Mounted tree with Orchids and Tillandsias

[Orchidbyte]

I planted a Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin) tree 7 years ago when we moved here and today my friend Carlos came over with some Orchids and Tillandsias. I also had a collection of Orchids and Tillandsias ready for mounting onto tree that are outdoor hardy type plants for this area, I live in Northern Los Angeles, California. It gets into the 30's and on rare occasions into the low 20's, summers here can get into the 100's for days with very low RH 15% here where I live, even though less then 7 miles away it could be much cooler and more RH.

These plants that are mounted to this tree have been growing outdoors by myself and Carlos for several years and we know from experience that they are hardy to our area.

I have even had a Lealia Anceps in bud andwith open flowers get the rare freak March snow storm that lasted for about an hour and froze everything that night, but the next day Lealia was fine buds opened eventually and flowers were no worst from the experience.

[Bud]

How nice that you can grow orchids outdoors....that is exactly how they grow in nature attached to trees....you have the humidity in your atmosphere to sustain orchids.
The freak snow storm overnight was not that damaging because the warmth from the tree saved the orchids....

[Orchidbyte]

At time of snow storm the Anceps was mounted to a cork slab growing in full sun, exposure was open no covering. In the area I live in our summer humidity is very low which makes any humid loving plant tough to grow, but it can be done with some extra water.

[WhiteRabbit]

Awesome!

[Orchidbyte]

Its been over a month since tree was populated with orchids and tillandsias, I have put some Dendrobiums and other orchids on since then and everything looks like it is putting on new growth and new roots, which are starting to touch tree.

Mimosa is starting to leaf out and should give a 50% shade ratio during hot summer weather, while still getting morning and late evening sun.

[Orchidsoutdoors]

That is looking good! You should get some awesome displays in time as they form large clumps. I'm doing the same thing in my garden but I'm using mostly seedlings so there won't be much to show for a while. I should post some photos anyway so I have before and after shots like you. I just hope you don't have neighbours trying to steal your plants.