I recently acquired an Epi magnoliae (from Andy's) that he said was rescued from a magnolia tree 60 miles inland from the NC coast. Being as I'm on the coast, I thought it might be worth an experiment.

It's growing like mad in the summer heat... Time will tell.

This is, I think, the farthest north for natural range of any epiphytic native orchid in the US. Of course we humans can grow all sorts of epiphytes, but have to intervene in cultivation with regard to temperature or water or both. This one seems to be able to manage both chill and seasonal dryness, accepts whatever Mother Nature provides.

Wouldn't it be more beneficial to grow locals in media they are found in? I know why you wouldn't use outside stuff for your tropical orchids and what not, but it seems as if in this specific case at least a partial soil seems to have benefits (ie. presence of ecologically intertwined fungi, plants, bacter etc.)

@Subrosa i am even considering mixing whatever substrate i decide on with more chips, perlite or such. The orchid i mentioned mostly grows (in these parts) on inclines, where a thin layer of soil, pine needles, mosses and other plant debree cover stone. While i don't need to interfear with temperature or humidity, i am afraid any kind of container could end up retaining too much water, especially since i am yet to find it in a location that recieves more than 5 to 6 hours of sun mid summer.

If you live in the actual environment, you can obtain local soil. But, for instance, I purchase the terrestrials as dormant tubers. Any visible soil has to be cleaned off for import. (They apparently can store a bit of the mycorrhizae within the tuber, because they do establish in their new home) Then, the choice of medium is based on function... it needs to have the characteristics of its home soil such as drainage, organic matter or lack of it, etc. But it's that intimate relationship between the terrestrial orchids and their environment that makes them nearly impossible to cultivate. Another reason to not take them from the wild! The seed-grown ones that I purchase have already adapted to an artificial environment.

I would never take an adult specimen, especially not of something rare, as i said before. And to be quite frank, if i collect seeds and even one sprouts, it can be considered conservation, as there are fewer each year (in this microlocation).
As for the medium... once the season comes, i intend to use roughly 50/70% soil from the location and the rest something more granular that helps with drainage and air retention, as the same soil does not behave exactley the same in a pot and in..soil?