# Orchi Flowers-What Do They Live On?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orchi-flowers-what-do-they-live-on/436105>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 3, 2008, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orchi-flowers-what-do-they-live-on/436105 "2008-02-03T17:33:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orchi-flowers-what-do-they-live-on/436105/1 "2008-02-03T17:33:01Z")

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I have several orchis, one of which is about to bloom. These are amazing plants-they appear to esist on nothing! Mine are potted in Spanish moss (no soil), and as long as I water them, they seem to do fine! How do they survive?

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**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orchi-flowers-what-do-they-live-on/436105/2 "2008-02-03T17:48:28Z")

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Well, I can provide part of an answer. All of its energy needs are met via photosynthesis, using the water you provide and sunlight. Its carbon needs are met by carbon dioxide from the air. As to the rest, I’ll let someone more knowledgeable answer.