Question

orchid   QUESTION: Another photo showing interior of basket.

ANSWER: The roots will thrive on the fresh air but I would water early in the day most days.

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QUESTION: Thanks for the great answers - I expected as much but wanted to check with a real expert before I continued. I use reverse osmosis water for the daily vanda watering to insure there will be minimal salt build-up, and now will do the same with my new "vanda-phalie"!

This leads to another question, though. Why wouldn't this same thing work with other epiphitic orchids? My Stanhopeas ought to love it as the downward-growing flower shoots would have little chance of being obstructed. And why not Cattleyas? I grow some on bark rafts, why not completely open? Same for Oncidium, Dendrobium, etc.

I guess what I'm getting at is whether or not there is some overriding reason why any of them should be potted with bark or other medium. I can see why terrestrials need soil, but why pot epiphytes at all if you can support them well enough in an open framework like a Vanda?

In fact, the advantages might outweigh the detriments: less chance of root rot, no medium to break down necessitating repots, etc.

As I said, I've been growing orchids for over 40 years, but I never really considered this before and would enjoy your thoughts.

Answer
Great question Ted.  You remind me of so many other orchid growing friends who have been growing for 30 years or more.  They are always trying something new.  It never gets boring.
Obviously, different groups of orchids do respond differently to different environments.  An example are those types that go into dormancy prior to a new growth cycle, such as dendrobiums, that need to  be kept relatively dry during dormancy. This doesn't mean they have to be in a pot, but it does mean that they need a rest period wherever grown. I have grown stanhopeas in a basket but, because they have a finer root structure, their velamin cannot hold as much moisture. I haven't tried growing the latter in a wide open basket but I have drier growing conditions-- especially in the winter.  As a rule, my guess is that those orchids that have large roots such as the vandaceous and most large cattleyas could do well because of capacity to store water either in their roots and/or pseudobulbs. Consider also the ease or difficulty of transferring an overgrown plant to a new container without breaking roots.

You may be aware that RO water contains no nutrients or minerals so those need to be added from time to time, especially when no nutrients are available from the potting mix.