Watering Question

[jocierk]

Hi All,
I am a new orchid owner. Sorry in advance for the long post, I just want to give you as much info as I can.

My first plant is a healthy looking Phalaenopsis in a very bad pot. Its doing well and I am waiting for it to drop all of its flowers so I can repot it in a better pot with new media. Recently I rescued a second Phalaenopsis, it was a valentines day leftover (dyed blue) and had been forgotten about in the discount flower section. Its flowers were droopy and the stems looked dry and dead at the end. I cut the dead stem (above the closest node), pulled off the dying flowers and even though it had a few flowers left I immediately repotted it to try and save the roots. I did all of this three days ago and it hasn't dropped the remaining two flowers, and it seems to have perked up. My question is about watering it. When I put it in the new media I let it sit under running tepid water for about 5 min (just the roots not the stem, flowers or leaves). Since then the new media (fir bark, charcoal, and sponge rock) seems to be totally dry again. Did the roots just suck it all up because it had been totally neglected? Is this how it normally feels with new bark in the pot? Does the medium hold more water after it is "broken in"? The other orchid is still in its original plastic cup style pot and broken down medium and it stays moist feeling for a week or so before it gets dry enough that I feel like I need to water it again. The rescue orchid is in an actual orchid pot with holes and such in the sides for ventilation. I know over watering is a big no-no, it just feels so dry already and if it needs more water to recover I don't want to hinder it. Thanks so much for reading my long post and for any advice you guys have!