Epiphytes & orchids

We have been growing epiphytes and native orchids in our shade house for a number of years (see photo). They have all grown exceedingly well in this environment. Because of this, we have been reluctant to translocate then into trees within our gully, which will expose them to climatic variances they may not be able to cope with. Often these epiphytes grow high up in trees in bush areas heavy in mist and dew which is different to Mangaiti Gully. However, healthy epiphytes growing in a coastal location in an open farmland type landscape was recently observed at Tutukaka, north of Whangarei (see photo). This has encouraged us to move some out of the shade house. The challenge will be to find a suitable location as we do not have large canopy trees. From observation, they need to be in shade, or semi shade, sheltered from the full blast of the sun and ideally on the south face of any tree.

Healthy epiphytes growing in a coastal location