Does root require the top layer of the media to be moist to search?

[Clawhammer]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Remember, too, that the majority of orchids that we grow are epiphytes. In nature, having roots growing freely (not in media) is what they do. But of course, that requires conditions that we can't so easily replicate in our homes, or even outdoors in temperate climates. So we put them in pots with media to provide enough moisture for them to thrive, and we work rather hard to try to maintain the balance between moisture and air that they will accept as a compromise. We're not giving them the natural environment, but we are giving them a substitute that provides what they need, that is the goal. The growers who can come the closest to those needs are the ones with the best success. Hence the requirement to study and understand those needs for each specific orchid, and to understand the differences for the different types.

This is so well said. I wish someone shared with me this thought process when I started growing orchids.