Hi Inara,
Don't worry, Phalaenopsis orchids aren't more difficult to keep than most other houseplants, they just have a few specific needs you must keep in mind. There are lots of good introductions available online, but here are a couple that are succinct:
AOS Phalaenopsis Culture Sheet
Phalaenopsis Orchid Culture
A Beginner Guide to Grow and to Flower The Moth Orchid
I'd stress a few things:
- it is easy for beginners to overwater a Phal. Between waterings you want the medium they're in to almost dry out but not completely. "They like to dry down but not out" is how it was described to me once. Usually, I find that if I'm in doubt it's ok to leave it another day. However, they will not like being bone dry, even for short periods. If you can find them, clear plastic pots are great for beginners because you can see if there is moisture inside or not.
- when it's time to water, run fresh soft water through the medium, letting it drain through the bottom of the pot, then let it drip drain a little while. I water mine over a sink.
-don't let water sit in the crown (where all the leaves join). After watering, dab it with paper towel to absorb it out.
- there are many different fertilization schemes, but a simple one for beginners that works well is to simply use a balanced fertilizer, like 20-20-20, used at 1/4 strength every time you water or every 3 times out of 4. Add the fertilizer solution after you've run clean water through the pot as above.
- as for light, I think it's best to shoot for as bright as possible without direct sun. They can handle lower light but sitting on a desk in the middle of a dark room won't make them happy.
-humidity is difficult to control, but if you take care of the other things, they'll adapt to lower than optimal humidity. Once you get more comfortable, you can look into humidity control a little more, but don't worry about it too much for now.
Anyway, I'm no expert but those are the sorts of things that should keep your Phals healthy.
Good luck.
Very new to this...
Often times, phal buds will "blast" (die/drop off) when they are exposed to a climate change. That is probably what has happened here - the change from florist/nursery to your office. Doesn't mean your office enviro is wrong - just not what the phal was used to. Just follow what Mark suggested and the plant will be fine. Hopefully only a couple of the buds will blast.
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