It doesn't hurt the plants, one way or the other. I have done this many times.
Perhaps you can hang your orchids a bit higher. I have 100's of orchids hanging under limbs and on shelves in my oaks/cedars, and have never seen a grasshopper on a single one. Those shelves and hanging baskets/tray are mostly above my head though. I need to be able to walk under them without banging my head.
