Phal - issues with fertilizer, pots, and environment, mainly - just issues...

[acaldwell3590]

I'm sure there are a million places these questions are discussed but I am so overwhelmed with trying to find answers. I figured I would just start here with all the questions I have and see where it goes.

A quick little background. I have 2 phals. One I've had for about a year and the other I've had for around 6 months and I saved it from death at the grocery store. My first phal flowered once and the flowers died within the month and it now has a Keiki (aww!) The other has never flowered for me, though I figured that's because it was poorly taken care of.

So, I got these plants and recently went and bought new bark for it after extensive research and realized that for many reasons, I am a bad orchid mama. I never repotted them from the moment that I first got them and I never fertilized them. Honestly. these are the first plants I've ever kept alive for any amount of time so really I had no idea what I am doing. Now, I'm OBSESSED with these guys and want to care for them as best I can. This past weekend I went out and bought them new pots with lots of air holes for air flow. I realized that my first phal has quite a few root issues and had to trim but a couple of good ones still (I overwatered I believe) and the other phal was doing well in this regard. So here's question one - do I wait to water them for a bit so they can get used to their environment or water them as per usual? (going to try the bamboo stick method)

Then I found the fertilizer with a ratio of 30-10-10 since I have bark. This is where another question comes in. I know there is a great debate about weakly weekly or monthly fertilizing, what's your opinion? Also when I do fertilize how do I do it? This feels like a stupid question but once I mix the fertilizer do I just pour it into the plant like I water it? (OY!)

Then my final questions come about their environment. Currently, these two sit on my desk. Three walls of my building are glass so I thought they were getting enough light, though I've read some information where I'm not so sure. I sit about 5 or so yards from the window and there are low cube walls (they have a direct shot of the window), what experiences have you had? Also, it's obviously a climate controlled building that never goes below 72 and sometimes goes up to 78 is there something else I should be doing to help replicate nature?

Sorry for such a long post but I am desperate for some understanding and help. I love these guys and want to care for them well.

Thanks for any and all suggestions!