Growing Epiphytes on Trees - zone 9/10 Mediteranean Climate

[davidg]

Hi, I live in a zone 9/10 Mediterranean climate in the south of France - similar to San Diego, I think. Orchids are new to me, and I have gathered about a dozen I hope will grow on a tree in my garden. The conditions are perhaps not ideal, but 'nothing ventured', right?

The tree is a very large and old Oleander, plus there are some Ligustrum, but it's probably too shady in that part. I was going to mount them right on the bark, but some came mounted on cork, and I started to wonder if it would be better to mount them all on pieces of cork, and then screw the cork pieces to the tree - I am worried the bark is too smooth and hard for them to take hold well, but lack the experience to know. Has anyone done that, and what do you think, is it worthwhile, or should I just mount them directly?

I also read that epiphytes with thicker roots do better on smooth wood, and ones with thinner roots on rougher wood. As all my plants are fairly young, how can I tell which will have thicker roots? I can put up a list of what I have if anyone who knows wants to check it over.