Phalaenopsis flooded for 5 hours

[Abel]

Hello, guys!
I am not new to orchids. I was gifted my first phalaenopsis over 9 years ago, and since then, I have collected over 25 of these back home. None have died.
So, one year ago, I found an orchid in the hallway of my dorm, and the poor thing was flooded and stank of rotted bark. I basically stole her, changed the substrate, cut the dead roots and waited for 4 months for her to stop looking limp and half dead. She finally looked healthy and started growing new leaves after 6 months (even all her old leaves survived).
She bloomed last week for the first time.
Great!

But then, today, while I was watering the two orchids in my current rented apartment, I received a phone call about a class that was rescheduled and I had to hurry out. The first orchid was already out of the water pot, but the one that just flowered was left forgotten in it for 4.5 hours. When I got back, I took her out and used a paper towel to try to take away the excess water, but now I'm scared she will relapse into the zombie orchid state for another 6 months.

Can I do anything else to help her? Will she be alright?

Also, which way is best to water orchids? pouring a small quantity over their substrate, or leaving them in a water pot for 10 minutes? I've used both methods, and it might just be me, but I think the latter is better (WHEN I DON'T FORGET THE FLOWER FLOODED FOR 5 HOURS)

Thank you.

[mook1178]

I think it'll be fine. People do full water culture where the roots are in water 24/7

[Mountaineer370]

Welcome to the OB! I think your orchid will be just fine. If it were me, I would just continue to care for it the way I usually do and pretend that over-long soak never happened. If it's in some type of chunky bark, it should dry out pretty quickly anyway, and of course don't water it again until it appears to need it.

As far as which is the best way to water, I think you will get many opinions on that. I'm a drencher, not a soaker, but I'm not saying my way is better than others. I think it comes down to what works best for each of us, for our particular plants, in our particular growing conditions.

[Ray]

Yep. No issues. Let it drain and it'll be fine.

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

[camille1585]

Welcome to Orchidboard!

Soaking an orchid for 5 hours is far from enough to damage it. I've forgotten some in a bucket for 2 days and they were fine. Orchids are more resilient than you'd think, and the very porous bark substrates most are in prevents complete waterlogging, which is where the danger would be.