"Many trees that could provide shade, etc." doesn't sound too good. The best spot is all day sun shaded by shade-cloth with density appropriate to South West Florida.

Hi
Probably the best way is to grow in pots hanging baskets that can be moved around until you get an idea what types interest you . Learn the culture basics and then move onto using them as garden plants They certainly can be grown fixed to trees but as you can imagine there are many problems. I'm assuming you're interesed in epiphytic type rather than terrestrials??
Certainly check out you local societies for all kinds of advice . Have you visited Selby gardens. in Sarasota??
Even if you don't learn a thing you'll be dazzled with all the variety lol gary

I'm in zone 10 South Florida and the ones that have done best for me are the schomburgkias, laelias like anceps, oncidiums, dendrobiums like anosmums, all grow on my trees with little care... I don't have many in pots because of too much rain and fungus, they do best for me attached to the trees. The anosmums can handle the sun in winter if the trees lose some leaves. The schoms love the sun, but some will slightly sunburn if no shade at all is provided. I try to find broken sun/shade for all of them and spray a couple of times a week unless it rains. The phals and dendrobiums also do well on the trees. Joss

I live in Ft Lauderdale and with the exception of Phals, and a couple other low light plants all of my orchids are grown in full sun, watered daily...
The key is going to be how you care for the plants, how often you water and feed, and the amount of light you are going to give them....
When I do orchidscaping for clients the first thing I try to find out is, what kinds do ytou like, then go from there. For most types, you can find locations that will suit them.
Granted you will not be able to grow cool growers and some intermediates outside in S FL, but for the warm and hot growers, you can grow almost any of them...
Why dont you tell us the kinds that you really enjoy???
John

If you grow orchids out of doors in anything other than a semi-desert climate (not Florida!) you are more or less committed to hanging or open baskets and mounts.Plants in pots, esp. plastic do not like being out in the heavy summer rain because the roots dont dry out quickly enough. Worst offenders, Cattleya alliance. Take it from me... I have lost more Cattleyas than any other genus and when I took them out of the pot they were always soggy.

Hi
Where are you located in Brazil?? Would think it Cattleya heaven except for the high altitudes?? I compensate for heavy rains by using crushed lava stone sometimes mixed wth other material for the dry season.
This works for the rotting but does nothing for rain beating up the flowers lol. I grow several hybrids attached directly to a Carambola tree. No media at all .Okay I do use some sphag to get them started but would think in your area even that would not be necessary??
gary

If you grow them directly on trees, how do you save them from hurricanes? Mine are in the trees, but either in slatted baskets or on wood mounts so I can bring them in during hurricanes and freezes. I'd be too afraid of losing them to put them directly on the tree.
Lori

I have most in pots, plastic actually, they get watered daily adn even get rain daily, some of my Catts are even in shagnum. They dont mind it at all, in fact it enbcourages them to produce large number of new growths. The big key is light and air circulation. Most get full sun and plenty of wind. When they bloom I bring them indoors...Mostly Catts though are in aliflor, the large ones.

Growing orchids in Florida is fun!
You will find as many suggestions as there are growers, however - and this is true for any zone :)

While some swear by full sun, I only have certain orchids in full sun (epi radicans, certain dends) Most get a LOT of light, very bright diffused light. My shadehouse is located in full sun, under 50% shade cloth.

Rain season is the biggest headache if the drainage is not adequate - but otherwise, it is the best time of the year for orchids to grow. They love the rain and the humidity

I grow a LOT of cattleays - lots of Brazilian species..All in clay pots or in baskets, with fast draining medium.
Catts will grow in sphagnum moss as well - given lots of light and air movement...
The only thing I avoid in my mixes is bark. Bark molds and decomposes so fast during the rain season...
I only use either pure sphagnum, lava rock mixes or tree fern mixes

Good luck
Olya

Lori
When growing in trees and hurricanes strike you go collect them from you neighbors yard , Same problem when it pushes the shadehouse over. You break out christmas lights and frost cloth when it gets too cool. Prune the trees when it gets too shady. Best of all the state comes by and whacks your orange trees down . You replant 40 orchids in one afternoon. Gas company digs trench buries orchids in dirt you scamble at seeing how fast you can find them while cursing workers lol.
Did I mention it's not a perfect method?? lol I always recommend moveable planters for those just starting out .
But WOW 40 orchids in one tree is a sight to behold!!! But shortlived lol gary

Gary, lol. I can relate to most of that, I grew up in Lauderhill and had a beloved orange tree whacked down by the state. Luckily, I got a shoot from it prior to it's demise and it's now actually growing up here in Tampa. But I can't believe a hurricane would only throw my orchids in a neighbors yard where they could be found and restored. I'm thinking more like two subdivisions over and then claimed by a stranger or tossed in the debris pile by a nongardener. I'm toooo scared of that to mount on a tree. But I bet it's a sight!
Lori

I have several orchids attached to palm trees in Key West and they all survived Hurricane Irma. How? I have no idea!