ORCHIDS & EPIPHYTES

Epiphytes by definition are plants that cling to another plant or tree, but do not get any of their nutrients from that plant or tree. They get everything they need from the air and the rain. One of the most well known epiphytes is of course the orchid. One of the common hanging epiphytes, at least in south Florida, is the plant commonly known as the Stags Horn Fern or Staghorn fern. You will find them hanging from large oak trees and can become quite large.
Other Epiphytes include the hoya family and many cactuses. Bromeliads are a common flowering epiphyte often seen climbing on and around large trees. If you are looking for something a little unusual that might make a great conversation piece, consider the Nepenthes family also known as the pitcher plant. These plants fit into the epiphyte family because they get their nutrients from the insects they capture in their pitchers and not from fertilizers in the ground.

Although the most well known epiphytes are probably the orchid, not all orchids are epiphytes. There are wild orchids that fit into the epiphyte family and there are others such as the ground orchids that are terrestrial, meaning they grow from the ground and that is where they get their nutrients. Another plant with the orchid name is the Bauhinia family also known as Orchid trees. These are easy and fast growing and have a flower that resembles the orchid.

You can find plenty of orchids and orchid trees for sale along with many epiphytes in our online store. If you are looking for orchid plants for sale near you and you are in the Southwest Florida, Ft. Myers area, please visit our Garden Center located at 13890 Orange River Blvd., Ft. Myers, FL 33905 and see the fantastic collection of orchids and other epiphyte plants. You may find a few surprises!