If you&#8217;re ever in a tropical rainforest, and you&#8217;re wondering where the orchids are, look up! After all, most orchids are epiphytes, or air plants, which live in the forest canopy. In the wild, they attach to tree trunks and branches. Roots grow into cracks and crevices of the bark, but they don&#8217;t harm the trees. Often the orchids are high up and tough to see, but <a href=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/2010\/01\/25\/orchid-heaven\/\">Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden<\/a> has lots of spectacular specimens in view.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Phalaenopsis_hybrid_1_800px.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-2348\" title=\"Phalaenopsis blooming in tree\" src=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Phalaenopsis_hybrid_1_800px-96x128.jpg\" alt=\"Phalaenopsis blooming in tree\" width=\"96\" height=\"128\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Phalaenopsis_hybrid_1_800px-96x128.jpg 96w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Phalaenopsis_hybrid_1_800px-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Phalaenopsis_hybrid_1_800px.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 96px) 100vw, 96px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Cattleya_hybrid_1_800px.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-2346\" title=\"Cattleya blooming in a tree\" src=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Cattleya_hybrid_1_800px-128x96.jpg\" alt=\"Cattleya blooming in a tree\" width=\"128\" height=\"96\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Cattleya_hybrid_1_800px-128x96.jpg 128w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Cattleya_hybrid_1_800px-300x225.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Cattleya_hybrid_1_800px.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 128px) 100vw, 128px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Phalaenopsis_2_800px.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-2350\" title=\"Phalaenopsis plant with roots attached to tree\" src=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Phalaenopsis_2_800px-96x128.jpg\" alt=\"Phalaenopsis plant with roots attached to tree\" width=\"96\" height=\"128\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Phalaenopsis_2_800px-96x128.jpg 96w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Phalaenopsis_2_800px-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Phalaenopsis_2_800px.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 96px) 100vw, 96px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Oncidium_hybrid_800px.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-2359\" title=\"Oncidium hybrid blooming in tree\" src=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Oncidium_hybrid_800px-95x128.jpg\" alt=\"Oncidium hybrid blooming in tree\" width=\"95\" height=\"128\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Oncidium_hybrid_800px-95x128.jpg 95w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Oncidium_hybrid_800px-224x300.jpg 224w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Oncidium_hybrid_800px.jpg 599w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 95px) 100vw, 95px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Cattleya_hybrid_2_800px.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-2347\" title=\"White and purple Cattleyas blooming in tree\" src=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Cattleya_hybrid_2_800px-96x128.jpg\" alt=\"White and purple Cattleyas blooming in tree\" width=\"96\" height=\"128\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Cattleya_hybrid_2_800px-96x128.jpg 96w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Cattleya_hybrid_2_800px-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Cattleya_hybrid_2_800px.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 96px) 100vw, 96px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Cattleya_hybrid_3_800px.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-2345\" title=\"Cattleya hybrids in tree\" src=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Cattleya_hybrid_3_800px-96x128.jpg\" alt=\"Cattleya hybrids in tree\" width=\"96\" height=\"128\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Cattleya_hybrid_3_800px-96x128.jpg 96w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Cattleya_hybrid_3_800px-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Cattleya_hybrid_3_800px.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 96px) 100vw, 96px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Orchids share the crowded trees with ferns, bromeliads, vines, mosses, lichens, insects, birds, lizards, and a miraculous variety of other living things. Even when out of bloom, it&#8217;s possible to spot orchids by looking for webs of white roots attached to trees or hanging in the air. Rain is usually plentiful, but <a href=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/care\/details\/humidity.html\">constant high humidity<\/a> keeps these roots from drying out if rains are scarce.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Phalaenopsis_3_800px.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-2351\" title=\"Phalaenopsis attached under branch with roots growing up\" src=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Phalaenopsis_3_800px-128x128.jpg\" alt=\"Phalaenopsis attached under branch with roots growing up\" width=\"128\" height=\"128\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Phalaenopsis_3_800px-128x128.jpg 128w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Phalaenopsis_3_800px-300x300.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Phalaenopsis_3_800px.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 128px) 100vw, 128px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Epidendrum_growing_on_tree_800px.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-2354\" title=\"White orchid roots hanging in the air\" src=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Epidendrum_growing_on_tree_800px-96x128.jpg\" alt=\"White orchid roots hanging in the air\" width=\"96\" height=\"128\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Epidendrum_growing_on_tree_800px-96x128.jpg 96w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Epidendrum_growing_on_tree_800px-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Epidendrum_growing_on_tree_800px.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 96px) 100vw, 96px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Orchids_growing_on_tree_800px.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-2349\" title=\"Orchids attached to tree with old flower spikes hanging down\" src=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Orchids_growing_on_tree_800px-96x128.jpg\" alt=\"Orchids attached to tree with old flower spikes hanging down\" width=\"96\" height=\"128\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Orchids_growing_on_tree_800px-96x128.jpg 96w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Orchids_growing_on_tree_800px-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Orchids_growing_on_tree_800px.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 96px) 100vw, 96px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>These exposed roots help demonstrate how orchids differ from other houseplants. You can clearly see why orchid roots need good air flow and water drainage. Regular potting soil is too dense. Loose mixtures of bark or moss simulate jungle conditions by allowing air and water to pass through. That&#8217;s how <a href=\"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/care\/details\/potting.html\">potted orchids<\/a> allow us to enjoy some of the rainforest canopy without having to strain our necks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you&#8217;re ever in a tropical rainforest, and you&#8217;re wondering where the orchids are, look up! After all, most orchids are epiphytes, or air plants, which live in the forest canopy. In the wild, they attach to tree trunks and branches. Roots grow into cracks and crevices of the bark, but they don&#8217;t harm the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,10,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2340","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-botanical-gardens","category-orchids-in-the-wild","category-photos"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2340","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2340"}],"version-history":[{"count":53,"href":"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2340\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4199,"href":"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2340\/revisions\/4199"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2340"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2340"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.aboutorchids.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2340"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}