Watering orchids in bark mix?

[syrcaid]

Hey guys, so I am pretty new to orchids. I have 8 right now. I've been doing some research and using and trial and error to get them set up. I have a question about orchids in bark mix. I know they don't like being too wet and I had some problems with one of them staying too wet because of it's medium, so I have potted several in the Better Gro Special orchid mix which seems to have good reviews and drains very quickly. I mixed this with some smaller pieces of fir bark too, since the stuff in the mix seems huge.

The pot seems really dry again within 24 hours. Is this ok? Will it not get too dry since other mixes stay moist for at least several days? Should I add some long fiber Sphagnum moss to hold *some* moisture? How often should I water an orchid in a bark mix like this? Thank you!

I have a Phal, a mini Phal, 1 Vanda, 2 Dendrobiums, and 3 Oncidium hybrids.

[Ordphien]

I find that k tends to resist water for the first weeks.
It helps to submerge the pot in water for a few hours.
After that the bark tends to stay moist for longer.
My established bark pots stay moist for about 3 - 6 days.

[Ray]

Orchids do not have an issue with being "too wet". That's a long-lived myth.

The reality is that they do not like to have their roots suffocated. A coarse bark mix will not do that until it starts decomposing.

Soak it down.

[cbuchman]

I plant mostly in Bark and clay pots and dry out in about 2 to 3 days. It may take a while, but you will soon figure out what happens in your conditions and establish a watering schedule, In the meantime, just pay close attention and observe the watering/drying pattern as you seem to be doing already