Are you talking about Encyclia tampensis? Google name and select images to confirm.
The plants are not parasites of the tree and get nourishment from the breakdown of leaf litter, decaying insects, insect droppings, bird droppings and so on.
The tree may benefit from their presence with the increased biological activity.

If you have Encyclia tampensis it is a delightful, easy to grow orchid. do not wire it to the tree, tie it on with an old stocking or similar, you can also grow it in a pot with sparse potting mixture or grow it on a mount.

There are hundreds of them in the trees, mostly in the live oaks way way up. Did take some pictures of them blooming last year but not sure what I did with them. I don't think I was clear though...it is still firmly attached to the tree it was growing on......I was thinking of cutting the piece of wood down and wiring that wood to a new tree or are you saying it would be better to rip it from the tree piece it is currently firmly attached to???

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You have delightful Resurrection Fern in with the orchids---those curled up "brownish-green things" will revive and be gorgeous green when they get good rain/watering. They are not dead, but just resting. (Them being shriveled is my sign to water the catts.)
My husband has brought home parts of trees with orchids and these ferns that were in the way of construction also, and put them up in trees with dappled light, with or without the piece of wood,

I think that the reason for not using wire is that it will eventually cut into the orchid as it grows, where the piece of stocking will stretch and deteriorate over time, as the plant makes its new roots and hold on by itself.

Wire brings up visions of fencing wire, not beautiful and can cut into the bark of the "mount" tree with time.

I have some line bred plants of Encyclia tampensis and it seems like the ghost orchid gets all the publicity. That is fine but i haven't got a hope of growing a ghost orchid, let alone obtaining one.

Here is a picture of Encyclia Bees' Knees x tampensis
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Just gorgeous and easy to grow. One of about 40 handed out at the local orchid society for a growing competition, most of the plants still alive.

Here is a link that might be interesting

Here is a link that might be useful: Florida Native Orchids

When the State of Floridahad the citus canker erradication going on, my citrus trees--loaded with orchids I had attached to them--were cut down., I insisted that the branches enhanced by plants be cut into appropriate size pieces. Some had surrounded the branch, so I drilled holes in the section and just hung the pieces in another tree. They loved hanging in the stong breeze in my yard. Some pieces were split and the split side attached to my mango tree with wire--not touching the plant, just the wood. They survived and flourished.

I finally found the pictures I took of the orchids blooming last year. These are not the same ones as the tree I cut down but in a oak near it..I would assume they are the same type orchid.

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Bamboo,
You have Greenfly orchid - Epidendrum magnoliae - growing - though, you probably found the name by now
http://www.flnativeorchids.com/natives_gallery/epidendrum_magnoliae.htm

An easy to grow orchid, and would be happiest if left on the tree - or the chunks of tree that you cut down. You can also contact your local orchid society - they will be delighted to take the leftovers off your hands!
I found my green fly in a similar fashion, on a piece of oak bark that fell off. I mounted the entire piece of bark on driftwood and the orchid has continued to grow happily.
Olya

Thank you Olyagrove. I had not looked them up so the ID was welcome. Why would the orchid people want them? They are pretty common aren't they?

They are not as common as one would think...even though they are rather common in the wild, most people would not think of removing one from it's natural habitat - and finding one to buy is not easy since these orchids are not showy enough for vendors to care...
Orchid club people often care for interesting species, especially when they native to this area...worth asking if you have more than you are willing to take care of :)

"Why would orchid people want them? Well, you can beam one or two of them across the great big puddle to me. Lol.
Seriously, some orchid people must have seen potential because the orchid has been numerous times in producing Laeliinae Hybrids.

Go figure.....there are thousands of them here on our property and figured they were common all over Florida. Like I said I have no knowledge of Orchids:) I do like the lil devils though and I would have felt guilty cutting the tree if I knew they were in it. Luckily for me I did not know they were there till the magnolia fell. They are an odd plant...we have huge hickory trees and yet they are not in them at all. They also do not seem to like the water oaks. They do like the magnolias and the who knows how old huge live oaks they are loaded with both them and the resurrection ferns.

Hey bamboo_rabbit, I see your post is a few years old but I would sure be interested in buying some of these orchids from you. I am growing a native plant garden in Central Florida. I would love to add some of these! I could possibly come and pick them up. Pmdelnegro@gmail.com