HOWE DO I KNOW MY ORCHID"S NEED WATER

[BR@NDI LOVE'S PHAL'S]

Hi,
I HAve 3 orchid in plastic containers,inside large decorative pots just got them and i haven't even watered once..some of the roots on my orchid are sticking out and feel very dry..the ones that aren't sticking out of the pot are green and the spagnum moss still feels damp..My question is do i trim the dry dead looking one's,let them be or what?Also do i have to wait until the spag media is completely dry then drench it?Or what?

[Leafmite]

Moss is nice if you use it correctly but it can be very difficult if you are new with orchids. If you want to use moss, make certain the moss is loose in the pot and in good condition. Otherwise, the roots will rot, especially in the middle. You could unpot and replace the moss in the middle with styrofoam peanuts and that would work. When to water? Many people put a wooden skewer near the middle of the pot and don't water until it comes out dry. The roots you can see through the clear plastic should be silver by then. With the plastic pots, you might see condensation which means there is plenty of moisture. The roots that stick out of the media will get dry if there isn't enough humidity. If you have plenty of green, thick roots in the moss, that is okay.
I don't grow my phals in moss but in lava rock and plastic basket/net pots. Hopefully someone who grows in moss can give you more specific advice.

I grow my phals in moss potted into clay pots. I let the moss go crusty dry before watering again. I also make sure the pot is only big enough to fit the orchid roots , so there is no extra bunch of moss that stays wet for too long.
I touch the moss with my fingers and if it still feels soft and not crusty under surface - I wait another day.
Other way to tell if the moss is dry - to smell it. Wet moss has specific smell that goes away when moss dries out.
I tried bark mixes, chc and came back to moss in the pots up to 4 inch because for me it is easier to define when it is dry enough.

[BR@NDI LOVE'S PHAL'S]

THANK-YOU BOTH For your knowledge and tips!!